Welcome to the Hertfordshire Association of Parish

                 & Town Councils (HAPTC) web site

 

HAPTC is a member-owned association acting as a support organisation and representative body for the 102 parish and 12 town councils plus 10 parish meetings in Hertfordshire covering 403,000 electorate.

 

 

 

Vision

The Association envisages providing a service for the parish and town councils throughout the County, which serve their communities as the first tier of local government. It wishes to promote a future where principal local authorities and other agencies recognise the positive contribution made by parish and town councils to local democracy. It aims to communicate effectively with local councils, and respond to their stated needs, in order to help develop their capacity to deliver consistent quality representation, information, facilities and services for all local residents.

Mission

Hertfordshire Association of Parish and Town Councils exists to unite and support Hertfordshire’s local councils by; providing them with strong representation, essential information, appropriate services and a strong and independent voice at county, regional and national levels.

 

Core values:

Communicate

Consult

Openness

Integrity

Inclusivity

Corporate Aims and Objectives

• To provide quality services to member councils
• To enable quality training for clerks and councillors
• To respond to appropriate consultations ensuring that the Association's voice is heard in the formation and amendment of policy
• To expand HAPTC’s role as an exemplar of county associations 
• To maximise the membership of the Association
• To support the formation of Quality Parish Councils in the County
• To work in partnership with Hertfordshire’s County, District & Borough Councils, other key organizations and agencies to achieve more effective outcomes for member councils
• To ensure that its levels of activity are matched to resources available, ensuring a sustainable future for the organisation

Corporate Plan 2011

The corporate plan has a three year life and will be reviewed every three years

• To be a leading Association
• To be a voice of the communities it serves
• To be strong in its representation
• To be a good employer
• To promote good local government through advice and training
• To promote the reduction of the carbon footprint and sustainability

 

HAPTC Constitution 

 

About HAPTC

HAPTC supports the work of the Council as a body through offering advice and guidance via the Clerk on its behalf. In responding to correspondence from individuals we will generally copy in the Clerk, as the proper officer of the Council, for its information.

 

 

Benefits to Parish and own Councils of being a member of HAPTC.  Established over 60 years ago, HAPTC is a membership organisation which provides legal, financial and procedural advice to member Parish and Town Councils and Parish Meetings, within Hertfordshire.

Our leaflet Benefits of membership outlines the role of HAPTC and the services we provide to our members.

Also see WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU and About HAPTC Summary sheet

 

 

 

An additional role of HAPTC is to represent local councils on many bodies where it is desirable to have a delegate but impracticable for every Parish and Town Council to be included.  HAPTC will play a strategic role in the promotion of Parish and Town Councils at District, County, Region and National level.

As part of the National Training Strategy, HAPTC has established a Hertfordshire County Training Partnership with our partners; the Society of Local Council Clerks (who represent the Clerks of Parish and Town Councils). Together we have developed a range of courses providing training to Councillors and Clerks delivered by experts in their field. These will provide essential training to those new to local council work and development sessions for those more experienced.

Member councils receive advice through a weekly email bulletin; the publication of our monthly newsletter plus the Local Council Review (a national publication by NALC).  Our legal and procedural advice is bonded and can be provided following a written request to HAPTC on specific matter and general issues are covered via Legal Topic Notes. This service is available to our members only and will be continually improved through the development of our members only web page which includes the Local Association Information Service sheets

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Parish and Town Councils represent their local communities and are being encouraged to take on a more active role in the provision of public services and representation. It is the function of HAPTC to support member councils in the increasing challenges they face.

NALC

Through membership to the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) the interests of member councils are addressed with central government and are able to influence the decision marking processes affecting Parish and Town Councils.  NALC also provide regular policy and procedural updates for dissemination of Member Councils through the County Association.   HAPTC is affiliated to NALC.

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For further information please contact us.

Our offices are normally open every week day, except Bank Holidays, from 9am to 12.30pm.

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