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Our
fantastic Political Administrator, Anthie Zachariou, is leaving to take up a new
role for Labour in local government, so we’re advertising for a new
member of staff. Please do pass on the job details to anyone you
think would be a good fit – the deadline for applications is Tuesday 8th
August.
Ipswich was praised by John Healey MP when he visited to
learn about their approach to building council housing.
Brighton Council has launched a crowd
funding campaign to kick-start the repair and regeneration of Madeira
Terraces, a section of Brighton’s Grade 2 listed seafront.
Sheffield Labour councillor Ben Miskell’s car was attacked by motorbike yobs while he
was inside it, immediately after he attended a community safety meeting called
to highlight the problem of motorbike riders.
Islington is the latest Labour council to roll out Bikehangers, a way of
providing safe on-street bike storage, following a successful trial.
Birmingham’s Cabinet approved plans to boost local self-build with a
package of measures including exclusive bidding for small plots of council land.
Liverpool Council is backing the ‘Tyred‘ campaign, which calls
for a change in the law requiring a ban on tyres older than six years on
commercial vehicles, and is asking other Labour councils to join them in
passing a supportive motion.
Five Lewisham councillors make up the shortlist to become
Labour’s candidate for Mayor of Lewisham in 2018.
‘Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company’, a Royal British Legion-backed social
enterprise which employs former servicemen and women to produce
road signs and other items, are asking Labour councils to consider them for
procurement.
And Cllr Richard Watts wins this week’s ‘Dedication to
the Cause’ award, after he interrupted his honeymoon to appear on BBC Breakfast to warn there was
‘not enough’ Government funding to cover 30 hours of free childcare.
Unison had a stunning win for its union and all workers
by successfully taking the Government to court to scrap employment tribunal fees.
Cladding and insulation used in at least 60 tower blocks
has failed a new fire safety
test which checked cladding in combination with the foam insulation that
was used in Grenfell Tower. Salford Council said nine of its blocks are
affected and it has already begun work to remove them.
Police investigating the Grenfell Tower fire say they
have "reasonable grounds" to suspect that corporate manslaughter offences
may have been committed.
Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid MP, revealed plans to make leasehold law fairer,
and to ban the use of leasehold on houses
entirely…but Labour’s John Healey MP said it doesn’t go far enough.
Labour’s shadow Housing Minister Melanie Onn MP told The
Guardian ‘young people today can’t get the kind of
help I did when I was homeless’.
The number of takeaway food shops in England has risen
by 4,000 in the past three years, an increase of 8 per cent, according to
research by Cambridge University.
Government money set aside for promoting physical
activity and healthy eating in schools should
not be used to "plug a black hole in funding".
One in four pensioners who are entitled to free care –
48,400 people – are being told to contribute towards their care costs to
subsidise gaps in care home funding from councils, according
to a report by Age UK.
The Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP, has announced that thousands of mental health
workers are to be recruited by the NHS in England in an attempt to end the
"historic imbalance" between physical and mental health.
Cardiff is the latest Welsh council to successfully apply
to suspend Right To Buy council
homes.
Carwyn Jones AM vowed to use Wales’ devolved powers to fight Brexit power grab
from Westminster.
Andrew Gywnne MP says the Government’s announcement of
the Grenfell Taskforce ‘falls far short of what is needed’.
Jim McMahon MP says broken Tory promises on transport in the
North West make devolution even more important.
John Healey MP says the Government’s review of fire and
building regulations is long overdue.
Angela Rayner MP warned that over a million children could go hungry this
summer, while Mike Kane MP revealed that over half a million children are being
taught in ‘supersized classrooms’.
The LGA responded to the Government’s
air quality action plan by calling for a national diesel scrappage
scheme, and for councils to be given the power to tackle air quality, not just
monitor it.
The ‘Beyond Brexit’ report was launched, with
council leaders calling for £8.4 billion in EU funding for UK regional aid to
be replaced.
The numbers of
homeless children councils are having to house in temporary accommodation has increased by more than a third in the last three years, local council
leaders warned.
LGA Chairman Lord Porter says the Government must provide funding to councils replacing cladding.
The Tory
Cabinet are in a ‘state of civil war’ over Brexit.
Jacob Rees-Mogg MP has been revealed as the bookies second favourite to take over from Theresa May as leader of the Conservative Party.
‘Clueless’
Sajid Javid MP did not know his own Minister had replied to councils asking for Fire Safety cash.
A Tory councillor has been booted off Cannock Chase council
after failing to turn up for any meetings in over six months.
Tory leader of Dudley Council has come under fire after handing key scrutiny committee positions
to UKIP councillors, despite Labour being the largest opposition party.
Lib Dem run Sutton Council has been criticised by Labour
councillor Emily Brothers over a benefits data leak that
affected vulnerable residents.
The Tory Government ignored official advice in weakening
regulations that made it harder for people to buy the types of dangerous acid
used in recent attacks.
There
were three by-elections held on Thursday 27 July 2017
Manchester MB,
Fallowfield
Labour 861 [76.9%;
+5.7%]
Greens 105 [9.4%;
-5.7%]
Lib Dem 82 [7.3%; +2.7%]
Conservative 72 [6.4%; -0.8%]
[Trade & Unionist 0 (0%; -2%)]
Labour HOLD
North Dorset DC,
Blandford Central
Conservative 310
(36.6%; +16.6%)
Labour 307 (36.3%;
+25.1%)
LD Hugo Mieville 229 (27.1%; +0.1%)
[Green (0%; -12%)]
[Independent (0%; -29.8%)]
Conservative GAIN from
Independent
West Lindsey DC, Scotter &
Blyton
Conservative
694 [44%; -5.5%]
LD Liz Clews 555 [35.1%; +7%]
Labour 230 [14.6%; -7.8%]
UKIP 100 [6.3%; +6.3%]
Conservative HOLD
There are 6 by elections
taking place on Thursday 3 August 2017:
Charnwood
BC, Loughborough Shelthorpe
Kings
Lynn & West Norfolk BC, St Margarets with St Nicholas
Worthing BC, Marine
Sevenoaks
DC, Penshurst, Fordscombe & Chiddingstone
Swale
BC, Milton Regis
Thanet
DC, Margate Central
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