Local Council Award Scheme
We know that local councils are at the very heart of their communities; giving neighbourhoods a voice and making people more involved in the decisions that affect them.
The Local Council Award Scheme has been designed to celebrate the successes of the very best local councils, and to provide a framework to support all local councils to improve and develop to meet their full potential. The scheme offers councils the opportunity to show that they meet the standards set by the sector, assessed by their peers, and to put in place the conditions for continued improvement.
The Award Scheme provides encouragement to those councils at the beginning of their improvement journeys, as well as promoting and recognising councils that are at the cutting edge of the sector.
Click here to view a Guide to the Local Council Award Scheme 2021
Why should you apply?
There are a range of reasons why a council could benefit from taking part in the award scheme. For those councils who are already confident that they perform to a high standard the scheme provides assurance to the council that it is up-to-date and progressive by the standards set by the sector. For those who wish to improve, it provides a framework to plan and make the first steps. Helping the council improve performance and confidence, with policies in place for continuous development. And for all councils winning the award should be celebration for councillors and officers, as their commitment and hard work is recognised and respected.
The award is a tool that councils can use when working with the local community or other local partners. Giving them confidence that the council is delivering to a national professional standard.
And finally, the scheme will contribute to the national reputation of local councils demonstrating achievements and a commitment to improvement.
How do you apply?
- The council registers its intention to apply for a specified award online here.
- Contact NALC at [email protected] or on 020 7637 1865.
- The council pays a registration fee to NALC to cover the costs of managing the national scheme, including: administration, national online resources, quality assurance and review processes.
- NALC provides the applicant with a template application form and the contact details of the co-ordinator of the appropriate accreditation panel.
- NALC provides the panel co-ordinator with information of the council’s application.
- When a council is ready to make its application to the accreditation panel, its clerk notifies the panel co-ordinator that the council has passed a resolution confirming that all the documentation and information is in place for a specified award and submits a completed application form with any additional documentation required.
- The council pays the accreditation fee which covers the costs administering the local service.
- The local panel co-ordinator keeps a record of all applications and monitors their progress.
- When the accreditation panel makes it decision it informs the council. It also completes an online form to allow NALC to update national records.
The Foundation Award
The Foundation award is for councils who want to show they meet a set of minimum standards to deliver effectively for their communities. To meet this award the council demonstrates that it has the required documentation and information in place for operating lawfully and according to standard practice. The council also has policies for training for its councillors and officers and so has the foundations for improvement and development in place. The Foundation award allows you to benchmark your performance as well as challenging you to consider your councils continuing development and improvement.
The Quality Award
The Quality Award demonstrates that a council achieves good practice in governance, community engagement and council improvement. Quality councils go above and beyond their legal obligations, leading their communities and continuously seeking opportunities to improve and develop even further. To achieve the Quality Award a council demonstrates that it meets all requirements of the Foundation Award and has additional evidence of good governance, effective community engagement and council improvement. Due to the level of this achievement, a council with a Quality Award can also be eligible to use the general power of competence.
The Quality Gold Award
The Quality Gold Award demonstrates that a council is at the forefront of best practice and achieves excellence in governance, community leadership and council development. Quality Gold councils provide leadership for their communities, bring people together, have excellent business planning processes, ensuring value for money as well as constantly seeking new innovations and opportunities to improve. They highlight the very best we, as a sector, can achieve for our communities.
