The future of local democracy – devolution and the need to empower town and parish councils

Discussion paper

Burnett, A., Leman, J. and Ozarow, D. 2025. The future of local democracy – devolution and the need to empower town and parish councils. Birmingham, UK The Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub.
TypeDiscussion paper
TitleThe future of local democracy – devolution and the need to empower town and parish councils
AuthorsBurnett, A., Leman, J. and Ozarow, D.
Abstract

Dr Amy Burnett (Middlesex University/LPIP Place Fellow) Dr Jason Leman (Citizen Network) and Dr Daniel Ozarow (Middlesex University) reflect on key issues related to the role of town and parish councils, and how this can be amplified in discussions on devolution under the current Labour government. This discussion paper explores the roles and capacities of this smallest scale of government to deliver meaningful democratic action at the ‘hyper-local’ level. This is a particularly topical debate in light of The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which underpins the government’s reforms devolve powers to local government. The authors build on the debates raised in the National Association of Local Council’s (NALC) Power Shift Conference on 23rd June 2025, where its members and local government experts came together to discuss how the current devolution measures might affect town and parish councils. This document highlights the potential of parish and town councils to be leaders of this approach. It acts as a checklist for policy-makers, practitioners, and local government at all scales to consider an integrated approach to reflection, resourcing and measurement.

KeywordsLocal Democracy; Devolution; Parish Councils; Town Councils; Community Empowerment; English Devolution; Neighbourhood Governance; Local Government; UK Policy; Local Power; Community Power; NALC; VCSE; Civil Society; Local Councils; Localism; Place Making; Community Engagement; Community Voice; Grassroots Democracy; Hyper Local; Democratic Renewal; DevoLocal; Citizen Network; CEEDRMDX; Valuing Community
Sustainable Development Goals16 Peace, justice and strong institutions
Middlesex University ThemeCreativity, Culture & Enterprise
PublisherThe Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub
Place of publicationBirmingham, UK
Publication dates
PrintDec 2025
Publication process dates
Deposited07 Jan 2026
Output statusPublished
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Open
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Copyright Statement

Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)

Web address (URL)https://lpiphub.bham.ac.uk/the-future-of-local-democracy-devolution-and-the-need-to-empower-town-and-parish-councils/
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Has versionhttps://research.birmingham.ac.uk/en/publications/the-future-of-local-democracy-devolution-and-the-need-to-empower-/
LanguageEnglish
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