Oswestry Rural Parish Council achieves Foundation Level.
The Local Council Award Scheme exists to celebrate the successes of the very best local councils, and to provide a framework to support all local councils to meet their full potential. All local councils want to serve their local communities and make a real difference to the lives of the people that live there. This 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 Local Council Award Scheme has been designed to both provide the tools and 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. It is only through the sector working together to share best practice, drive up standards and supporting those who are committed to improving their offer to their communities that individual councils and the sector as a whole will reach its full potential.
The scheme was created in 2014 and is managed on behalf of local councils by the Improvement and Development Board (IDB).
Councils can apply for an award at one of three levels.
- The Foundation Award demonstrates that a council meets requirements for operating lawfully and according to standard practice.
- The Quality Award demonstrates that a council achieves good practice in governance, community engagement and council improvement.
- 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.
The scheme sets out criteria to meet at each level covering selected aspects of the council’s work. Councils can seek to progress through the tiers over time thereby raising standards. Councils of any size can aspire to an award appropriate for their budget and level of activity.
During November 2017, Oswestry Rural Parish Council submitted it application to be awarded the Foundation Level Award. In its report, the Accreditation Panel stated:
“The Accreditation Panel would like to thank both you (Cllr Robert Milton) and Carole Warner, your Clerk for attending the meeting and for your help in answering questions raised. The Panel congratulate the Council on the clarity of its website, where information on the required criteria was easily accessible. Of note was the helpful information introducing the various topics.
The Panel were impressed with the high standard of work that the clerk has undertaken indicating much good practice which was encouraging for other councils. Achievements were notable, particularly those resulting from a programme of campaigning and working with other partners.”