The County Association shall consist of Parish and Town Councils and Parish meetings in the County of Durham, Darlington Borough and in the Metropolitan Districts of Gateshead and Sunderland and is known as the County Durham Association of Local Councils (CDALC).
The main objectives of the Association are:-
- To represent the interests of the First Tier of Statutory Local Government, comprising of Town and Parish Councils and Parish Meetings in England, collectively Parish and town councils are known as ‘Local Councils’
- To provide support and co-ordination to all aspects of the work of Local Councils, as embodied in the following principles of good local government
- To promote the health, safety and well being, both material and cultural of the people in its various communities
- To attract and hold the interest of its citizens
- To develop inherent strength to deal with, and work with, all other tiers of local, regional and national government in a valid partnership
- To adapt itself to change in the way in which the people of the local community, live, work, shop and enjoy themselves
- To protect, consolidate and develop the existing rights, privileges and functions of Local councils
- To encourage and support the universal establishment of elected First Tier Local Government throughout England