Explore the NALC Annual Conference

The Offerton Park Parish Council attended the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Annual Conference in Bournemouth between 5 and 7 October 2007. The Conference provided an opportunity for the Parish Council to raise the profile of our Parish on a national stage, where small urban parishes such as our own all too often have their voices drowned out by the concerns of the larger rural parishes.

At this year's conference, however, Offerton Park was able to punch above its weight and show Parishes all over the country the way forward.

• Charter Mark

During the Conference, the Parish Council was awarded the much coveted Charter Mark - an award operated by the Cabinet Office for those public sector bodies who can clearly demonstrate that they have fulfilled 61 different crieria showing how we put our customers first. The award of Charter Mark demonstrates to your, our residents, that your needs always comes first with the Parish Council.

However, we can't rest on laurels. We are already working hard to ensure that next year when our Charter Mark is up for renewal, we will again be recommended to retain the award.

We therefore proudly display our Charter Mark logo here on our website and all our publications so that your, our residents, know that you can expect only the highest quality service from your Council.

• Website of the Year 2007

The Parish Council is proud to annouce that at the Conference Dinner on Saturday, 6 October, we were awarded Parish Council 'Website of the Year 2007'. There were a total of 14 Councils shortlisted for the award this year from the even larger number of entrants. The judges commented that:-

"..this website has a good layout and design, clear navigation and excellent usability. Access to local information was never more than a couple of clicks away. The website asks you questions and leads you through via your response, which is a novel way and good form of navigation. Information is split into clearly defined groups and serves notice on the community as a call to action."

The award means a great deal in a Parish such as ours which has only been existence for such a short period of time. Communication is always of paramount importance and this award lets us know that we are on the right track in getting our message across to you, and letting you know what is happening in your Parish.

The complete list of winners including runners-up (and the level of precept raised through Council Tax in 2006/07) was as follows:-

1. Offerton Park Parish Council, Stockport (£38,565)
2. Denmead Parish Council, Hampshire (£301,457)
3. Sandwich Town Council, Kent (£80,000)

This shows that we are achieving a great deal with comparatively fewer resources than other Parish Councils giving your, our residents, better value for money.

We aren't complacent, however. If you have any suggestions on how your website can be improved, let us know by emailing us at webmaster@offertonparkparishcouncil.org.uk

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