LGA Conservative Group bulletin – 1 September 2020

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LGA Conservative Group bulletin

1 September 2020

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Dear Colleague,

Welcome to the LGA Conservative Group’s weekly email newsletter. Its purpose is to highlight the latest information associated with COVID-19 and other topical issues.

I hope that you had the opportunity to enjoy some time off during August and that you are feeling well-rested for the busy months ahead.

The Devolution White Paper is expected to be published in the Autumn, and Planning for the Future, a consultation on reforms to the planning system, was published in August.

I welcome the commitment to delivering more high quality and sustainable homes, but it is crucial that the Government works closely with local government on the detail of these proposals.

As such, I encourage you to make your submissions to the consultation by 29 October.

The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, recently announced that Public Health England will be replaced by the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP), which will be tasked with handling pandemics.

Ahead of the NIHP beginning operations in the Spring of 2021, we will of course continue to highlight the important role of local government in relation to its work.

As such, I am pleased to announce that Matt Hancock will be joining us for a webinar to discuss public health on 17 September from 6.15pm-7.00pm. If you would like to join this webinar, please email us.

Finally, I am delighted to inform you that following our successful Conservative Group webinars in July we have arranged two further sessions, covering Housing and the ‘Future of High Streets,’ with Christopher Pincher MP and William Grimsey respectively.

These webinars will take place on 18 September (2pm-3pm) and 23 September (11am – 12pm) respectively. If you would like to participate please email lgaconservatives@local.gov.uk.

As always, if there is anything I or our regional lead peers can do to assist, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can find more details about our regional lead peers at the bottom of this newsletter.

Best wishes,

Councillor Izzi Seccombe signature

Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE
Leader, LGA Conservative Group

Councillor Izzi Seccombe

 

For all the latest news from the LGA Conservative Group please follow us on Twitter at @LGACons

If you’d also like to subscribe to the LGA’s monthly e-bulletin of First Magazine, please visit the dedicated website.


LGA Conservative Group Next Generation Programme

Conservative Group Leaders have recently received notification that nominations have opened for the 2020-2021 Next Generation Programme. Background information about this programme can be found on the LGA website

We are looking for ambitious councillors that have been elected for at least two years and currently hold or likely to hold within a short time frame some form of leadership position. For example, Cabinet member, Deputy Cabinet member, Scrutiny Chairman, Shadow Portfolio holder, etc.

We do look at each application on a case by case basis and use the above criteria as a guide rather than an absolute. We ask that applicants are supported and recommended their Group Leader.

This year’s programme will run over three separate two day residential modules, each starting at 9am on a Friday and finishing by 4pm on the Saturday. 

The module dates are:

Module 1: Friday 6 November – Saturday 7 November 2020, Warwick Conference Centre

Module 2: Friday 8 January – Saturday 9 January 2021, Warwick Conference Centre

Module 3: Friday 19 March – Saturday 20 March 2021, Warwick Conference Centre

Similar courses would normally cost thousands of pounds to participants, however we run this course at no cost to the individual or their council. The only thing we do not cover is an individual’s travel costs to and from each module. As such, we ask that applicants commit to attending each and every module. If they cannot, unfortunately we will not be able to offer them a place on the course.

Please find the application form via the link below:

Conservative Next Generation 2020/21 application form.

We usually have space for approximately 20 councillors and expect demand to be high. Applications will close on Friday 11 September.


Language skills funding

The Department for Education has announced £9 million in funding for an early years 'catch up' programme focusing on speaking and language skills for pupils whose education has been disrupted by COVID-19.


Culture Recovery Fund

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport have provided a summary of the funding streams available as part of the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.


Member Code of Conduct webinar

The final Member Code of Conduct webinar will take place on 17 September (6.00pm-7.00pm).


Back to school

The Department for Transport has published back-to-school transport communication materials.


LGA and NHSCC Leadership Essentials course

These leadership development sessions are aimed at HWB Chairs/Vice-Chairs, Council Leaders, CCG Chairs, elected members on HWB boards, Portfolio Holders with responsibilities for Adult Social Care or Public Health and those with a political role in a health and care system or devolution arrangement. For further details, please contact Grace.Collins@local.gov.uk.


Councillors’ workbook on ‘Health in All Policies and COVID-19’

This guide (pdf), which is designed to support your work in relation of COVID-19, will be launched at the ‘Health in All Policies: Leading Place to tackle the Social Determinants of Health’ webinar on Tuesday 15 September (10.30am - 12.00pm).


Conservative Regional Lead Peers

The regional lead peers and the areas they cover are as follows:

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.