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Dear Colleague,
Welcome to the LGA Conservative Group’s newsletter, in which we highlight the latest information associated with COVID-19 and other topical issues.
On this year’s Members’ Briefing Day, I was pleased to welcome Nickie Aiken, Parliamentary Private Secretary at MHCLG to our Conservative Group meeting.
Nickie said it is vital that LGA Conservative Group and the MHCLG ministerial team continue working closely together and encouraged councillors to submit their views on the Planning White Paper by 29 October.
Last week, I was also delighted to welcome Matt Hancock and Chris Pincher to our policy webinars.
Matt stressed the importance of local government and the NHS working together to improve health outcomes and covered a range of topics including the Government’s Covid response, Public Health and Test and Trace. He also responded to the questions that were put forward by our delegates.
On Friday Chris joined our ‘Housing and Planning’ webinar where he thanked Conservative councillors for everything they have been doing during this pandemic. He emphasised that the Government is committed to building more quality and affordable homes and interested in getting feedback from local government on the new consultation.
Both policy webinars were well-attended, and I would like to thank Chris and Matt for taking time out of their busy diaries to join us.
On a separate note, reopening of universities and mass movement of students across the country this month could further spark a second wave of coronavirus. The Government has recently published guidance for universities on how they can operate in a Covid secure way, which I hope you will find useful. The guide also includes advice on what a provider should do in the event of a local lockdown and track and trace procedures.
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 lead peers at the bottom of this newsletter.
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
If you’d also like to subscribe to the LGA’s monthly e-bulletin of First Magazine, please visit the dedicated website.
Business grants
The Government has confirmed that businesses in England that are required to shut because of local interventions will now be able to claim grant support.
Support for private renters
The Government has set out a support package for renters over the winter period.
Affordable Homes Programme
The Government has also published information on how councils can apply for the Affordable Homes Programme 2021 to 2026.
The guidance provides an overview of the standard tenures and types of housing supported.
National Association of Local Councils - events
Councillors on parish or town councils might be interested in the ‘Rebuilding Communities’ series of online events arranged by NALC.
Cllr James Jamieson, LGA’s chairman, was among the speakers at the recent event on the theme of building back stronger communities and future topics include the planning white paper, climate change and health and well-being.
Please visit NALC website for more details.
2021 elections
The Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution, Chloe Smith MP has written to Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers to outline the steps the Government is taking to ensure the resilience of this year's annual canvass, registration activities and elections.
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.
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