NEWSFLASH: LGA Labour to ask LGA to declare a Climate Emergency today
LGA Labour Group will today ask the Local Government Association to join the growing number of Labour councils who have declared a ‘climate emergency’ in recognition of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) warning that urgent action is required on climate change in order to avoid runaway global warming and climate breakdown.
The LGA Annual Conference, which begins today, will debate an amendment tabled by Cllr Peter Box (Wakefield) on behalf of LGA Labour which calls on the cross-party LGA to declare a climate emergency. It also asks the LGA to commit to supporting councils in their work to tackle climate change by providing a strong unified voice for councils in lobbying for support to address this emergency, and sharing best practice across all councils.
It is vital that Labour in local government continues to be seem to be leading and championing this important agenda. Leading Labour councillors will also discuss how we can best help Labour councils and Labour groups lead this agenda in their area, and share best practice on practical ways to respond. If you have any good examples in your own area, please do share them with the LGA Labour group office by emailing peter.robbins@local.gov.uk
LGA Conference Programme
The Labour Group Office will be at LGA Conference in Bournemouth from Monday 1st July to Thursday 4th July. Please note we will have limited access to our emails during this time and will respond when we return.
For those of you who are attending Conference, the programme of Labour Group events is as follows:
Tuesday 2nd July
LGA Labour Group Annual General Meeting
10.00-11.30
Solent Hall, Bournemouth International Centre
Chair: Cllr Simon Henig (Durham)
Speakers: Cllr Nick Forbes (Newcastle), Sir Keir Starmer MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the EU
Wednesday 3rd July
LGA Labour Group meeting
14.00-15.00
Solent Hall, Bournemouth International Centre
Chair: Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford)
- a) LGA Labour Women’s Taskforce, panel discussion with: Cllr Anntoinette Bramble (Hackney), Cllr Alice Perry (Islington), Cllr Naushabah Khan (Medway)
- b) Campaigning Against The Odds, panel discussion with: Cllr Michael Payne (Gedling), Cllr Clare Penny-Evans (Newcastle), Cllr Shaun Davies (Telford)
LGA Labour Women’s Taskforce drop-in session
15.30-16.30
Labour Group Stand, Stand B2, Exhibition Hall
LGA Labour Group drinks reception and dinner
19.15 drinks reception, 20.00 dinner
Pavilion Ballroom, Bournemouth Pavilion, Westover Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2BU
Speaker: Rt Hon John Healey MP
Thursday 4th July
LGA Labour Conference plenary
11.35-12.05
Windsor Hall, Bournemouth International Centre
Plenary speaker: Dave Prentis, General Secretary of Unison, speech and Q+A
LGA Labour Group meeting
12.40-13.40
Solent Hall, Bournemouth International Centre
Chair: Cllr Sharon Taylor (Stevenage)
‘Labour Councils and the Climate Emergency’, panel discussion with speakers: Cllr Debra Coupar (Leeds), Cllr Tom Hayes (Oxford), Cllr Christopher Hammond (Southampton)
LGA Boards 2019/20 – 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
Hackney Council have appointed Cllr Carole Williams what is thought to be the country’s first Windrush champion.
Barking and Dagenham Council have launched their “New East, New Thinking” publication which aims to open up the discussion about how we deliver public services, drive citizen participation whilst also building the local economy.
Schools in Bristol have been invited to join a pilot to reduce air pollution by Bristol City Council.
Oldham Council’s Cabinet have approved a £500,000 fund to help local communities with capital projects
Labour-run Waltham Forest Council has been named the MJ’s Local Authority of the year
Petition in solidarity with the Jewish community
Following the readmission of Chris Williamson MP to the Labour Party, Cllr Jack Deakin (North Warwickshire) has set up a petition for Labour councillors to sign to show solidarity with the Jewish Labour Movement and the wider Jewish community, mirroring a statement signed by Labour MPs and Peers. The petition can be viewed and signed here.
If you would like to join the Jewish Labour Movement either as a full or affiliate member then you can do so here.
LGA Sport and Physical Activities Leadership Essentials course
Following over twenty successful Leadership Essentials Sport programmes in the last 5 years, the LGA and Sport England are pleased to offer further programmes to assist Cabinet members/portfolio holders with the responsibility for sport to lead transformational change in their service. The programme also provides a great opportunity to hear about Sport England’s strategy, Towards an Active Nation, and the opportunities it brings for councils and local partners. It is also a very beneficial experience for new portfolio holders.
The event will help participants to:
- Understand the role that sport and physical activity can play in helping address health improvement and health inequality within communities
- Explore the role sport and physical activity can play in public health, health and social care commissioning and personalisation
- Understand and lead the transformation required in the provision, management and development of sport and physical activity services within councils in order to improve efficiency and value for money and increase participation
- Understand more about how Sport England and the LGA can help and support councils through change programmes and hear about Sport England’s strategy Towards an Active Nation.
- Become better leaders.
Read about the impact attending a Leadership Essential Sports and Physical Activity programme (formerly called Leadership Academy) had on seven councillors from across the country in our brochure.
Programme 24: Thursday, 18th July – Friday, 19th July 2019
Warwick Conferences, Coventry CV4 7SH
Programme 25: Thursday, 7th November – Friday, 8th November 2019
Warwick Conferences, Coventry CV4 7SH
Fee: The cost of attending this programme is fully subsidised. This includes accommodation, meals, course materials and tuition. Accommodation is available for the pre-night.
To book please contact Grace Collins: grace.collins@local.gov.uk
Hitting the Ground Running - development session for newly elected members (North West)
23 July 2019, 12pm
Tenants’ Hall, Tatton Park, Knutsford. WA16 6QN
This session is open to new members across the North-West who have been elected (for the first time) in May 2019. The session aims to enable members to explore their new role and share learning from experienced members. It aims to give new members a wider perspective on the role of a councillor and provides an opportunity to meet other newly elected members from across the region. The session has been designed to complement individual council’s existing member development and induction programmes and will be highly interactive, participative and practical. This is a free event and lunch will be provided.
Please book here
News from Wales
Newport City Council are using EU funds to keep thousands of young people in South East Wales in education
Swansea Council’s commitment to cutting carbon emissions has been hailed at a major transport conference staged in the city
News from the Labour Party
Labour pledges more fruit and vegetables for children alongside new Wellbeing Act – Jonathan Ashworth
45,000 more pupils in super-sized classes in a single year – Angela Rayner
Social care services at breaking point – Barbara Keeley
This is a lame duck announcement from a lame duck PM – John Healey
John Healey comments on NHF figures showing a fall in social housing numbers
Sharon Hodgson - Progress on tackling child obesity moving at snail’s pace
News from the LGA
LGA responds to Healthwatch England report on dementia care
Councils seeing more than 560 child mental health cases every day
LGA responds to transport committee report on roads funding
Young people today half as likely to get on nation’s “broken” housing ladder
LGA responds to Prime Minister’s new tourism sector deal announcement
LGA responds to Government planning proposals
LGA responds to Education Secretary’s apprenticeship announcement
Councils sharing services saves the taxpayer more than £1 billion
LGA responds to RCPCH report on child health
LGA responds to ADASS budget survey on adult social care
LGA response to NDNA nursery workforce research
LGA responds to PAC report on planning and the housing market
LGA responds to Prime Minister’s Housing Announcement
Opposition Watch
Gerard Batten to stand as UKIP Leader just weeks after stepping down as UKIP leader
Boris Johnson has falled behind Jeremy Hunt in a poll of British voters’ preferred PM
By-elections
Mansfield DC, Sandhurst
Mansfield Independent 227 [42.7%; +9.0%]
Lab 177 [33.3%; -8.3%]
Con 71 [13.4%; -8.9%]
UKIP 56 [10.5%; +10.5%] [
LD 0 [0.0%; -2.3%]
Ind gain from Lab
By-elections on 4th July
Middlesborough UA, Park End & Beckfield
Rhondda Cynon Taff UA – Rhondda
Chorley BC – Ecclestone & Mawdsley
Wiltshire UA – Trowbridge Drynham
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