On 8 January 2015 Communities Minister Stephen Williams set out new measures to make it easier for local people to set up a town or parish council.

The government is keen that more communities feel able to set up councils where they believe it would benefit them. But feedback over the last 3 years has been that the existing legislation can be burdensome and often discourages local campaigners. The three new measures are a response to this feedback.

Read more: Department for Communities and Local Government on GOV.UK, 8 January 2015