Parish and Town Councils are the first tier of local government and the closest to communities, providing our towns and villages with a democratically accountable voice, with structure to deliver local services and champion what matters to local people.

There are 410 parishes in Devon, of which there are 359 parish or town councils representing approximately 550,000 electors.

As a member based organisation for local councils in Devon, our purpose is to support councils to serve their communities effectively, promoting good governance and leadership, community engagement, and partnership working.  Through our services, we aim to strengthen the capacity and impact of local councils whilst promoting the principles of democracy, transparency, inclusivity, and continuous improvement.

Our Vision

In our vision of vibrant and empowered local councils, robust leadership, decisive action, and effective partnerships flourish. Within this framework, our communities actively engage, ensuring high levels of civic involvement, while local councils serve as esteemed pillars of the community, earning trust and respect from the residents they represent.

Providing Leadership	Taking Action	Working in Partnership
Local councils respected as a cornerstone of local democracy, giving a voice to Devon’s communities, and providing leadership on those matters of most importance.	Local councils being at the forefront of public activity, prioritising community needs and well-being while delivering relevant and effective services, and driving community action.	Local councils recognised as valued and trusted partners, proactively engaged in building strong alliances and meaningful relationships with stakeholders and communities.
We believe in the fundamental importance of  democracy and the essential role of local councils to deliver representation, decision-making and outcomes for communities.	We believe in the transformative power of local councils as place shapers and agents of change. Empowered councils take decisive action, and nurture vibrant, resilient, and inclusive communities.	We believe that collaboration and partnership are key drivers of success.  There is power in working with stakeholders, to achieve common goals, share resources and maximise impact.

The values we will work to:

	Leadership We are committed to providing proactive leadership, guiding and inspiring our members and stakeholders toward achieving shared goals and collective progress.
	Collaboration We will foster a culture of collaborative relationships, where open communication, mutual respect, trust, and teamwork are valued and encouraged.
	Inclusivity We believe in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that all voices are heard, respected, and valued in our activities.
	Excellence We are dedicated to demonstrating excellence, promoting best practice, setting high standards and striving for continuous improvement to achieve the best possible outcomes.
	Agility We will demonstrate flexibility in addressing evolving needs and circumstances, proactively adjusting our approaches to meet the changing requirements of our members and stakeholders.

Our Strategic Aims

• Supporting our member councils,
  strengthening local council capacity and skills, promoting effective governance practices through the provision of advice, training, and resources, and encouraging innovation and transformation within councils to improve service delivery for communities.

• Foster knowledge sharing and support among our membership,
  promoting peer learning, best practice dissemination, and collective problem-solving to enhance the effectiveness of local councils.

• Encourage meaningful engagement between councils and communities,
  championing community participation in decision making processes, fostering collaboration and inclusivity.

• Proactively represent and advocate for the interests of the local council sector
  by representing their views to policy and decision-makers at every opportunity, and promoting the importance of direct engagement with local councils.

• Build strategic partnerships and alliances
  between local councils, principal authorities and other stakeholders, to pool resources, enhance collaboration, and address common challenges facing Devon’s communities.