Local Council Award Scheme -

Foundation 

To achieve a foundation award a council demonstrates that it has the documentation and information in place for operating lawfully and according to standard practice. The council also has policies for training councillors and officers and is building a foundation for improvement and development.

Download the latest guidance, application form and panel dates here. 

The council also confirms by resolution at a full council meeting that it recognises its duties in relation to bio-diversity and crime and disorder, and that it has:

Criteria demonstrating good governance in managing the business and finances of a council: 

  • Its standing orders

  • Its financial regulations

  • Its Code of Conduct and a link to councillors’ registers of interests

  • Its publication scheme

  • Its last annual return

  • Transparent information about council payments

  • A calendar of all meetings including the annual meeting of electors

  • Minutes for at least one year of full council meetings and (if relevant) all committee and sub-committee meetings

  • Current agendas

  • The budget and precept information for the current or next financial year

  • Its complaints procedure 

  • Its accessibility statement 

  • Its privacy notice

  • A risk management policy

  • A register of assets

  • Contracts for all members of staff

  • Up-to-date insurance policies that mitigate risks to public money

Criteria representing a council’s role in the community and how it engages with the community

  • Council contact details and councillor information in line with the Transparency Code

  • Its action plan for the current year

  • Evidence of consulting the community

  • Publicity advertising council activities

  • Evidence of participating in town and country planning

Criteria representing council improvement through the management and development of staff and councillors

  • Disciplinary and grievance procedures

  • A policy for training and development of staff and councillors

  • A record of all training undertaken by staff and councillors in the last year

  • A clerk who has achieved 12 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points in the last year

Fees

Registration fee: £50. 

Accreditation fee: 

Annual income under £25,000 - £50

Annual income over £25,000 - £80

All fees are payable to NALC.

How to Apply

You can apply for any award level - you don't need to start at Foundation

Step 1: Register with NALC 

You do not need to have all the criteria in place at this stage, you are simply registering your interest in taking part in the scheme

Step 2: have the criteria prepared and in place, confirm this in a public meeting

Step 3: send your completed application form to NALC 

The council notifies the accreditation panel co-ordinator when the resolution has been agreed and provides a completed application form, including webpage addresses to where the information can be found online.

For panel dates and more information click here