Shropshire Association
of Local Councils
Serving local councils in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin

The Quality Parish and Town Council Scheme

The Quality Parish and Town Council Scheme was launched in 2003 following publication of the Government's Rural White Paper 2000. The scheme provides minimum benchmark standards to enable local councils to represent and involve their communities more effectively. The scheme aims to strengthen relationships between local councils, principal authorities and community and voluntary sector organisations.

The Quality Scheme criteria requires a council to show that it:

  • is a representative of the whole community
  • communicates with its residents, and
  • is properly managed and responsible.

Councils must demonstrate that they have reached the standard required by passing several tests. The seven main headings are:-

  • Electoral Mandate
  • Qualification of the Clerk
  • Council Meetings
  • Communications
  • Annual Report
  • Accounts
  • Code of Conduct

For details of the criteria, accreditation process or general queries about the scheme, bursaries and mentoring for Clerks, please contact the SALC office, tel. 01743 252744 or email salc@shropshire-cc.gov.uk.

Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin together have 20 Quality Parish and Town Councils:-

SHROPSHIRE (15)

TELFORD & WREKIN (6)

Please see below for NALC Guide to becoming a Quality Council:

pdfQuality Parish Scheme (435.43KB)

updated 4 February 2010