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As my first official bulletin as your Conservative Group Leader, I wanted to express my thanks and note what a privilege it is to represent you all here at the LGA. Working with Cllr John Fuller, our Deputy Group Leader, the newly elected LGA Conservative Group Executive, and our members on the LGA’s governance bodies, I will make every effort over the coming year to ensure that we provide a strong voice for Conservative local government within the LGA and regularly update you on all that is happening.
This month has seen the LGA Conference in Bournemouth which was a huge success, the highlight of which was undoubtedly the leadership husting involving Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt. Having previously hosted a hustings for group leaders in June, I think it is fair to say that the LGA Conservative Group has ensured that the views of our councillors featured prominently during this leadership election. I look forward to working with the newly announced Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to ensure the message of #CouncilsCan is being heard nationally.
Alongside our new Prime Minister, we also have a new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick. The next coming months will be both challenging and exciting for local government, with councils central to the delivery of the Government’s ambitious targets for increased house building and moves towards greater business rates retention. Robert met with Cllr James Jamieson, the LGA Chairman, the morning his new appointment was confirmed to affirm his commitment to all who serve in local government. I look forward to meeting with him soon to introduce myself and explain the work of the LGA Conservative Group.
Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE
Leader, LGA Conservative Group |
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For all the latest news from the LGA Conservative Group please follow us on Twitter at @LGACons
Conservative Group Lead Members 2019/2020
The Conservative Group Executive Members 2019/2020 have been formally announced and confirmed at the Conservative Group AGM in Bournemouth on Tuesday 2 July:
- LGA Chairman – Cllr James Jamieson, Central Bedfordshire Council
- Group Leader, Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE, Warwickshire County Council
- Group Deputy Leader, Cllr John Fuller OBE, South Norfolk District Council
- County Council Member, Cllr Nicholas Rushton, Leicestershire County Council
- Non-Met District Member, Cllr Linda Robinson, Wychavon District Council
- London Member, Cllr Teresa O’Neill OBE, London Borough of Bexley
- Metropolitan District Member, Cllr John Pennington, Bradford Metropolitan District Council
- Unitary Member, Cllr Paul Bettison OBE, Bracknell Forest Borough Council
- At Large Members: Cllr Philip Atkins OBE (Staffordshire County Council), Cllr Kevin Bentley (Essex County Council), Cllr Rory Love OBE (Kent County Council) and Cllr Colin Noble (Suffolk County Council).
Conservative Environment Network
At the last Conservative Group Meeting ahead of Councillors Forum, we welcomed the Conservative Environment Network to speak about their work promoting conservation and decarbonisation, and how they would like to work with Conservative councils to support councils’ environmental projects.
If you would like to contact the Conservative Environment Network, please email Megan Tretheway (Senior Programmes Manager) at megan@cen.uk.com or visit their website.
Prevention Green Paper
The Government has published its Prevention Green Paper, which is asking for responses on how the nation can be healthier in the future, focusing on both physical and mental health issues.
The consultation is open until 14 October 2019. If you are planning to submit a response to the questions posed in the Green Paper, please do let paul.ogden@local.gov.uk know.
Roads Funding
The Department for Transport has announced a Local Highways Maintenance Fund, which enables local highway authorities to bid for major maintenance projects that could be tricky to fund through usual funding allocations.
This funding will be available for 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 with a total of £198 million. Guidance and the application form to apply for the fund can be found here.
#FutureComms
The LGA has launched a #FutureComms Self-Assessment Tool, which can help councils review their communications, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, providing relevant best practice resources and further support.
The self-assessment tool can be accessed here, alongside some more information.
LGA Councillors' Forum
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The LGA holds a regular Councillors' Forum. This is a cross-party meeting which discusses topical issues related to local government.
In addition, the Conservative Group holds a political meeting before the Councillors' Forum where we often welcome topical speakers. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss important political issues in closed session.
All Conservative councillors are welcome to attend the Councillors' Forum and the group meetings. If you wish to do so please email lgaconservatives@local.gov.uk or call us on 020 7664 3264.
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The Councillors’ Forum dates for 2019/2020 are as follows, starting at 11.00am:
- Thursday 31 October 2019
- Thursday 23 January 2020
- Thursday 12 March 2020
- Thursday 4 June 2020
- Thursday 16 July 2020
LGA 'first' magazine
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'first' is LGA's membership magazine and is received as a hard copy by over 18,000 councillors and 400 Chief Executives.
In this issue:
New local government secretary visits LGA
The first official engagement of the new Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary was a meeting today (25 July) with the LGA’s chairman and chief executive.
A strong voice for local government
New Conservative group leader Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE thanks Cllr James Jamieson, the new LGA Chairman, for his hard work over the past year and wish him success in his new role.
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