News from local labour
Southampton City Council funds ten schools to reduce the impact of food poverty among schoolchildren.
Wolverhampton Council opens the first eBay Retail Revival Training Centre and will this month launch a pop-up furniture factory.
Oxford City Council will launch the Oxford Homeless Movement this week to reduce rough sleeping.
Rotherham Council are to break their building target for new council homes this year.
Calderdale Council reflect on the successes of their first 100 days after gaining an overall majority in May.
Islington Council calls on businesses to help make women feel safe at night.
Fresh start for schoolchildren at new Toner Avenue Primary School in South Tyneside.
Tower Hamlets Council flags 700 suspected Universal Credit errors by DWP in 18 months.
Want to share your local story of success? Send to martha.lauchlan@local.gov.uk
Save the date – LGA/ALC Local Government Conference
The LGA/ALC Local Government Conference will be taking place on 7-8 February 2020. Please hold the date in your diary until tickets become available to purchase next week.
National Education Union campaign - councils against the SEND funding crisis
As of January 2019, 8,500 children with SEND had no place in school. Due to years of successive cuts we have ended up with a funding crisis within SEND and high needs provision. Local Authorities bear the brunt of the damage central government cuts cause, leaving many children and families unhappy.
The National Education Union Councillors Network is coordinating a letter from the leaders and education leads of all upper tier Councils to the Secretary of State for Education to ensure that SEND and high needs is funded properly. If you wish to encourage your council leader or education lead to sign this letter, it would be greatly appreciated, you can ask them to sign it here.
For any questions about this campaign or the letter, please contact Henry Fowler, National Campaign Manager for the NEU via: henry.fowler@neu.org.uk
LGA Labour Climate Emergency website
Labour in local government continues to lead and champion the climate emergency. Last week we launched our LGA Labour Climate Emergency website to share best practice, case studies, blogs and campaign resources of Labour in local government tackling the effects of climate change.
We are actively looking for examples from your own area (particularly local Labour Party campaign leaflets on environmental issues or examples of how you are talking to residents about environmental issues) - please do share them with the LGA Labour group office by emailing hannah.lazell@local.gov.uk.
LGA Effective Opposition – book your place
Opposition Labour group leaders and deputy leaders may be interested in attending the LGA’s ‘Effective Opposition’ course in Warwick. This program is designed to help participants to get a better understanding of how they can enhance the effectiveness of their role in leading an opposition group on their council. It will focus on a range of relevant topics, skills and techniques, including building good working relationships with key officers, engaging with external stakeholders, working with the local media and getting the most out of social media.
The programme will provide a unique, cross-party opportunity for participants to explore the nature of effective opposition and gain some insight into their personal leadership and influencing styles. The course is being run twice:
- Programme 10: Thursday, 14th November – Friday, 15th November 2019
- Programme 11: Saturday, 18th January – Sunday, 19th January 2020
Fee: The cost for attending this two-day residential event is only £150, which covers the cost of accommodation, meals, tuition and materials.
To book email: grace.collins@local.gov.uk or Tel: 0207 664 3054
News from Wales
Caerphilly Council announce a £2.4 million boost for local roads.
News from the Labour Party
Pitting services for vulnerable children against adult social care for funding like this is divisive and shameful – Andrew Gwynne.
McDonnell kicks off pre-election campaign tour in Essex.
Rosie Duffield MP moves colleagues to tears with domestic abuse story.
Diane Abbott was the first black person to speak for a party at PMQs.
ONS figures shown a record 726 homeless died last year – John Healey responds.
News from the LGA
LGA responds to Grandparents Plus report on kinship carers.
LGA responds to RAC report on driver fines for idling engines.
LGA responds to report recommending new approach to tackling extremism.
LGA responds to Local Government Ombudsman report on education, health and care plans.
LGA responds to funding for councils to improve air quality.
LGA responds to Friends of the Earth report on climate-friendly councils.
LGA responds to latest house building statistics.
LGA responds to ONS figures on the number of deaths of homeless people.
Opposition Watch
Rory Stewart quits Conservatives to run for London Mayor as an Independent.
Tories' '£500m for youth services' is £380m less than has been cut since 2010.
By-elections
By-elections held on 3 October:
St Albans DC, Clarence
Liberal Democrat – 1177 [68.8%, +4.9%]
Conservative – 314 [18.4%, +3.4%]
Labour – 112 [6.5% -3.9%]
Green – 107 [6.3% -4.3%]
Lib Dem hold.
Cardiff UA, Whitchurch & Tongwynlais
Conservative – 1544 [36.4%, -4.5%]
Labour – 1190 [28.0%, -10.0%]
Plaid Cymru – 674 [15.9%, +2.3%]
Liberal Democrat – 588 [13.9%, +6.3%]
Green – 248 [5.8%, +5.8%]
Conservative hold.
Essex CC, Clacton East
Independent – 1,231 [36.9%, +36.9%]
Conservative – 1,223 [36.6%, +5.4%]
Holland on Sea & Eastcliff Matters – 537 [16.1%, +16.1%]
Liberal Democrat – 140 [4.2%, +2.4%]
Labour – 111 [3.3%, -6.1%] Green – 97 [2.9%, +1.3%]
Independent gain from Independent.
Somerset West & Taunton DC, Norton Fitzwarren & Staplegrover
Liberal Democrat – 686 [53.7%, +17.6%]
Conservative – 493 [38.6%, +21.2%]
Green – 67 [5.2%, -13.3%]
Labour – 31 [2.4%, -5.1%]
Three by-elections to be held on 10 October:
Watford BC, Tudor
Corby BC, Beanfield
Basingstoke and Deane BC, Bramley and Sherfield
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