LGA Boards 2018/19 – nominations now open
The nomination process for appointments to the LGA Boards 2019/20 is now open.
If you are interested in applying to a position on an LGA Policy Board, the LGA Leadership Board, Councillors Forum, or a Workforce Employer Body, we would encourage you to read the policy board descriptions and role descriptions. All details can be found on the LGA Labour website, along with the application form.
Members are required to complete an application form and submit it with a 250 word supporting statement. It is important to outline all your experience and areas of interest to enable us to make the most effective appointments to policy leadership positions at the LGA.
Applications close at 5pm on Friday 5 July 2019. Appointments are made by the elected Labour Group Officers, using the principles outlined on the LGA Labour website. Successful nominations will be announced on Monday 22 July 2019.
Please note: We are only able to accept nominations by email. Please email your completed self-nomination form to martin.angus@local.gov.uk
Next Generation Programme 2019/20
The Next Generation Programme for 2019-20 is now open for applications. The programme offers ambitious and talented councillors an unparalleled political development opportunity, uniquely developed within party political traditions and with party political experts. Next Generation aims to support and encourage councillors to be bold and confident political leaders, progress in your political career and be champions of local government.
To apply to be part of the Next Generation you will need to have been a councillor for at least one year as well as be a Group Leader, Portfolio Holder, Service Committee Chair, Portfolio Shadow, or Chair of Scrutiny – or your Group Leader agrees that you are likely to be so within a year. There is a competitive application process, which closes on Wednesday 31 July 2018. You will need sign off from your Group Leader to apply. The programme will run over the weekends of 19/20 October (London), 30 November/1 December (Warwick), and 18/19 January (Manchester). Participants must attend all of the three weekends.
There is no cost to attend the programme, all meals and accommodation will be provided including pre-night accommodation where required. However attendees must cover their own travel costs. If you would like further information about the programme, please email martin.angus@local.gov.uk
To apply please complete the on-line application process.
News from local Labour
Work to begin on new affordable homes for Redbridge families.
Manchester Council improves free swimming for under 17s.
Plymouth at the forefront of tackling the effects of childhood trauma.
The latest segregated cycle route delivered as part of the Birmingham Cycle Revolution (BCR) programme has been completed and is now open for use.
Active Tameside wins Inclusion and Disability Award
Oxford will see a new festival, exploring how residents can go beyond recycling and explore zero-waste for Oxford Green Week.
Hackney Council is named Britain’s best school leavers employer for the second time
Labour Political Assistants Network
The Political Assistant for Medway Labour & Co-operative Group is looking to create a new Labour Political Assistants Network to share knowledge and best practice, and to provide support. Please encourage your Political Assistant to join by emailing Jen McDonagh at labourpoliticalassistants@gmail.com with their contact details. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Best practice – support for councillors who are carers
Following on from the success of the parental leave for councillors policy drawn up by the LGA Labour Women’s Taskforce, the Taskforce was asked to produce guidance on how best to support councillors who have caring commitments.
The Taskforce has drawn up guidance on what a good policy to support councillors should look like. This includes making it clear which council duties will be covered by the policy, the rate at which allowances should be paid, who can provide the care and which dependents can be covered by the policy.
We’d encourage all Labour-run councils to use this to either strengthen existing policies to supporting councillors with dependents, or to put a policy in place if this does not already exist. Along with parental leave, this is an important step in encouraging people from a wider range of backgrounds to be councillors, and to ensure that existing councillors with these commitments remain as councillors and have these particular barriers removed from them if they wish to progress to leadership roles.
The guidance can be viewed here. If you have any questions or want to share what your council does in this area, please email hannah.lazell@local.gov.uk
Best practice – Getting more women to stand to be councillors
The LGA Labour Women’s Taskforce is acutely aware that in order to get more women into leadership roles in local government, we need more women to stand to be councillors in the first place.
With that in mind, we’ve produced a best practice guide with examples of how different Labour groups have encouraged women to stand to be councillors. We appreciate that this year’s elections are only just out of the way, but we know that you’ll soon be thinking about next year’s selections soon, so we wanted to have this for your consideration as soon as possible.
The best practice can be viewed here. If you want to share any of the things your local Labour Party does to encourage more women, or if you have any questions please email hannah.lazell@local.gov.uk.
Remembrance List
Each year at the LGA Labour Group AGM we remember the names of serving Labour councillors who have passed away in the previous year, reading out their names and authorities to mark their contribution to Labour in local government.
We would be very grateful if you could please email hannah.lazell@local.gov.uk with the full names of any members of your Group who have died in the previous twelve months, so that they can be included on the Remembrance List. Please send us your names no later than midday on Friday 28th June.
News from Wales
The final plan to reduce dangerous levels of air pollution, cut congestion, improve road links and improve both public transport and cycling infrastructure in the Cardiff city centre has been approved by Cabinet.
Carbon reduction programme underway at Swansea leisure facilities
News from the Labour Party
Labour Planning Commission
Labour launched its independent Planning Commission on 23rd September 2018. A key part of the Commission is hearing from a wide range of stakeholders about their experience of the current planning and plan making systems, and how they might be improved, to be more community and place making focused. You can find more information here with details of how to submit evidence. The closing date for evidence is 28 July 2019.
Tom Watson gave a speech about The Future of Britain and Europe
NHS struggling under pressure – Jonathan Ashworth
It is a national scandal that our schools need to turn to charity to make sure they have the resources they need – Angela Rayner
Events
How do we clean up Britain’s air? A Clean Air Day discussion
Thursday 20 June, 19.00-21.00. Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate's, OX11 Oxford.
This panel discussion, supported by Oxford Friends of the Earth, opens its doors at 7pm and starts at 7.30pm, and has the following speakers: Anneliese Dodds (Oxford East MP and Shadow Treasury Minister) Councillor Tom Hayes (Oxford City Council Cabinet Member for a Zero Carbon Oxford) Councillor Christopher Hammond (Leader, Southampton City Council) Fiona Tavner (Oxford Friends of the Earth) Matt Allen (CEO, Pivot Power) Chair: Polly Billington (Director, UK100)
Register here
Free – Commercial skills for councillors masterclass in London, Manchester, Taunton and Birmingham
Councils are increasingly looking at innovative ways to generate income and transform their organisations in response to local needs - the role of councillors is integral to commercial success, including as portfolio holders, scrutiny committee members and non-executive directors of boards.
The Commercial skills for councillors one-day masterclass provides elected members with the opportunity to learn practical commercial skills from an LGA member peer and an experienced commercial trainer. The masterclass is aimed at councillors with different levels of commercial knowledge, whether you are learning commercial skills for the first time or refreshing existing capabilities, to support confident decision making about commercial projects.
There is a case study from the member peer host and the opportunity to hear from other delegates how they are putting their commercial skills into practice.
There are 25 places available for each masterclass, available on a first come, first served basis. Last year’s masterclasses were fully booked with waiting lists, so early booking is recommended.
Dates and locations:
London
Date: Wednesday 9 October 2019
Venue: 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ
Manchester
Date: Wednesday 15 January 2020
Venue: Renaissance Manchester City Centre Hotel, Blackfriars Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, M3 2EQ
Taunton
Date: Wednesday 22 January 2020
Venue: Holiday Inn Taunton Jct 25 M5, Deane Gate Avenue, Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom, TA1 2UA
Birmingham
Date: Wednesday 4 March 2020
Venue: The Studio Birmingham, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B2 5EP
To book your place email commercialskills@local.gov.uk
Job vacancy
Head of Policy and External Affairs – NPC
The Head of Policy & External Affairs has overall responsibility for NPC’s programme of policy and external affairs work. More information about this role can be found here
News from the LGA
LGA responds to extension of Blue Badge scheme
LGA responds to final report on Draft Domestic Abuse Bill
LGA responds to Health Foundation and King's Fund public health call
LGA responds to Cochrane Report on reducing sugary drinks
LGA responds to Carers Innovation Fund launch
Opposition Watch
Esther McVey has been knocked out of the Tory leadership race with a measly nine votes following a spat with Lorraine Kelly and a row over LGBT education. Andrea Leadsom was also knocked out of the race.
Matt Hancock has withdrawn from the Tory leadership and is backing Boris Johnson
By-elections
The following by-election took place on 13th June:
North Kesteven DC, Billinghay, Martin & North Kyme
Conservative 320 [48.4%; +10.1%]
Lincolnshire Independent 160 [24.2%: +4.4%]
Independent 72 [10.9%; +10.9%]
Liberal Democrat 57 [8.6%; +8.6%]
Labour 43 [6.5%; -8.7%]
Independent 9 [1.4%; -8.9%]
Independent 0 [[0.0%; -16.3%]]
Conservative gain from Lincolnshire Independent
By-elections on 20th June
Merton LB, Cannon Hill
Isle of Wight UA, Whippingham & Osborne
Wandsworth LB, Furzedown
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