The Town Council of Royal Leamington Spa is a member of the West Midlands and Warwickshire Association of Local Councils, the regional branch of the National Association of Local Councils.

The services provided include:

Legal Advice
Confidential legal advice and assistance tailored to the needs of parish and town councils. The County Association will take legal advice on behalf of member councils from solicitors dedicated to the law on local councils at the National Association of Local Councils.

Advice and Guidance for Council Chairmen and Clerks
Confidential guidance on correct procedure in councils and changes in legislation affecting local councils.

General support is particularly important to Council Clerks who are often working on their own.

Rights and Interests of Member Councils
Protection and advancement of Local Council interests at a local and national level. The National Association of Local Councils has been instrumental in ensuring that councils have an enhanced role in the Urban and Rural White Papers. It is recognised by Government as a representative body of town and parish councils.

Training
An automatic invitation to all Training Seminars at low cost. The seminars cover topics relevant to the work of Clerks and Councillors. The Association aims to play a key role in delivering the recently published National Training Strategy for Parish and Town Councils.

Insurance
Advice on Insurance cover required by Councils.

Financial Advice
Councils may seek guidance on the preparation of budgets, investment matters, difficulties with audit, capital funding and issues involving private sector and grant aid. Application by local councils to obtain consent to take out Loans are made through the County Association.

Contact with Other Local Councils
The Association has a network of Area Committees, which provide an opportunity for sharing problems and experiences. Area Committees and Larger Councils have an automatic right of nomination of members to the County Committee of the Association.

Subscription to Local Councils' Specialist Journal
Local Council Review is published by the National Association and contains news, information and articles of local council affairs.

Free copy of Warwickshire Rural Community Council's Country Matters magazine

Stationary and Publications Relevant to Town and Parish Councils
Supply of forms, notices, leaflets conforming with the legal requirements of councils and briefing notes.

Contact Warwickshire and West Midlands Association of Local Councils:-

Alison Hodge, Secretary to the Association,

25 Stoneleigh Deer Park

Stareton

Kenilworth

Warwickshire

CV8 2LY

Tel: 02476 217349

 Fax: 02476 531296  or visit www.walc.org.uk