The Somerset Association of Local Councils (SALC) represents, supports, trains, and provides advisory services to more than 260-member city, town, and parish councils and parish meetings across Somerset.
We are the first point of contact when guidance is needed by member councils on all aspects of local government.
SALC is one of 40 county associations affiliated to the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and we appoint a councillor to sit on the National Council as the representative for Somerset. NALC plays a pivotal role in lobbying the government to ensure the views of city, parish, and town councils are heard, and SALC acts to ensure Somerset has a voice in this process.
SALC is also the body responsible for checking and submitting all borrowing applications from Somerset’s parish and town councils to the Secretary of State.
The SALC office is staffed by a team of four officers, led by Justin Robinson, Chief Executive Officer. All members of the team can be contacted via info@somerset-alc.org.uk
Our advice, guidance, and training covers a raft of topics including financial, legal, human resources, community health and wellbeing, governance and procedural issues. Members can view and download from this website the latest NALC legal topic notes, policy briefings, publications, document templates, and other sector specific information.
Ewan is the chief officer of SALC, whose role is to represent and actively promote the association and Somerset’s parish and town councils across the public sector and other partnerships. Ewan has extensive experience as a councillor and former mayor and is available to advise and assist member councils.
Justin joined SALC in 2013 with significant knowledge and experience of the sector. Justin has served as a parish clerk, councillor, including as a town mayor, and is a former deputy leader of the county council, where he held the community services portfolio for four years and served as chairman to a number of strategic and project boards. Justin enjoys representing SALC at the local and national level and delivers a variety of training direct to councillors and clerks. Justin is available full time Monday to Friday (including some evenings) to provide advice to members on all local council matters.
Company Secretary and Council Support Officer
Sam responds to all matters relating to the operation of SALC and its member councils. She delivers clerks’ training and is a qualified HR professional and workplace mediator.
Sam worked for SALC between 2013 and 2017, leaving to work full time as a qualified clerk within parish and town councils. On her return to SALC in 2022, Sam’s role includes responding to members' enquiries and sharing updates through her regular newsletter. As a qualified adult trainer, Sam leads on SALC’s Essential Clerk training and delivers training for the CiLCA qualification. Sam is qualified in human resources as a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, and is a qualified workplace mediator compliant with the Civil Mediation Council. Sam is available full time Monday to Friday to provide advice to members on all local council matters.
Community Health & Wellbeing Officer
Fodo is helping SALC to deliver its project to improve community health & wellbeing, which aims to reduce health inequalities for Somerset residents.
The Community Health & Wellbeing Officer helps SALC to deliver its health and wellbeing project, which aims to reduce health inequalities for Somerset residents. The role takes the lead on providing all parish and town councils with dedicated support, networking opportunities, and training to deliver the 4-year programme in support of communities.
Training Support Officer
Simon works Mondays and Fridays managing SALC’s training programme. He delivers a wide range of training and responds to enquiries relating to the operation of member councils.
Simon joined SALC in 2017 and works part time, normally on a Monday and Friday.
Simon served for almost a decade as a town & district councillor before becoming a CiLCA qualified local council officer.
Simon personally delivers much of the councillor training for SALC and coordinates all other councilor and officer training.
Simon can be engaged to come out to councils and deliver in-person whole council events.
We also partner with external training providers in specialist areas. Information on our scheduled training courses can be seen on our Training page.
Company Name: Somerset Association of Local Councils Limited
Address of Registered Office: Edgar Hall, Somerton Business Park, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6SB
Company Number and Place of Registration: No: 11942896 registered in England and Wales
Company No. 11942896 registered in England and Wales
