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Dear colleague,
Following the December election, and the Queen’s Speech before Christmas, the January meeting of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board considered the implications of the new Government’s legislative agenda for safer communities issues. A number of the proposed Bills are directly relevant to the work of the Board, and the Board will be working with officers to ensure that the views of local government are reflected as they are developed progress through Parliament.
As ever, if you have views on this, or any other aspect of the Board’s work, please do get in touch.
Yours faithfully,
Cllr Simon Blackburn
Chairman, LGA Safer and Stronger Communities Board |
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Stories
Safer Streets Fund
In January, the Policing Minister announced the new £25 million Safer Streets Fund would be open for bids from police and crime commissioners (PCCs) across England and Wales to fund initiatives to tackle burglary and theft in crime hotspots. PCCs are expected to collaborate with local partners on their bids. Successful areas will receive grants of up to £550,000.
Violence Reduction Unit additional funding
In December, the Home Office announced eighteen police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will receive an additional £35 million to continue funding specialist teams to tackle violent crime in their area. Full details of the funding allocation can be found here.
Community trigger
The LGA is collecting case studies and best practice about the community trigger process. If you are able to share your experiences of the community trigger process, please contact Rachel.Phelps@local.gov.uk.
Government consultation on strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments
If colleagues are planning to submit a response to the Home Office’s consultation on strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments, or if they have views they would like to share, please contact Rachel.Phelps@local.gov.uk. The consultation deadline is 5 March 2020.
Taxi licensing fees
Following a judicial review of Wakefield council by the local taxi and private hire association, the Court of Appeal has ruled that councils can recover the costs of monitoring and enforcing driver conduct as part of the fees they charge for taxi driver licences. This ruling is significant because a lack of clarity in the legislation had until now meant that many councils have not been recovering these enforcement costs and instead have subsided them through other funds. The LGA intervened in the case given the wider sector impact and we are pleased that a clear legal basis has now been established. A copy of the judgement is available online and the LGA will be publishing an advice note for councils on the implications of this ruling shortly. Please contact Rebecca Johnson (rebecca.johnson@local.gov.uk).
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
The LGA is advising councils to check as a matter of urgency whether any buildings in their estates have roofs made of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), following two significant roof failures that occurred with little or no warning. Members should ensure that relevant staff are aware of the information available on the LGA website.
Building safety
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, has announced a package of measures to improve building safety, including a Fire Safety Bill to be published this spring. A new regulator will be established as part of the Health and Safety Executive, with Dame Judith Hackitt chairing a board to oversee the transition. Other key features include a call for evidence seeking advice on risk in building safety, a Consolidated Advice Note for building owners and the Government’s response to the report of Phase One of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The LGA’s Building Safety Spokesman Lord Porter welcomed these reforms, which we have campaigned for.
Fire Kills Campaign
The Home Office is refreshing the Fire Kills campaign, which aims to raise awareness of everyday risks in the home. The campaign highlights the importance of having a smoke alarm on every floor of a property and of testing them regularly. It also encouraged individuals to book a home fire safety visit from their local Fire and Rescue Service or to book one for people vulnerable to fire. General information on the campaign can be accessed here. The Home Office are also introducing a partnership pack which has more information about the campaign and resource to help partnership support it. This includes printable posters and images and videos for social media, copies of TV adverts and case study videos, and suggested copy for use on social media, in newsletters and internal communications. To request access to the partnership pack please email FireKills@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Unlicensed clothing collections
Has your council reported any bogus or unlicensed clothing collections to the Funding Regulator? Our media team would like to know if this an increasing problem for a potential press release. If you can help please email alan.harris@local.gov.uk
Citizens Advice London – free training for London councils on gambling related harm
Citizens Advice has a new project called the Gambling Support Service, providing training to help front line-workers spot the signs of gambling related harm early. A three-hour workshop covers gambling related harm and how to identify it, working with clients affected by gambling related harm and signposting to specialist services; shorter sessions are also available. If you are interested, please contact hmattison@eastendcab.org.uk.
Publications
Female Genital Mutilation Resource Pack
To mark International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the Home Office has published an updated version of its FGM resource pack. This provides a range of information and resources about FGM for local authorities amongst others. It includes some case studies of good practice by local authorities in tackling FGM.
Queen’s Speech Briefing
On 19 December 2019 the Queen set out the Government’s agenda for the next Parliamentary session. The LGA’s briefing details the new Bills of relevance to local government and outlines our local government policies.
Events
County lines conference, Nottingham, Tuesday 24 March
The LGA is holding a county lines conference on Tuesday 24 March 2020. This conference is taking place at Nottingham Trent University, Newton Building, Burton Street, NG1 4BU. It’s an all-day conference, free to all councils. The full programme is available here. Do contact rachel.phelps@local.gov.uk for further information.
County lines masterclass, London, Tuesday 31 March
The LGA is holding a county lines masterclass for elected members. This is a one-day training course for elected members to learn about tackling county lines and wider criminal exploitation. If you would like further information or to book a place, please contact rachel.phelps@local.gov.uk.
Cohesion and integration leadership essentials course, Coventry, 10-11 March
We still have places available on our free leadership essentials course for elected members coming up in March. Building on our well received previous course, the programme will include understanding communities, community engagement, partnership working, managing challenges and trigger events, whole council and cross service area approaches and will provide opportunities for members to hear from other areas and share learning. The course is open to all councillors to attend; please contact grace.collins@local.gov.uk for further information.
Building safety leadership essentials course, Coventry, 17 – 18 March 2020
This two-day course will give greater confidence to leaders, deputy leaders and portfolio holders to face the challenges of ensuring that buildings – and their residents - are safe. Delivered by member peers and local government officers, supported by subject matter experts from local government and partner agencies. Aimed at those with responsibility for housing, planning, building control, or environmental health, and members with an interest in building safety. To book please contact Grace.Collins@local.gov.uk.
Media
Retailers need to stop selling knives, councils urge
7 February 2020
Grenfell inquiry: LGA responds to immunity request to Attorney General
6 February 2020
LGA responds to building safety announcements
20 January 2020
LGA responds to rise in knife offences dealt with by courts
16 January 2020
LGA responds to latest FGM figures
28 November 2019
first magazine
Visit the 'first' website
'first' is LGA's membership magazine and is received as a hard copy by over 18,000 councillors and 400 chief executives. In a response to demand, we have made it easier to read online by creating a dedicated website to read all of its articles, interviews and opinion pieces.
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For specific information relating to Fire and rescue service please sign up to the fire and rescue bulletin.
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