Fransham Parish Council achieved recognition of their Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) accreditation at Quality Level this month. Their certificate was presented at their March meeting. Vice-Chair, Cllr James, presiding, received the award on behalf of the Council. He acknowledged the efforts of fellow members and especially the Council’s Clerk for her systematic approach to the lengthy application process that gained success.
The Quality Award demonstrates that a council achieves good practice in governance, community engagement and council improvement. Cllr James said, “This recognition gives the council greater credibility. In addition to being able to demonstrate to the local community that the necessary standards are being met, Quality Councils should be in a better position to influence the decision-making process at the next tier and, where appropriate, take on additional services and areas of responsibility from their principal authorities. This benefits the local community, the parish council itself and the principal authority by promoting confidence, ensuring effective communication and making sure that all are working together with a common aim.”
Councils often begin their LCAS journey at Foundation level, however Fransham Parish Council already had a sound governance framework and so was able to move directly to a Quality level application. If your council is interested in applying for LCAS accreditation, contact our local panel chairman, Gabbie Joyce. More information on the process can be found on NALC’s website.