News from the Leader of the LGA Labour Group - 16 January 2018

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16 January 2018

Cllr Nick Forbes

News from the Leader of the LGA Labour Group

Cllr Nick Forbes
Leader of the LGA Labour Group

Visit our website www.local.gov.uk/lga-labour
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News from Local Labour

Manchester Town Hall shuts for the final time before six years of restoration works to protect the building for future generations.

Islington and Tower Hamlets CLOCking on to construction safety.

Dockless bike scheme launches in Sheffield.

New bins help keep streets clean in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Everton new stadium - Mayor Joe Anderson on how Liverpool City Council's investment will help fight austerity.

Bristol City Council develops ‘inclusive growth strategy’ to close Bristol’s wealth divide.

Digital inclusion plans launched by Salford City Council.

Newham set for 1,000 extra affordable homes.

Time is running out to book a ticket to Labour Local Government Conference 2018

The Association of Labour Councillors (ALC) and LGA Labour Group Local Government Conference will take place on Friday and Saturday 2/3 February 2018. 

This event is an opportunity for Labour’s local government family to meet and discuss a range of issues relevant to local government and Labour. In addition to keynote speakers and plenary sessions, there will be a series of policy and campaigning workshops. Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP is confirmed to speak along with many other members of Labour’s front bench team.

The details are:

Friday 2 February 2018, 19.30 – 22.30
Drinks reception and dinner

Saturday 3 February 2018, 09.00 – 17.00
Local Government Conference

The conference will be held at East Midlands Conference Centre, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RJ. To book your place please visit our website.  Please note we are only able to take online bookings with a debit or credit card. Reserve your place now.

Newly elected Councillors are entitled to a free conference pass. You should have received an email from the ALC explaining how to book your place. If you have any queries please email councillors@labour.org.uk for further information. If you intend to come to the dinner you will need to buy a ticket for that.

News from Wales

Swansea Council has welcomed a Welsh Government offer to invest in the building of the £1.3 billion Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.

News from the Labour Party

Jeremy Corbyn MP makes frontbench appointments.

Jon Trickett MP responding to Carillion going into liquidation.

The plan published today simply fails to match the scale of the environmental problems we face - Sue Hayman MP.

Government climb-down is further proof that Labour is winning the argument on housing.

Rebecca Long-Bailey MP comments on loss of 250 jobs at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port.

National news

Jo Johnson's new jobs show northern transport once again taking a backseat.

Construction giant Carillion has gone into liquidation, threatening thousands of jobs.

Council leaders warn children’s services are dealing with pressures on a ‘staggering scale’, and urge the Government to inject more funding.

Support for apprentice levy goes up in flames. 

Donald Trump cancels February visit to UK.

Restore lifetime tenancies to vulnerable tenants, say peers.

MPs launch inquiry to consider tougher laws on sexual harassment.

“Boiling a frog” or how our voting rights have been eroded by the Tories.

News from the LGA

LGA responds to Government's annual devolution report

LGA: British Chambers of Commerce skills research shows radical reform needed to tackle crisis

LGA backs campaign to protect live music venues

LGA responds to Government's 25-year Environment Plan

LGA responds to launch of new housing agency

Latest delayed transfers of care figures – LGA response

LGA responds to new Wildlife Trusts guidelines

A child is referred to children's services every 49 seconds, councils warn

170 operations a day to remove rotten teeth in children

LGA responds to Government announcement to tackle illegal waste

Local Government Association statement: Carillion

Suffrage Pioneers

The Women’s Local Government Society is working on an initiative supported by the Local Government Association to mark the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918. As outlined in a letter to council leaders and chief executives from Lord Porter earlier this year, we are inviting councils to nominate a suffrage pioneer from their local authority area and to use their legacy to engage a new generation of activists and representatives.

We hope to publish the list of those who have been nominated on the date the RPA1918 passed, 6 February.

At this stage, all we need is the name of your local suffrage pioneer and some information about them either by: 

We very much hope that councils will use this opportunity to mark suffrage pioneers. Find out more by following @suffragepioneer and visit the website.

Opposition Watch

UKIP leader splits with girlfriend over racist messages.

Tories mocked after they claim credit for scrapping credit card charges - a law which came from the EU.

By-elections

By-election results from 11 January 2018

Wyre BC, Preesall
Con 930 [55.3%; -9.7%]
Lab 753 [44.7%; +9.7%]
Conservative hold 

Thanet DC, Thanet Villages
Con 620 [49.3%; +23.4%]
LD 313 [24.9%; +24.9%]
Lab 206 [16.4%; +5.9%]
Grn 66 [5.3%; -7.0%]
Ind 52 [4.1%; -22.9%]
UKIP 0 [[0.0%; -24.4%]]
Conservative hold 

Lancashire CC, Wyre Rural Central
Con 1745 [60.0%; -10.9%]
Lab 925 [31.8%; +13.9%]
Grn 237 [8.2%; -3.1%]
Conservative hold 

Kent CC, Birchington & Rural
Con 2534 [56.6%; +6.1%]
Lab 856 [19.1%; 2.9%]
LD 561 [12.5%; +0.5%]
UKIP 357 [8.0%; -7.8%]
Grn 169 [3.8%; -1.8%]
Conservative hold 

By-elections taking place on 18 January 2018

Bolton MB, Hulton
Bournemouth UA, Throop & Muscliff
Milton Keynes UA, Newport Pagnell North and Hanslope
Rochford DC, Downhall and Rawreth