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Dear colleague,
I hope that you managed to take some well-deserved time off during the recent Bank Holiday weekend and were able to enjoy the excellent weather.
As we move to what we hope will be the recovery phase from Coronavirus, I know that you and your officers are continuing to work tirelessly to support your communities at this incredibly difficult time.
The opening of schools to all children next month and the anticipated further relaxation of lockdown restrictions should provide us with some hope that our lives will begin returning to normal, albeit slowly.
Recent funding announcements, including £300 million for the test and trace service, the £50 million Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, and £283 million for transport services were welcomed by the LGA and will help councils take forward the recovery process in their local areas.
My LGA Conservative Group colleagues and I are continuing to work collaboratively with the MHCLG Ministerial Team and the Government more widely. If you have any feedback or issues that you wish us to raise on your behalf please do email us.
In terms of the support that is available to you, please do also bear in mind that our team of highly experienced regional lead peers are an extremely useful resource for all Conservative councillors:
- Lord Porter of Spalding CBE - National Lead Peer & Regional Lead Peer for the South East
- Councillor Paul Middlebrough - Regional Lead Peer for the South West, Hampshire and Isle of Wight
- Councillor William Nunn - Regional Lead Peer for the East of England
- Councillor Teresa O’Neill OBE - Regional Lead Peer for London
- Councillor Glen Sanderson JP - Regional Lead Peer for the East Midlands, North East and Yorkshire & Humber
- Councillor Mike Wilcox - Regional Lead Peer for the West Midlands and North West
If you would like to raise any issues with them please do so via the LGA Conservative Group.
Best wishes,
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
Covid-19 updates from the LGA
The LGA aims to provide our councils and councillors with all the up-to-date information that they need in relation to Covid-19 and had produced this COVID-19 Outbreak - Councillor Guidance.
There is also official Government information and LGA guidance in relation to Covid-19.
If you are a regular user of social media, please do follow us @LGACons and the LGA corporately @LGAComms and @LGANews for the most regular news and updates.
Finally, please email us at lgaconservatives@local.gov.uk if there are any issues you wish to raise.
Test, Track and Trace
The Government has announced a new funding package of £300 million for local authorities to support their role at the heart of the new COVID-19 test and trace service in England and to develop and implement plans to reduce the spread in their area.
Adult Social Care
Following the announcement of £600 million in ringfenced support for care homes’ infection control, the Government has released the allocations for each local authority area.
The Care Home Support Implementation Status Template has also been published.
Schools
The Department for Education has issued planning guideance for primary schools ahead of the re-opening of schools and updated its guidance on safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers.
The LGA has produced a workforce summary covering topics ranging from preparing school sites and reviewing staffing plans to practical steps to reduce risk and manage pupil and staff wellbeing.
Equipment for Children with SEND
The Department for Education has announced the creation of a £37 million fund to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) during 2020/21.
Families with children who have complex needs and disabilities will receive grants for equipment to make their lives easier while implementing social distancing measures, including computers, specialist equipment and educational toys.
Homelessness
The Government has announced that 6,000 new supported homes will be provided as part of its commitment to end rough sleeping.
COVID-19 Outbreak – Guide for Opposition Councillors
The LGA Conservative Group has produced a guide for Conservative councillors who are in opposition to help them fulfil their representative role effectively during the pandemic.
E-Learning Modules
New e-learning modules, including on holding meetings remotely, are now available on LGA website.
These modules are accessible without needing a username and password and successful completion will be recognised with an e-certificate.
Online Councillors’ Forum Group Meeting
The next Councillors’ Forum Group meeting will be held on 4th June from 11:00am to 12:30am. Please contact us if you wish to participate in the meeting and joining details will be forwarded to you.
Personal protective equipment
Matt Hancock announced that the Government has signed contracts to manufacture two billion items of PPE in the UK, as well as an additional 3.7 billion gloves.
To help increase the supply of PPE the Government has also signed deals with more than 100 new global suppliers.
Recovery planning
To support you in your local planning of the next phase, you may be interested in the weekly Manchester Briefing on COVID-19, produced by the University of Manchester’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute.
The briefing is aimed at those involved in planning and implementing recovery from COVID-19. It brings together international lessons and examples, as well as other information from a range of sources, including focusing on one key topic each week.
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 a response to feedback, it has been made easier to read online through the creation of a dedicated website where you can read all of its articles, interviews and opinion pieces.
Visit the first website
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