A Charter

between District/Borough Councils

and Quality Local Councils

THIS CHARTER is made betweenBlaby District Council, Charnwood Borough Council, Harborough District Council, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Melton Borough Council and North West Leicestershire District Council, known as ‘the Districts’, and the Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils, known as ‘LRALC’, for and on behalf of their Parish Council Members in Leicestershire.

Whereas:The Districts are interested in supporting LRALC and their Member Parishes (known as ‘Member Parishes’) to pursue as is appropriate ‘Quality Parish Status’ (known as ‘the status’) for their Councils.

The following assistance and support is offered by the Districts in pursuance of the objective of this Charter.

It is agreed that:

(1)To offer pre application support the Districts will:

  1. ensure Parish Councils have access to information about the status available through a District Contact and/or available through the District Website
  2. promote debate about the status at relevant meetings with Parish Councils including mentioning where information about status can be obtained
  3. for so long as is relevant raise knowledge about the availability of local area agreement support

(2)To give acknowledgement when the status is achieved or reaccredited the Districts will:

  1. acknowledge the success in writing through a letter sent by the Chief Executive of the District and/or a leading member with such responsibility
  2. if agreed with the relevant Parish hold and display a copy of the certificate at the Districts premises
  3. make known the achievement of the status on the Districts websites linked as appropriate to the publication of information about the status

(3)To promote the status achieved by Parishes within their Districts, the Districts will:

  1. give support to the establishment by LRALC of a Countywide “Innovation Forum” for Member Parishes holding the status
  2. request the Rural Community Council to promote Parish Plans within the Quality Member Parishes
  3. continue support to LRALC in their work with Member Parishes to develop the status

(4)Further working support maybe offered by the Districts as is considered feasible including:

  1. alocal Charter negotiated with Member Parishes holding the status to give certain rights to Quality Parish Councils in their relationship with the District
  2. ensure a Parish liaison role is supported within each District
  3. a role in relevant service redesign proposals development or service disinvestments as appropriate
  4. as able to support local projects for democratic renewal and/or community engagement
  5. consideration of a “Best Quality Parish Council of the Year” award
  6. consideration of delegation of functions, if request by Member Councils with the status
  7. consideration of sponsoring specific grants, as appropriate

(5)For the avoidance of doubt engagement and agreement to this Charter does not require the allocation of funds by the Districts or LRALC.

(6)The provisions of this Charter may be varied in local areas by agreement, such agreement to be notified to LRALC.

Signed for and on behalf

of Blaby District Council ______

by Sandra Whiles, CE

Signed for and on behalf

of Charnwood Borough Council ______

by Geoff Parker, CE

Signed for and on behalf

of Harborough District Council______

by Sue Smith, CE

Signed for and on behalf

of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council ______

by Steve Atkinson, CE

Signed for and on behalf

of Melton Borough Council ______

by Lynn Aisbett, CE

Signed for and on behalf

of North West Leicestershire District Council ______

by Christine Fisher, CE

Signed for and on behalf

of LRALC ______

by Cllr F G H Jackson, Chairman

Dated ______