Local Government Finance Settlement
The
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid MP,
announced the provisional local
government finance settlement for 2017/18 on 16 December. The LGA responded
in a press release and published
an on-the-day briefing, outlining the
announcements in more detail.
The Casey Review: A review into opportunity and integration
As set out above, the
Government has published Dame Louise Casey’s review into integration.
Violence against women and girls: service transformation fund
The Home Office
has recently published details of its three-year £15million VAWG service
transformation fund for commissioners, to support delivery against the NSE and
commissioning toolkit. The formal application process is expected to start in
early 2017, with the intention of awarding grants to successful bidders early
in the 2017/18 financial year, however the expression of interest period is now
open until 23 January. Further details and the funding prospectus are available
here.
The Home Office has published a number of Domestic Violence related reports:
Home Office Serious & Organised Crime National Conference
The serious and
organised crime national conference aims to bring together practitioners, local
leaders and government departments and provide a forum for capturing and
sharing best practice and encouraging more proactive multi agency partnership working
across the whole of the serious & organised crime strategy. The conference is
taking place on 2 February at Aston Villa, Birmingham. You can register for the event online.
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
Plymouth City
Council have asked the LGA to draw your attention to the availability of funds
from the Marine Management Organisation through the European Maritime and
Fisheries Fund to fully fund the purchase of Personal Flotation Devices
equipped with Personal Locator Beacons for those working at sea in the fishing
industry.
Plymouth City
Council has passed a motion supporting such an application. Fishing has been
identified as Britain’s most dangerous peacetime industry and councils with a
local fishing industry may want to consider this proposal. Further information
is available on the Seafish, RNLI and Fishermen’s Mission websites and here.
The LGA is now
working closely with the National Water Safety Forum to pursue the aims of the
National Drowning Prevention Strategy. The National Drowning Prevention
Strategy can be viewed via the National Water Safety Forum website.
National FGM Centre wins Safeguarding Award
In November the National
FGM Centre won the Safeguarding Award at the Children and Young People Now
Awards. The judges said that the Centre won the award
as the “initiative that has made the biggest contribution to prevent and
protect children and young people from abuse and neglect”, with one judge
saying the centre was “a prime example of multi-agency, ground breaking
practice”.
National FGM Centre training
The aim of the
National FGM Centre’s training offers is to enhance participants’ understanding
and skills to act appropriately and confidently to protect and support girls
who are at risk or have been subjected to FGM. 100% of delegates who have
attended the training would recommend it.
Female offenders grant funding scheme 2016
The Ministry of Justice is providing £800,000 to
support local areas to develop a joined-up, multi-agency approach to improve
support for female offenders and other women with complex needs who may be at
risk of offending.
The guidance
document provides further details of the scheme, eligibility criteria and
advice for applicants. Applicants must submit the application form to cjwst@justice.gsi.gov.uk, no later than 12 noon on
Monday 30 January 2017.
Duty to Notify the Home Office about Modern Slavery
The Office of the
Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
has published a number of resources including legislation, training materials,
guidance and information on your duty to notify the Home Office of potential
victims of modern slavery. See more here.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) update events
HSE will be delivering a
series of LA update events in early 2017 across England, Scotland and Wales.
The events will provide strategic updates regarding the health and safety
system in GB as well as sharing information about inspection priorities for the
forthcoming work year. The invitation is open to Chairs and Secretaries of
County Liaison Groups and also to any EHOs responsible for undertaking health
and safety work in their LA. In order to register to attend one of the events,
please e-mail lau.enquiries@hse.gov.uk.
The dates and venues are:
- Friday 27 January 2017 – Stirling Council Chambers
- Monday 30 January 2017 – Cannock Chase Council
- Tuesday 14 February 2017 – City of London Council
- Friday 17 February 2017 – Stockport Council
Community engagement on female genital mutilation
These case studies provide examples of how councils and their partners have been working with women and girls to raise awareness of FGM, provide support and protect vulnerable people who may be at risk.
Annual Licensing conference 7 February | London An opportunity to discuss key strategic and practical developments that can be expected to affect councils’ licensing committees and teams over the next year.
Taxi
licensing conference - North West 21 February 2017 | Preston A one-day session exploring how members can oversee, scrutinise and enact their licensing role to best effect.
Leadership Essentials Counter Extremism Tuesday 28th February
– Wednesday, 1st March 2017
The
Government’s 2015 Counter-extremism strategy acknowledged the importance of
local authorities in protecting local areas from extremism. This new two-day programme
for elected members will explore in detail the role of local government in
countering extremism, including distinctions with the Prevent duty, challenging
extremist ideologies, approaches for building community cohesion and resilience
and effective responses to hate crime. It will also cover effective scrutiny of
local counter-extremism strategies.
The
cost of attending this programme is fully subsidised. This includes
accommodation, meals, course materials and tuition. To book please contact
Grace Collins on 020 7664 3054 grace.collins@local.gov.uk
LGA Annual fire conference and exhibition 2017 7-8 March 2017 | Hilton Newcastle Gateshead The annual fire conference and exhibition is a key event in the conference calendar for senior fire officers and members of fire and rescue authorities.
Policing and Crime Bill
The Policing and Crime Bill has completed its
Report Stage and Third Reading in the House of Lords this week. The LGA has briefed peers ahead of each stage of the debate,
in support of amendments on gambling, licensing, and fire and rescue
authorities. We have also called for clarification on amendments for homicide
reviews, to ensure any new responsibilities for councils are appropriately
funded. The Bill will be re-examined in the House of Commons on the 10th
January 2017, for ping pong stage. The LGA will publish a ‘Get in of the Act’,
which provides a brief overview of the LGA’s lobbying work on the Bill and any
changes made during the Bill’s passage.
Minibus taxi safeguarding loophole must be fixed, councils urge 3 December 2016
Our
members' magazine 'first' is now available in a digital flip-through format.
You can search specific terms and save favourite articles. You can find the current issue here, and also scroll to
view previous issues.
|