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CDALC

Delivering support to local councils in County Durham

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Aycliffe Nature Park

Aycliffe Nature Park

Near Traveller’s Green in Newton Aycliffe, this area houses several rare species. There is a pond, dipping platform and info about flora and fauna.

Town hall

Ferryhill Town Hall

Ferryhill Town Hall Headquarters of Ferryhill Town Council

Great Aycliffe Show

Great Aycliffe Show

Organized by Great Aycliffe Town Council this event has crafts, horticulture, competitions, trade stands, demonstrations, funfair and refreshments.

Great Aycliffe Show

Great Aycliffe Show

Great Aycliffe Town Council provides a superb family-friendly event during August Bank Holiday weekend, with free public entry for two days of fun.

Adult fitness trail

Adult Fitness Trail

Shildon Town Council is encouraging its adult population to get as fit as its children by installing adult fitness equipment in its park.

Town Park

Town Park

Located near to the centre of Newton Aycliffe, the Town Park features planted areas, play equipment, a skateboard area and a youth shelter.

Oakleaf Bowls

Oakleaf Sports Complex

Open 7 days a week to provide classes, coaching and wide range of facilities including football, squash, badminton, cricket and indoor bowling.

Councillors

Local Councils Charter

Local Councils and Durham County Council members at the official signing of the Local Councils Charter event.

Refurbished Play Area

Refurbished Park - Shildon

Shildon Town Council's Hackworth Park and it's newly refurbished play equipment

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Home / Parish Councils / Quality and Performance

Quality and Performance

The County Association recommends that all parish councils employ a qualified clerk or enable their clerk to train to obtain the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) and attain at least the Foundation Stage of the new Local Council Award Scheme.

Any council achieving both of the above can demonstrate that it can provides quality services and perform effectively and efficiently.The new scheme will contribute to the national reputation of local councils demonstrating achievements and a commitment to improvement.

The new Local Council Award Scheme will be a three tier approach with councils of any size aspiring to an award appropriate for their budget and level of activity.

Foundation

The Foundation award is for councils who want to show they meet a set of minimum standards to deliver effectively for their communities. To meet this award the council demonstrates that it has the required documentation and information in place for operating lawfully and according to standard practice. The council also has policies for training for its councillors and officers and so has the foundations for improvement and development in place.

The Foundation award allows a council to benchmark its performance as well as challenging them to consider their continuing development and improvement.

Quality

The Quality Award demonstrates that a council achieves good practice in governance, community engagement and council improvement. Quality councils go above and beyond their legal obligations, leading their communities and continuously seeking opportunities to improve and develop even further.

To achieve the Quality Award a council demonstrates that it meets all requirements of the Foundation Award and has additional evidence of good governance, effective community engagement and council improvement. Due to the level of this achievement, a council with a Quality Award is eligible to use the general power of competence.

Quality Gold

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. Quality plus councils provide leadership for their communities, bring people together, have excellent business planning processes, ensuring value for money as well as constantly seeking new innovations and opportunities to improve. They highlight the very best we, as a sector, can achieve for our communities.

Further details of the revised Certificate in Local Council Administration will be added to this page when introduced in April 2015.

  • What is a Parish Council
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