Necton Parish Council has received a prestigious award as part of the Local Council Award Scheme.

This award recognises that the council, which serves a village between Swaffham and Dereham, achieves good practice in governance, community engagement and council improvement.

It notes that Necton Parish Council goes above and beyond their legal obligations, leading their communities and continuously seeking opportunities to improve and develop even further.

Necton Parish Council chairman David Matthews said he was delighted.

He said: 'We secured Foundation Status in this award scheme in September, 2016 and we were delighted with that achievement.

'So, to move so quickly and achieve Quality Status is truly worthy acknowledgement of the work and efforts of our councillors and clerk to introduce and apply professional standards across all of the functions of our council.

'In just the past two years, we have travelled a long way to where we are today with a CiLCA qualified clerk, trained and active councillors, a three-year budget and community-driven action plan, good governance across our functions and progressive engagement with our district and county authorities.'

The award scheme report highlighted the council's particular areas of strength, including how the council's action plan is community-wish driven and their communication policy details the importance of two-way communication, acknowledging the important role a parish council fulfils in local democracy.

The Local Council Award Scheme is a peer-assessed programme that has been designed to both provide the tools and encouragement to those councils at the beginning of their improvement journeys, as well as promoting and recognising councils that are at the cutting edge of the sector.

It is through the sector working together to share best practice, drive up standards and supporting those who are committed to improving their offer to their communities that individual councils and the sector as a whole will reach its full potential.

In terms of the future, the council continues to ensure its policies and practices work towards improving and expanding its services and facilities to the local community and welcomes input from local people and partners on this.