{"id":97102,"date":"2018-10-31T15:01:00","date_gmt":"2018-10-31T15:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=79b357de4db33c6505a6aedee3c96b67"},"modified":"2018-10-31T15:01:00","modified_gmt":"2018-10-31T15:01:00","slug":"speech-national-association-of-local-councils-conference-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=97102","title":{"rendered":"Speech: National Association of Local Councils conference 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Introduction \u2013 importance of parish councils<\/h2>\n

Thank you Sue for that kind introduction, and thank you for all of the vital work you do, strengthening local government.<\/p>\n

Firstly, I\u2019d just like to say how fantastic it is to see so many of you here. I just spent some time outside speaking to people and there\u2019s a real sense of excitement and energy. This is \u2018parish power\u2019 in action.<\/p>\n

The subject of today\u2019s conversations \u2013 \u2018shaping the future\u2019 \u2013 is one that is close to my heart.<\/p>\n

Since taking up my role in January, I\u2019ve been inspired by NALC<\/abbr>\u2019s ability to bring people together and represent us. And I really welcome your leadership on the \u2018Big Conversation\u2019.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m personally delighted to be small part of that conversation.<\/p>\n

In my ministerial role, I speak to everyone from Metropolitan Mayors to Church Wardens. I\u2019ve seen how local government can be an incredible force for good. Not faceless bureaucracies, but mirrors of our places and our people.<\/p>\n

And the message I often hear is: the closer the locality, the greater the trust. But I know that trust comes with great responsibility too.<\/p>\n

I remember something the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said recently, which will resonate with all of you. He said: \u201cI have never had demands so acute as when I was a parish priest\u201d.<\/p>\n

So it is with local government \u2013 a lot is demanded of you.<\/p>\n

And from my own constituency work, I can tell you, it\u2019s often those issues closest to home that can keep me awake at night.<\/p>\n

And those responsibilities for you are growing further still, in a sign of the confidence that people have in your abilities.<\/p>\n

When it comes to neighbourhood planning, for example, parish councils are now leading the way.<\/p>\n

From helping to make buildings reflect local tastes and preferences to directing development to preferred sites, neighbourhood plans have been transforming communities \u2013 and helping to alleviate our housing crisis in the process.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve also seen how parishes can help our vital community assets flourish \u2013 from our village halls to our tennis courts.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m so pleased to see the numerous examples of parish councils using the opportunities afforded by the Community Right Bid, nominating cherished local spaces and buildings as Assets of Community Value.<\/p>\n

Year on year, as the take up of this Community Right grows, I want to ensure that how this scheme operates improves for town and parish councils, community groups, local authorities and asset owners.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why we are working with partners at Power to Change and mySociety to promote a new online platform, launched in September, called Keep It in The Community<\/a>, to strengthen how the scheme works by providing a digital directory of all of the Assets of Community Value that have been successfully listed across the country.<\/p>\n

And I\u2019ve seen the benefits in my constituency first hand, where one of our local communities in Hudswell has taken over a local pub, the George and Dragon. It\u2019s now won Yorkshire pub of the year 3 years in a row, so it\u2019s clearly a winning formula!<\/p>\n

The Star Council Awards<\/a> are a perfect reflection of just how much we achieve at a local level. Because, for all the talk of structures and processes, we\u2019re only as good as the people who represent us.<\/p>\n

People who are dedicated to improving people\u2019s lives every single day through their hard work and dedication. So, I\u2019d like to say a big thank you to all of you in this room and our committed public servants up and down the country for everything that you do.<\/p>\n

And I\u2019d like to just take a moment to celebrate, in particular, our Star Council Award winners:<\/p>\n