Neighbourhood Boards
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Growth and Building Safety of 4 March 2025 on Plan for Neighbourhoods, Official Report, columns 210-212, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure Neigbhourhood boards are representative of the community.
Answered by Alex Norris
The local authority or an alternative organisation, such as a community group if agreed by the chair and local authority, should act as secretariat to the board. Recognising the partnership between the board and local authority, council officers may provide secretariat support and can sit as an observer to discussions, if agreed with the chair. We strongly encourage the board to consider whether an alternative organisation, e.g. a local community group, could act or support in this role to build capacity and capability. In line with the principles of public life and to ensure the local community can hold the board to account, its operations must be transparent, with membership and governance arrangements (including minutes of meetings and decision logs) published on the lead council’s website.
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