News from the Leader of the LGA Labour Group - 5 September 2017

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5 September 2017

Cllr Nick Forbes

News from the Leader of the LGA Labour Group

Cllr Nick Forbes
Leader of the LGA Labour Group

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News from Local Labour

Steve Rotheram, the mayor of Liverpool City Region, appoints a “fairness tsar” to tackle poverty and promote social justice.

Islington Council closes student council tax ‘loophole’ that could have been costing borough up to £500k a year.

A historic road bridge, which was damaged in the devastating 2015 floods, has been reopened by Leeds City Council and partners with a special community celebration event.

Blackpool Council is investing almost £600,000 to buy up land at Blackpool Airport to help protect the future of the Squires Gate terminal.

Newcastle remembers Martin Luther King’s inspiring visit.

Rochdale Council has offered Coronation Street’s Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch) the freedom of her own town.

National news

Theresa May reins in Tory rebels with fear of reshuffle (£).

No 10 refuses to deny planning to lift public sector pay cap.

Grenfell Tower fire: lawyers warn Theresa May she may be breaching inquiry laws.

UK construction slumps to lowest in 2017 as real estate projects are delayed in Brexit run-up.

Brexit: PM appeals to backbench Tories over repeal bill.

Sarwar and Leonard confirm bids for Scottish Labour leadership.

News from Wales

Swansea Council is covering the cost of introducing the new online system that allows parents or guardians to pay electronically for school meals and other school items.  

Upcycled rubbish is transformed into the Cardiff Bay Eco Lounge.

News from the Labour Party

Once the cessation of violence and humanitarian access has been achieved, the work of building a lasting peace must begin - Emily Thornberry MP on Myanmar.

Diane Abbott MP – Influential voices from within policing warning of the disastrous effects of the Tories’ continued funding cuts.

Warning from NHS Providers should come as a wake-up call to this Tory Government – Jonathan Ashworth MP.

Labour demands answers after damning UN report, read Debbie Abrahams MPs response here.

Mike Amesbury MP: Devolution can’t just be for the Mersey – Cheshire deserves it too.

News from the LGA

'Devolution deadlock' putting economic growth across England at risk

Secondary school places crisis – almost half of councils areas face shortfall in five years
 
LGA responds to Government announcement on lane rental for utility companies

Taxpayers to subsidise planning application costs by £1bn over next five years

LGA responds to Children's Society's Good Childhood Report

Free peer training to help drive local improvement – health and wellbeing systems

The Local Government Association is holding a peer training event on 27th October 2017 in London for elected member peers such as health and wellbeing board chairs and public health & adult social care portfolio holders interested in being part of a peer challenge team helping system leaders with locally driven improvement.

A team of peers are invited by a system to spend up to 3 days examining the opportunities and challenges that the system is facing. They talk to a range of people and highlight things that could be improved.  Peers champion change and recognise the achievements of places they are invited into, spending 3 days on-site undertaking interviews, focus groups and visits. Before they leave the peer team delivers a constructive but challenging feedback session to local leaders and stakeholders.

The peer challenge approach is well established within local government as a proven improvement process.

Those who have been peers suggest the benefits are wide, varied and sometimes personal. These include, a renewed focus for themselves and their own organisation and/or system which is prompted by what they’ve seen and heard and seeing first hand good practice that they can ‘take back to the ranch’

The system wide care & health peer challenge is funded by the Department of Health through the LGA’s Care & Health Improvement Programme.

For further information please contact kay.burkett@local.gov.uk  or phone 07909 534126.

To register your place on the training day, please contact kate.biddlecombe@local.gov.uk

Opposition Watch

A Liberal Democrat council election candidate sent an explicit picture of himself dressed as a mouse to a Labour rival.

Lib Dem Councillors in Southport quit and join the Labour Party.

By-elections

There were 2 by elections in the last week of August

Scarborough BC, Mulgrave ward – 29th August
Conservative 395 [46.5%; +14%]
Labour 299 [35.2%; +20.8%]
Independent 118 13.9% [-6.2%]
The Yorkshire Party 37 4.4% [+4.4%]
[Green [0%; -8.6%]]
[UKIP [0%; -16.7%]]
[Independent 0 [0%; -7.7%]]
Conservative hold

North Somerset, North Worle ward – 31st August
Labour 689 [36.4%; +21.7%]
Conservative 525 [32.4%; +3.7%]
LD 265 [16.4%; +4.1] 
Independent 132 [8.2%; +8.2]
UKIP 108 [6.7% -14.6%]
[NSF 0 [0%; -23.1%]]
Labour gain from Independent

There are 8 by elections taking place on 7th September 2017

Babergh DC, Sudbury South
Suffolk CC, St John’s Ipswich
East Cambridgeshire DC, Ely South
Croydon BC, South Norwood
Cannock Chase DC, Hednesford South  
Colchester BC, Shrub End
Lewes DC, Ringmer & Ouse Valley
Cannock Chase DC, Hednesford Green Heath