Parish councils must be given their due for localism to succeed

Last year local government minister Grant Shapps praised "parish councils [for] continuing to grow in importance and prominence in the years to come, and matching a long and rich heritage with a bright and busy future." All well and good until you discover the chasm between this ringing endorsement and the failure of most official documents to even register the existence of parish, town or community councils – collectively badged as local councils. First up is the promisingly titled Inspiring Democracy, a "guide to help local councillors navigate our changing times" – just published online . Given that there are an estimated 80,000 parish councillors serving urban and rural communities across England, you would expect them to get a mention. And they do – just one: "Some Parish Councils are like feudal dynasties operating on inertia". I wonder how Didcot in Oxfordshire, with a population of 25,000 and a town council operating a budget in excess of £1m would react to that pejorative statement? It's the worst kind of Vicar of Dibley-meets parish pump stereotyping. And what about Mary Portas' independent review into the future of our high streets ? Again, all authorities are lumped together as "local councils". And how about Urban Forum's report, Community rights – a changing picture , based on a series of events on neighbourhood planning in England? It mentions that the Right to Bid may well "help communities to save facilities which are important to them"; but fails to register a key mechanism by which that desire can be delivered – namely parish/town/community councils precepting (locally taxing) to fund localism activities for sustainability. It goes on. The Big Society Audit 2012, penned by Civil Exchange , who aim "to be a catalyst to help civil society and government work together", might be expected to include parishes in local government but hasn't. And despite the Town and Country Planning Association's 2012 vision for rural England including the statement that "communities already have much valuable experience in the 'bottom up' approach, gained through initiatives such as Village Design Statements", parish councils – as longstanding key players on these and other DIY Parish Plans – again don't even get a mention. The list of official documents that should, yet do not, recognise the role that local councils can play in localism, is legion and includes planning for climate change – guidance for local authorities acknowledges that the "Localism Act signals a major shift of responsibilities to local authority and community levels in England", but there's still naff all about parish councils. But there are glimmers of hope: "Statutory parish councils have more permanence and authority than informal neighbourhood forums" according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's How can local government build sustainable urban neighbourhoods? report. And if you speak to the residents of Queens Park, London, you would certainly find that they register this ultra-local form of democracy, with 68% of voters in a May referendum saying they want a Queen's Park Community Council (QPCC) – the urban equivalent of a parish council. QPCC will join about 9,000 other parish, town and community councils around England. Those in authority, the media and across public, private and voluntary sectors must firmly place parish councils on their radar, in order to deliver localism and the provisions of the Localism Act. And parishes, in turn, must seize the opportunity to deliver for their constituents. James Derounian is principal lecturer in community development and local governance at the University of Gloucestershire. Bruce Poole, Linda Roberts and Dom Stapleton also had an input This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. Join the local government network for more comment, analysis and the latest jobs direct to you