We've added some new 2009 service availability data to the website, combining datasets that show where outlets of particular services can be found with postcode level information on the distribution of households.

Posted on: 2nd July 2009, 3:53PM

We welcome the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) to incentivise local authorities to improve delivery of housing and other planning outcomes as part of their strategic, place shaping role and to provide more support to communities and local councils who are endeavouring to deliver new homes.

Posted on: 30th June 2009, 3:54PM

NALC have set up a Leadership Academy to help Mayors, Chairs and Councillors develop their skills - the only national course of its kind aimed specifically at the parish and town (local) council sector.

Posted on: 25th June 2009, 3:01PM

I have been asked to make the case for extending the powers of parish and town councils at a ‘Policy Slam’ session at the summer seminar being managed by the University of Gloucestershire and the Society of Local Council Clerks on 15 July.

Posted on: 18th June 2009, 11:56AM

Posted by: Crispin Moor

We supported this year's Annual Rural Entrepreneurship Conference focussing on Rural Enterprise in a Recession. The presentations for the event are now available to download from the conference website (click on 'Final programme' to download a word doc with links to each presentation)

Posted on: 17th June 2009, 2:49PM

ATOC's new report "Connecting Communities" looks at the viability of re-opening rail links to towns that lost their rail services in the 1960s. Most are small towns that have grown and where a rail link could substantially reduce traffic on major roads.

Posted on: 17th June 2009, 1:53PM

Elinor Goodman, one of our Commissioners, will be chairing this 2 day Environment Agency conference reviewing the current environment, regulatory, legislative, business and public agenda and how that will affect policy, practice, business and regulation in the years ahead.

Posted on: 11th June 2009, 12:00PM

Consumer Focus has published a new report 'Within reach? Consumer reactions to new post office outreach services' on consumer satisfaction with the post office outreach services initiated following the recent post office closure programme.

Posted on: 10th June 2009, 5:20PM

According to the Plunkett Foundation, increasing numbers of rural communities are looking into setting up community-owned rural shops to help address rural shop closures...

Posted on: 20th May 2009, 12:56PM

John Coleman, head of our Rural Places programme, has written an article for the latest Public Service Review magazine, about how the recession is affecting the affordable rural housing challenge.

Posted on: 28th April 2009, 9:15AM