About This Campaign Directory
Local-government campaigning covers far more than party politics. Campaigns can focus on council funding, local services, parish and town councils, planning, housing, community ownership, social care, climate action, local democracy, councillor safety, representation, young people and the way public decisions are made.
Campaigns and petitions change regularly. An organisation may also describe work as a campaign, programme, manifesto, toolkit or policy priority. The labels below are intended to make that distinction clear.
National Association of Local Councils – NALC Campaigns
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) represents community, neighbourhood, parish and town councils in England. Its current campaign programme shares good practice and presses for changes in powers, funding and barriers affecting local councils.
Becoming a Councillor – Make A Change
Encourages people from different backgrounds and experiences to stand for election to parish and town councils and explains what councillors do, how to stand and what the role involves.
Creating Your Own Parish or Town Council
Supports local campaign groups seeking to establish a parish or town council and provides case studies, campaign resources and practical material.
Engaging With Young People
Promotes youth engagement in local councils, including youth services, recreation, education support, participation programmes and a national young councillors network.
Health and Wellbeing
Highlights how local councils can support healthier communities. NALC material covers themes including dementia, loneliness, mental health, epilepsy, Crohn's and colitis, and violence against women and girls.
Importance of Community Safety
Covers local council involvement in areas such as emergency planning, community wardens, traffic calming, CCTV, speed enforcement, dangerous driving and local safety.
Improving Civility and Respect
NALC works with county associations, One Voice Wales and the Society of Local Council Clerks on action against bullying, harassment and intimidation in local councils.
The work includes a Civility and Respect Pledge, training, governance tools and support for councillors and staff.
Making Banking Work
Campaigning and sector work aimed at improving banking arrangements for parish and town councils, including problems with account access, mandates and council-specific banking requirements.
Navigating the Cost of Living
Shares ways parish and town councils can respond to financial hardship through affordable housing, community support, gardens and allotments, local employment, transport, utilities and energy-efficiency activity.
Tackling Climate Change
Supports local climate action covering biodiversity, emissions, greener housing, energy, electric-vehicle charging, sustainable travel, carbon literacy and tree management.
Utilising the Planning System
Promotes a stronger parish and town council role in planning, neighbourhood planning, Community Infrastructure Levy, planning representations, land ownership and Community Right to Build opportunities.
Local Government Association – National Campaigns
The Local Government Association represents councils in England and runs national campaigns and programmes on local services, democracy, climate, social care, care leavers and the local-government workforce.
Care Where We Live
A campaign around long-term adult social-care reform and the Casey Commission, with a focus on reform that is durable, fair and rooted in communities and people's lives.
Be a Councillor
Encourages people from a wider range of backgrounds and experiences to consider standing for local election, while giving councils resources to run local recruitment activity.
Back Local Climate Action
Calls for stronger locally led climate action, including a national framework, stable place-based funding and greater recognition of councils' role in housing, transport, energy and local emissions.
Debate Not Hate
Campaign against abuse and intimidation of councillors. It seeks healthier public debate, greater awareness and improved support and protection for elected local representatives.
Digital Switchover
Supports councils through changes to communications technology, including digital exclusion and risks for people who depend on telecare and other connected services.
The Future of Adult Social Care
LGA campaigning and policy work on a care system intended to support independence, connection and quality of life, alongside sustainable funding and reform.
Step Ahead
Calls for care-experienced young people to receive better support as they enter adulthood and for councils to receive the support needed to fulfil their responsibilities.
Make a Difference – Work for Your Local Council
National recruitment campaign promoting careers in local government. The second national media campaign ran in early 2026 and updated campaign materials remain available to councils.
Wales – Local Government & Local Democracy Campaigning
For a Resilient Wales
The Welsh Local Government Association's 2026 manifesto campaign calls for a stronger partnership between councils and Welsh Government.
Its priorities include:
- Multi-year, fair and flexible council funding
- Social care, education and housing pressures
- Prevention funding
- Cost-of-living support and community resilience
- Digital transformation
- Planning and place
- Climate adaptation
Be a Councillor. Be the Change.
Welsh campaign encouraging people to consider becoming a councillor, with a particular emphasis on improving diversity in local elected representation.
The campaign highlights women, young people, ethnic minority communities, disabled people and LGBTQ+ people among groups it wants to see better represented.
One Voice Wales
One Voice Wales represents community and town councils in Wales and participates in sector work including the Civility and Respect programme with NALC and other local-council bodies.
Electoral Reform Society Cymru – Local Democracy
ERS Cymru campaigns for changes to local electoral arrangements and encourages Welsh councils to consider the Single Transferable Vote option permitted under Welsh law.
This is an advocacy campaign. Other organisations and voters may hold different views on the best electoral system.
Scotland – Council Funding, Powers & Local Democracy Campaigns
COSLA Manifesto 2026
COSLA's local-government manifesto groups its asks around six areas: finance, workforce, democratic powers, future generations, thriving places and thriving communities.
It calls for councils to have the resources and powers needed to deliver local services and for stronger partnership between Scottish and local government.
Invest Locally in Scotland's Future
COSLA's budget lobbying campaign calls for fair and flexible local-government funding. Linked campaign areas include housing, council tax, capital investment and local transport.
COSLA White Papers
COSLA's influencing papers cover issues including housing, social care, poverty, the economy, school learning, population, local democracy, leisure and violence against women and girls.
Electoral Reform Society Scotland – A More Local Democracy
ERS Scotland campaigns for further decentralisation and local community power, including local citizens' assemblies and a stronger statutory framework for local democracy.
Become a Councillor in Scotland
Information and recruitment activity explaining the role of Scottish councillors and how people can stand for election. Scotland's next scheduled council elections are in May 2027.
Northern Ireland – Local Government Campaigning
Ending Violence Against Women and Girls – Local Government Action
NILGA has been working with local-government partners on practical council and councillor action supporting the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls campaign.
Areas discussed in 2026 include:
- Safer public spaces
- Working with frontline services
- Prevention and awareness
- Ensuring lived experience informs local decisions
- Zero tolerance of intimidation
Civility in Public Life & Councillor Safety
NILGA resources include the Four Nations Civility in Public Life statement, material on abuse and intimidation of local councillors and policy asks intended to strengthen safety and participation in local public life.
NILGA Devolution, Investment & Council Resources
NILGA's resource library includes its Northern Ireland devolution work, investment plan, local-government business plan, cost-of-living material, councillor guides and governance resources.
Local Democracy, Community Power & Public-Space Campaigns
Make Votes Matter
Make Votes Matter is a single-issue campaign advocating proportional representation for elections to the House of Commons. Its 2026 activity has included calls for a National Commission on Electoral Reform.
Campaigners also organise local days of action and street campaigning around the country.
Electoral Reform Society – Strengthening England's Local Democracy
ERS campaigns for proportional local elections in England and argues that local council seats should more closely reflect votes cast.
This is the organisation's campaign position; electoral systems involve competing democratic arguments and trade-offs.
We're Right Here
Community leaders supported by a coalition of national organisations are campaigning for communities to have more power over their area, local services, buildings and funding.
Keep It Local
Locality's campaign encourages councils and health bodies to work with local community organisations when designing and commissioning public services rather than relying only on large-scale outsourcing models.
Save Our Spaces
Locality campaigns to prevent valued publicly owned buildings and spaces from being lost to private sale and promotes community ownership as an alternative.
Campaign examples include libraries, youth centres, allotments, community buildings and swimming pools.
Jo Cox Civility Commission
The Jo Cox Foundation campaigns for implementation of recommendations intended to tackle abuse and intimidation of elected representatives and candidates.
A renewed call to action for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was published in February 2026.
Climate Emergency UK – Council Climate Action
Supports campaigners, councillors and council staff seeking faster local climate action and publishes Council Climate Action Scorecards covering UK councils.
Locality – Community Ownership
Alongside Save Our Spaces, Locality campaigns for stronger community ownership and policy support enabling communities to acquire and manage local buildings and land.
Milton Keynes & Stony Stratford – Electoral Reform Campaigning
Make Votes Matter campaigners took to the streets of Stony Stratford on Saturday 13 June 2026 as part of nationwide campaigning calling for electoral reform.
The Milton Keynes 2026 council election has been used by proportional representation campaigners as an example of the difference that can occur between overall vote shares and seats won under the current electoral arrangements.
Milton Keynes City Council confirms that the 7 May 2026 election was an all-out election for 60 seats across 21 wards. The council later confirmed that the Liberal Democrat and Labour groups won 20 and 19 seats respectively and formed a partnership administration.
Campaigns & Community Action Around Council Services
Not every local campaign is part of one national branded movement. Councils, charities, resident groups and campaigners frequently organise around the following local-government issues.
Adult Social Care
- Funding of adult social care
- Care at home
- Fair care charging
- Carer support
- Quality and availability of local authority care
Cost of Living & Hardship
- Household Support Fund awareness
- Energy-bill assistance
- Food support programmes
- Financial inclusion
- Community cost-of-living support
Climate, Recycling & Biodiversity
- Recycling education
- Biodiversity projects
- Tree planting and management
- Energy efficiency
- Low-carbon transport
- Local net-zero plans
Housing
- Affordable housing
- Council and social housing
- Private landlord licensing
- Homelessness prevention
- Temporary accommodation
- Housing standards
Planning & Development
- Neighbourhood plans
- Planning consultations
- Town-centre regeneration
- Development objections or support
- Community Infrastructure Levy
- Protection of green and public spaces
Young People
- Youth participation programmes
- Youth councils
- Youth services
- Care-leaver support
- Recreation and community facilities
Health & Age-Friendly Communities
- Dementia-friendly communities
- Public-health campaigns
- Mental-health awareness
- Loneliness and social isolation
- Accessible local services
Community Safety
- Safer streets
- Anti-social behaviour
- Road safety
- Community wardens
- Emergency planning
- Violence prevention
High Streets & Town Centres
- Town-centre regeneration
- Public realm
- Local markets
- Community asset protection
- Support for local businesses
- Transport and accessibility
Current UK Parliament Petitions Relevant to Councils & Local Democracy
The cards below describe what the petition creators are asking for. They are not endorsements by this website. Signature numbers move continuously, so this page focuses mainly on the petition request and closing date.
Set Up a National Commission on Electoral Reform
Calls for an independent, time-limited expert commission to review the Westminster electoral system and build consensus around possible reform.
Closes: 30 September 2026. It has passed 10,000 signatures, so a Government response is due.
Referendum on Replacing FPTP with PR-STV
Calls for a UK-wide referendum offering a choice between retaining First Past the Post for House of Commons elections and replacing it with proportional representation using STV.
Closes: 20 September 2026.
Switch to Proportional Representation for General Elections
Calls on Government to replace First Past the Post with a proportional system for Westminster elections.
Closes: 1 October 2026.
Abolish Council Tax & Fund Councils from National Taxation
The petition creator calls for council tax to be abolished and replaced with funding for local councils through national taxation.
Closes: 25 September 2026.
Government Must Secure More Funding for Councils
Calls for additional council funding and suggests possible approaches including tax surcharges and changes affecting second homes and taxation.
Closes: 6 February 2027.
Increase Highway Funding & Ringfence Tax Revenue for Roads
Calls for increased capital highways funding for local authorities and for a fixed share of fuel duty and vehicle-tax revenue to be used for road maintenance.
Closes: 10 September 2026.
Inquiry Into Road Maintenance & Road-Tax Spending
Calls for an inquiry into road conditions and maintenance methods and asks for information about road-tax spending to be published.
Closes: 24 September 2026.
Criminalise Certain Unauthorised Development & Ban Retrospective Permission
Calls for changes to planning and enforcement law affecting large-scale unauthorised development, green-space occupation and retrospective permission.
Closes: 30 December 2026.
Require Planning Permission for New Telegraph Poles
Calls for permitted-development rights for telegraph poles to be removed and for planning permission and resident consultation to be required for new installations.
Closes: 18 November 2026.
Change Final Decision-Making on National Infrastructure Projects
Calls for the Planning Act 2008 to be changed so that a single minister does not make the final decision on nationally significant infrastructure projects, proposing an independent panel or Parliamentary vote instead.
Closes: 26 November 2026. It has passed 10,000 signatures.
Serious Criminal Convictions & Local Councillor Eligibility
Calls for people convicted of specified serious criminal offences to be prohibited from standing for election as local councillors.
Closes: 6 September 2026.
Audit Opinions Before Public Bodies Raise Taxes
Calls for public bodies whose accounts do not receive an unqualified audit opinion to face restrictions on raising taxes or receiving a larger budget, with further consequences proposed after repeated years.
Closes: 12 February 2027.
Recent Major Local-Democracy Petition
Remove Power to Cancel Local Government Elections
This petition called for the law to be changed to remove powers allowing further scheduled local-government elections to be postponed or cancelled.
It closed with 154,829 signatures and was debated in Parliament on 2 March 2026. The Government response said it had no plans to amend the relevant powers.
Find Council & Local-Democracy Petitions Across the UK
Petition systems differ between the four nations. Use the official platforms below to find newly opened local-government, planning, transport, community and democracy petitions.
Open petitions
Senedd petitions
Current petitions
Get involved
Useful Local Government Campaign Hubs
NALC
Parish and town council campaigns and action resources in England.
Local Government Association
National campaigns involving English local government.
Welsh Local Government Association
Welsh council policy, campaigning and local-government priorities.
COSLA
Scottish local-government campaigns, manifesto and policy work.
NILGA
Northern Ireland local-government news, policy resources and campaign activity.
Locality
Community power, local commissioning and community ownership campaigns.
Electoral Reform Society
Campaigns covering local democracy in England, Wales and Scotland as well as UK-wide electoral reform.
Climate Emergency UK
Campaigner and council resources on local-authority climate action.
Jo Cox Civility Commission
Campaigning and recommendations addressing abuse and intimidation in UK public life.
Campaigns We Are Watching
Local-government campaigning changes quickly as budgets, elections, consultations, council reorganisations and legislation develop. This page can be updated when:
- A new national local-government campaign launches
- A new council-funding campaign is announced
- A local-democracy or electoral-reform action takes place
- A UK Parliament petition passes 10,000 or 100,000 signatures
- A petition is given a Parliamentary debate date
- New campaigns are launched in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland
- A campaign secures a policy change or formal Government response
- New community-power, planning or public-asset campaigns appear