Our Services

                                                                            Members of Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils (OALC) receive the following services:

                                                                            Representation

                                                                            Members can become more closely involved in issues that might impact on all local councils in the county. OALC can lobby on issues raised by individual member councils through the national structures of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC). OALC’s representational role is reinforced because of the overwhelming majority of local councils who are in membership (97+%).

                                                                            OALC has representatives where there are successors to the local strategic partnerships and on other groups in Oxfordshire. Oxfordshire County Council and the district councils liaise and consult with OALC when appropriate. If your Council wishes to find out more about our work or to raise an issue through the OALC representative on NALC National Assembly, please contact the OALC office.

                                                                            The Executive and Policy Committee of OALC has representatives from town and parish councils and parish meetings across the county. It also has representatives from Oxfordshire County Council and each of the district councils too. It meets quarterly to oversee the work of OALC and discuss matters of importance to this sector of local government. The Executive Committee has a four year term of office. Please contact the OALC office to find out more.


                                                                            Information and Advice

                                                                            Information and advice on a wide range of issues is available through the OALC office by telephone, email or post. We also produce regular monthly Updates which are sent to member councils. The Update includes national and local news, information on relevant legislation, White Papers and other proposals which may affect local councils and key national and local publications. Updates for the past year can be found in the Members Area of the website.

                                                                            OALC also has an experienced Employment/HR adviser, Chris Moses who is available to help member councils with employment issues. To enhance the service we offer to member councils we have the services of Steve Parkinson, ex-Clerk, Alton Town Council to advise on finance, VAT and audit.

                                                                            Membership of OALC also provides access to the services of NALC, including a wide range of legal topic notes and briefings, as well as legal advice on individual cases.
                                                                            Training opportunities

                                                                            OALC has an annual programme of training and development events for clerks and councillors. There are training events every month, for a list of upcoming training courses please visit our Events page.

                                                                            Mentoring is available in Oxfordshire for those doing the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA). More details about our mentoring are available from the OALC office or on the Cilca qualification on the SLCC website here.

                                                                            Feedback from recent courses -

                                                                            • Excellent speaker, very natural, relaxing, friendly and very well informed

                                                                            • Very interesting event, authoritatively delivered, never too dry.

                                                                            • Fantastic, thorough and confidence building – thank you!

                                                                            • An excellent day and extremely informative, great content. An excellent refresher on how to chair meetings.