Shropshire Councils Encouraged to Showcase Their Excellence
Shropshire re launches Local Council Award Scheme to strengthen Community Partnerships
The Shropshire Association of Local Councils (SALC) is proud to announce the relaunch of the Local Council Award Scheme following the National Association of Local Councils’ (NALC) comprehensive review of the scheme criteria last year.
Councillor Ray Wickson (Chairman of the Association) says:
“This initiative offers Town and Parish Councils across Shropshire the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to sector standards, transparency and community leadership. Unique to Shropshire the scheme is assessed locally by a dedicated panel and culminates in face-to-face award presentations celebrating achievements within the communities they serve.”
Councillor Alex Wagner, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Shropshire Council says:
“"The Local Council Award Scheme is a powerful tool for strengthening the relationship between Shropshire Council and our Town and Parish Councils. By recognising excellence in governance and community engagement, the scheme not only celebrates the dedication of local councils but also fosters greater collaboration and trust. It’s an important step in building resilient, inclusive communities where local voices are heard and valued."
Councillor Paul Davis, Cabinet Member for Communities and Civic Pride, Telford & Wrekin Borough Council says:
"The Local Council Award Scheme is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the passion, commitment, and achievements of Town and Parish Councils across Telford & Wrekin. It recognises the dedication of local councils to good governance, transparency, and outstanding community service. As a borough that values strong local leadership and active participation, we see this scheme as a celebration of collaboration and a chance to strengthen connections between councils and residents. Together, we are building thriving, resilient communities where everyone can take pride in contributing to a brighter future.”
Chris Mellings (Chief Executive Officer of the Association) says:
“The timing of the relaunch aligns with the new Administration at Shropshire Council that has expressed a strong desire to work in partnership with local councils. The scheme provides a valuable platform to showcase how Town and Parish Councils are delivering real benefits to residents and how they can contribute meaningfully to wider strategic goals.”
Benefits of the scheme include:
• Recognition of excellence in governance community engagement and service delivery
• Strengthen relationships between local councils and Shropshire Council
• Enhanced public trust through transparency and accountability
• Opportunities for collaboration innovation and shared learning
SALC encourages councils to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to be recognised for their hard work and dedication.
Wem Rural Parish Council has achieved the gold award. Below are details of how they achieved it and what the Award means.
Cllr Edwards commented on the accreditation by saying “Quality and excellence go hand in hand with enthusiasm and commitment to ensure that Wem Rural Parish Council is always leading with the front foot with the sole purpose of serving our community to the very best of our abilities.”
Achieving Quality Gold demonstrates how Wem Rural Parish Council is at the forefront of best practice and achieves excellence in governance, community leadership and council development.
Some of the ways that Wem Rural Parish Council has achieved these standards is around their succession planning and how new councillors and clerk is trained, along with an informal mentoring programme. Other ongoing priorities for Wem Rural Parish Council include supporting local businesses with free networking opportunities, commitment to health and wellbeing of residents by raising the awareness of NHS and other campaigns via social media and how councillors actively take part in consultations. Other priorities for Wem Rural Parish Council is the commitment of protecting the local environment when regularly discussing local planning applications and making recommendations to improve biodiversity by installing bat and bird boxes.
For further comment or information, please contact Councillor Ray Wickson on 07701312547 or email: ray.wickson@ercallmagnaparishcouncil.gov.uk
Note to Editors
The Local Council Award Scheme offers thee levels to apply for, Bronze, Silver and Gold.
There are a total of 183 Town and Parish Councils in the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, 99% of which are in membership of SALC.
SALC is a membership organisation representing and supporting the parish and town councils across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.