QUALITY STATUS


In order for a local council to be awarded Quality Status it must pass the Quality Tests that demonstrate the following: -


TEST 1


ELECTORAL MANDATE

at least 80% of all council seats are filled by Members who have stood for election.


TEST 2


QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CLERK

The Clerk must hold a Certificate in either

  • Local Council Administration awarded by Assessment and Qualification Alliance (AQA) or

  • Certificate of Higher Education or higher in Local Policy awarded by the University of Gloucestershire


TEST 3


COUNCIL MEETINGS

The Parish Council must

  • hold at least 6 meetings each year

  • publicly display appropriate notices of all meetings at least 3 days before each meeting

  • minutes of all meetings must be published within 2 months of the meeting and available to be inspected by any elector in the parish

  • there must be a public session at each full council meeting

  • unless there is a good reason for absence all Councillor's must attend each meeting


TEST 4

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

The Parish Council must demonstrate that it effectively communicates its activities to and actively engages with the community that it represents.  It will do this by

  • producing and publishing at least 4 regular newsletters each year to local people

  • the newsletter must include Clerk and Councillor contact details

  • one newsletter will include an Annual Report

  • newsletters must be readily available at public sites throughout the parish


In addition, the Parish Council must meet at least 9 of the 17 discretionary requirements that demonstrate effective communication of council activities to the public.


TEST 5

ANNUAL REPORT

The Parish Council must publish an Annual Report within a prescribed timescale and it must be publicly available throughout the parish.


TEST 6

ACCOUNTABILITY


Parish Council Accounts must be prepared in accordance with Accounts and Audit Regulations.


TEST 7

ETHICAL FRAMEWORK


The Parish Council must prove that it has adopted a local Code of Conduct.