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Dear colleague,
I‘ve been asked by Home Office colleagues to share some new materials to support local communications in relation to the EU Settlement Scheme. This is followed as always by my Chief Executive, Mark Lloyd’s daily bulletin.
Kind regards,
David Holdstock
Director of Communications
Local Government Association
@Davidhold |
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EU Settlement Scheme – One Year To Go Until Deadline
Last week, the Home Office announced that there have been more than 3.6 million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), with more than 3.3 million applications concluded. Your ongoing support has played a fundamental role in this achievement, particularly in reaching and supporting vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities.
Tomorrow, (Tuesday 30 June) marks a year until the deadline for applications to the EUSS. The Home Office has developed new social media content, should you wish to post content on your own social media channels.
The social media content includes:
The Home Office social media channels will be active on twitter.com/ukhomeoffice and facebook.com/ukhomeofficegov.
From the LGA's Chief Executive
In more usual times, today many of us would have been preparing to spend a few days at our Annual Conference and Exhibition, which this year would have been held in beautiful Harrogate. Although we won’t be meeting physically this week, but I’m very happy that our virtual annual conference will enable so many councillors and officers to come together.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have looked to local government for leadership and you have more than delivered and proved that the foundation for a better future is local. Over the next two weeks, our virtual conference will focus not only on how we recover but how we can go even further by leading the country’s economic, cultural and environmental regeneration during beyond the initial response period.
At our first webinar, tomorrow (10.00 – 11.40am), we will be launching our discussion paper ‘Re-Thinking Local’ which sets out ideas for locally-led rejuvenation. During this session we will hear the perspective of council chief executives’ with insights from Kersten England (Bradford), Liz Watts (South Cambridgeshire), Matt Prosser (Dorset) and Ian Thomas (Kingston upon Thames).
This discussion paper will be the focal point of our webinars with keynote speakers from local and central government across the political spectrum. On Wednesday, Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer will join us. On Thursday, we’ll hear from Secretary of State Robert Jenrick. Friday will feature an address from Simon Clarke, the Local Government Minister. Looking forward to next week, on Tuesday 7 July, we will hear from Sir Ed Davey, followed by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson on Wednesday 8 July. Finally, on Thursday 9 July we will hear from the business sector looking at how we speed up the recovery in the UK and the importance of local government. You can see the full programme of events and sign up on our website.
Taking the place of our Innovation Zone hub that usually features at our annual conference are our ‘spotlight sessions’, where you can hear and share good practice with colleagues, the first spotlight session takes place tomorrow, between 2.00 and 3.30pm, and focuses on learning through the COVID-19 crisis. I’m pleased that Donna Nolan, Managing Director of Watford District Council, will be speaking at this session.
I also wanted to remind you about our two closed sessions specifically tailored to chief executives – a 'Spotlight on the Chief Executive' session on Thursday 2 July (10am - 11.30am) and a session with MHCLG on Friday 3 July (2pm - 3pm). You should have received your invitation last week and I do hope you can join us. Alongside the events above in which CEO colleagues will be speaking, we are also pleased to have the insights of both Gavin Jones (Essex and Solace) and Kath O’Dwyer (St Helen’s) on sector-led improvement (Wednesday 8 July, 2pm – 3.45pm).
Thanks also to the Group of Chief Executives who, having taken up their roles since the summer of 2019, joined me and Joanne Roney (Manchester) - speaking in her Solace role - about the support available to them and their councils from the LGA and Solace. It was great to hear from Tandridge's Elaine Jackson as part of this session too.
Local outbreak planning
Thank you to the nearly 320 council leaders and chief executives who were able to join the webinar we facilitated this afternoon with Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, who you will know is currently working at the centre of government helping shape and implement the Test and Trace arrangements. Tom gave us an update on many key aspects of this work including communications and engagements around local outbreak planning, how national and local systems will work together, and the regional support and assurance teams being established to provide support at a local, cross-boundary and national level. Tom also took us through the further support that would be coming soon including the NHS Test and Trace Action Cards, NHS Test and Trace Contain Framework as well as the assurance framework, and other working tools. It was great to hear Cllr Tim Oliver, the Leader of Surrey County Council, and Cllr Georgia Gould, the Leader of the London Borough of Camden, share their experiences of developing Local Outbreak Plans and from Jeanelle de Gruchy, President of the Association of Directors of Public Health.
We know that councils will want to build on their experience of responding to the pandemic to date in order to strengthen any future responses. We want to ensure that councils are in the best position possible to respond in that event by providing refocused tools and support. Part of this involves updating our good practice webpages with examples of projects and strategies that might inform local responses. If you are involved in work that might be helpful to share, for example reviews of previous response work or changes to business continuity plans or communications strategies based on what you have learnt to so far, please let us know at research@local.gov.uk.
We also have also developed support for local leaders given their crucial role including a checklist to support council leaders, chairs of the health and wellbeing boards and the Chief Executives identify readiness to respond to a local outbreak alongside free remote peer support to help facilitate these conversations locally.
People who are shielding
The Office for National Statistics has published new data based on research of those who are shielding in line with the advice for people defined as clinically extremely vulnerable. This was carried out between 9 and 18 June 2020. This aims to provide an insight into how this group of 2.2 million people have seen changes in their physical and mental health, whether they and their household are following the guidance and what support is helping, or is needed, to help them shield. Of those contacted, 63 per cent were completely following the shielding guidance. A range of different support mechanisms had been utilised by the proportion of the shielded group (43 per cent) who had not left home since they were advised to shield. 74 per cent had found video or telephone calls with family and friends helpful, 59 per cent had appreciated support with prescription deliveries and 56 per cent with food deliveries or boxes.
The majority (60 per cent) of people had not experienced a worsening of their mental health, but more than two thirds of those who are currently receiving treatment for their mental health reported that it had become ‘slightly or more worse’ since receiving shielding advice. Women were more likely to report a worsening in their mental health than men, irrespective of age group.
Councils may find these findings of interest in developing local outbreak plans and considering what support may still be needed locally to address the ongoing impacts on wellbeing and mental health. We will be continuing to work with the Strategic Engagement Forum and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) as the restrictions for the shielded group are gradually removed and we have a range of publications with key national partners on the mental health challenges emerging within communities.
Schools
The Prime Minister today set out a ten-year rebuilding programme for schools across England. Due to start in 2020/21 with 50 projects, the programme will be supported by more than £1 billion in funding. More details of the programme will be included in the next Spending Review. Schools and colleges will also receive funding this year to refurbish buildings in order to continue raising standards across the country, with £560 million and £200 million for repairs and upgrades to schools and further education colleges respectively.
The Department for Education (DfE) has also confirmed that schools are now able to claim for exceptional costs relating to coronavirus. The claims window is open between now and the 21 July with full instructions on how to submit claims available on the link. Updated DfE policy guidance has been published alongside this. While details of a second claims window are expected to published in due course (covering any costs that schools are not able to submit in time for the July deadline), the Department is urging schools to submit their costs as soon as possible in this claims window to ensure quick payments.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
The Secretary of State for Education has today issued a third notice to modify the duty relating to education, health and care (EHC) plans during the COVID-19 outbreak, covering the month of July.
DfE data collections
In April 2020, the DfE paused a range of data collections to reduce the burden on councils and education and care settings. This list has now been updated to clarify which collections remain paused, and which are due to restart. Data collections which are paused will next be reviewed in September 2020 and the pause period extended if necessary. For further information, and the full list of data collection changes, please read the guidance on reducing burdens on educational and care settings. If you have any questions, please email managing.burdens@education.gov.uk
Waste centres and public toilets
Over the weekend, council leaders will have received a letter on public access to tips and toilets from Simon Clarke, Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, and Rebecca Pow, Minister for the Environment.
On household waste recycling centres, the letter recognises the efforts councils have made to re-open these sites over the last few weeks. It mentions the challenges councils who manage these sites will be aware of – maintaining social distancing and ensuring the safety of staff and residents alongside providing this highly-valued service and reducing the risk of fly tipping. The letter encourages councils to explore “opportunities to improve access to help householders dispose of waste” and “avoid unnecessary tight restrictions like a limited number of pre-booked slots”.
In our discussions on your behalf with Government, and our public communications activity, we continue to make clear that councils are taking individual local decisions about access to public amenities based on a risk assessment and whether social distancing measures can be maintained. As every area and site is different, councils will naturally be managing this in different ways.
On public toilets, the letter “strongly urges” councils to refer to advice on measures that can be taken to open toilets in a safe way. This is summarised on page 3 of the letter. We have previously shared this advice in these bulletins, which forms part of the Government’s official guidance on safer public places. Of course, councils only run a proportion of the public facilities in England. Much of the media coverage we have seen on this issue similarly references reduced capacity at shopping centres and public toilets at train stations.
Public transport
The Government has today published updated safer transport guidance for operators. This now reflects that, from 4 July 2020, transport operators’ risk assessments are expected, where possible, to enable social distancing of two metres or one metre with risk mitigations (where two metres is not viable). Operators should consider and set out the mitigations already in place or that will be introduced, in their risk assessment. Some potential mitigations are provided in this updated guidance.
Marriages and civil partnerships
Today MHCLG published guidance for small marriages and civil partnerships. The guidance outlines under what circumstances marriages and civil ceremonies will be allowed to take place from the 4 July. The guidance states that up to 30 attendees will be able to attend these ceremonies with social distancing. This includes the couple, all guests, the officiant and any staff not employed by the venue. More than 30 people are not permitted and fewer may be necessary depending on the venue. Ceremonies should be limited to the legally necessary elements to reduce the length of services. Receptions are strongly advised against, but if they were to take place would need to adhere to the normal social distancing guidelines i.e. groups of two households indoors or up to six individuals from different households outdoors.
The guidance states that ceremonies should only go ahead where the venue and plans for the ceremony are COVID-19 secure and the venue and officiant are satisfied that the ceremony is safe and can be conducted according to the guidelines. Religious observances which could pose a risk of infection are discouraged for example full body emersion baths, sharing of relics, singing, chanting and some musical instruments. The guidance applies only in England and covers only statutory marriage and civil ceremonies. It does not cover other religious ceremonies, belief ceremonies, blessings or other non-statutory ceremonies.
Reform of government
Over the weekend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, mapped out a programme for reforming national government and the civil service. In the speech, Mr Gove set out central government’s long-term thinking on the future of Whitehall and the ambition to bring government closer to people, particularly through greater devolution, as well as by relocating some government functions to different parts of the country.
You will have seen the announcement that the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, will stand down from his role in September. He will also relinquish his role as National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister’s Chief Brexit Negotiator, David Frost, will take up this latter role. Details of the process for appointing the new Cabinet Secretary are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Today the Government has published an updated terms of reference and membership of various Cabinet Committees. This includes two COVID-19 specific Committees, to drive the Government’s strategic response and to deliver the policy and operational response. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government sits on two committees, on Domestic and Economy Implementation and the Climate Action Implementation Committee.
Parliament this week
The Business and Planning Bill has been introduced to the House of Commons this afternoon and will have all its stages today. The Bill is a step in the journey towards economic recovery, supporting the reopening of hospitality businesses as well as setting out measures to boost construction. In our briefing for MPs, we are also highlighting how the Government needs to work with councils in developing post COVID-19 recovery options as local government has a vital role in our long-term economic recovery.
There are also a number of important debates and questions in both the Commons and Lords. In the Lords, there will be a discussion on local government finance. There are also two sessions on domestic abuse, a question in the Lords on supporting victims of domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic and a Commons debate on black women and domestic abuse.
In the Select Committee corridors, the House of Lords Public Services Committee, will hold a session on COVID-19 on Thursday with evidence from James Bullion, President at the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS). Our Deputy Chief Executive, Sarah Pickup, gave oral evidence to the Committee earlier this month and we will be submitting our written evidence ahead of the deadline today. We will also be submitting written evidence to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry on remediating dangerous cladding and to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Dementia. Meanwhile the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will be hearing from George Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on COVID-19 and food supply. The Health and Social Care Committee will also hold a session on the delivery of core NHS and care services during the pandemic and beyond, with evidence from NHS England officials, including Sir Simon Stevens, Chief Executive at NHS England. On Wednesday, the Work and Pensions Committee will hear from Sir Iain Duncan Smith who will be discussing the Universal Credit system.
Reading Together
Our colleagues at Reading Council are continuing to support their communities in the aftermath of the appalling terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of three men on Saturday 20 June. Their Chief Executive, Peter Sloman, has asked us to share a CrowdFunder they have launched as part of their Reading Together campaign. This has been set up to support all those who have been affected by this tragedy. This includes supporting the families of the men who died, those who were injured in the attacks, anyone who has been affected by the tragedy, to put towards a permanent memorial and to provide other support for the people of Reading to come to terms with what has happened within the town.
Glasgow
Colleagues in Glasgow and in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) are still supporting the emergency response following the attack in the city on Friday. We are linking with the Home Office and understand that they have had held a meeting with all asylum accommodation providers to discuss impacts and to agree any immediate actions required. Their contractor is working with service users who may have been affected by the incident to ensure they receive the appropriate care, with security measures increased at the weekend. We will be in touch as we hear more. Many thanks to those who reached out to colleagues in Glasgow with offers of support and learning, particularly around community tensions and resilience.
I hope this beginning of the week update has been helpful, and again I look forward to virtually joining many of you in our events this week.
As always, if there is anything you think we should be featuring in either our public-facing lobbying work, or private discussions at the highest levels of government, please do feed that in by liaising with your Principal Adviser. They are helping us to determine how we can best support councils.
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Best wishes,
Mark Lloyd
Chief Executive
Local Government Association
@MarkLloydLGA
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