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Social care needs fixing now, say council leaders
Council leaders from across the political divide in England are calling on ministers to make good their promise to “fix social care” by announcing plans in Tuesday’s Queen’s Speech. The LGA has sent a cross-party letter to the Chancellor, signed by its Chairman and four political group leaders, in which it says that failure to act now would be “a bitter blow”. LGA Chairman Cllr James Jamieson said: “All of us in local government, across the political divide, want to see the Queen's Speech finally set out the plans we have been waiting for. This is about an investment in people, in all of us. A failure to act will be a bitter blow to everyone connected to social care.” The story was also reported by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
BBC Online – Social care needs fixing now, council leaders tell chancellor
James Jamieson: What local authorities are looking for in the Queen’s Speech this week
LGA Chairman Cllr James Jamieson sets out what councils want to see in the Queen’s speech this week. Cllr Jamieson says the Government’s legislative plans are “a crucial opportunity to reform laws to help councils improve services for everyone and make the economic recovery quicker and stronger”. He says the LGA is urging ministers to make permanent changes to three key areas of the LGA’s legislative priorities: planning, devolution and adult social care.
ConservativeHome – James Jamieson: What local authorities are looking for in the Queen’s Speech this week
Johnson to relax rules on building new homes
Boris Johnson is to press ahead with the biggest shake-up of the planning system for more than 70 years. A Planning Bill is expected to be part of tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech, aimed at expanding home ownership across small towns and cities. This will split the country up into zones marked for growth or protection, with ministers said to be undecided on adding a third category for regeneration. Homes, hospitals, schools, shops and offices will be given automatic planning approval in growth areas, while development will be restricted in protected areas, but not ruled out. Mirror Columnist Kevin Maguire writes about the LGA’s analysis that over 1.1 million homes given planning permission over the past 10 years have not been built. He describes it as “a colossal missed opportunity”.
Times – Johnson to relax rules on building new homes (£)
Queen’s Speech: Voters will need photo ID for general elections
Ministers are poised to confirm that Britons will have to show photo ID to vote in future general elections as a means of tackling fraud. The proposal is to be included in tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech. However the dozens of announcements expected are unlikely to include details of adult social care reform.
Guardian – Queen’s Speech: Voters will need photo ID for general elections
Indoor pints and household mixing set to return
The Prime Minister is set to confirm the next stage of lockdown easing in England, with indoor hospitality and household mixing set to return from next Monday. Ministers are to meet this morning to agree on the next step, due on 17 May.
BBC Online – Lockdown: Boris Johnson to announce 17 May changes for England
Another two COVID-19 deaths and 1,770 cases in UK
Latest figures show a further two people have died with COVID-19 in the UK and there have been 1,770 more cases reported. It is the lowest number of coronavirus deaths recorded in daily figures since 6 September last year.
Sky News Online – COVID-19: UK reports another two coronavirus deaths and 1,770 cases
Call to change apprenticeship scheme
Ten vice-chancellors have written to the Chancellor calling for changes to the “inflexible” apprenticeship programme. They have said that restrictions prevent them from offering the short courses needed by local businesses, which want to spend money accrued from the Apprenticeship Levy. This week the Government is expected to announce a Bill to enshrine a “lifetime skills guarantee” to boost further education, adult education and training.
Times – Calls to change apprenticeship scheme (£)
Cash boost to improve mental health of pupils
The Government has announced that schools will be given £17 million to improve mental health support for pupils. It said up to 7,800 schools and colleges in England would be offered £9.5 million to train a senior mental health lead while another £7 million would fund a “wellbeing for education recovery” programme.
Times – Cash boost to improve mental health of pupils (£)
England local elections 2021
The Conservatives have made gains in England’s local elections, adding 13 councils and an additional 236 councillors to their overall tally by Sunday. Counting is now complete after all 143 councils in England declared.
BBC Online – England local elections 2021
Wednesday 19 May 2021, 10.30am – 12.00pm
What can local authorities learn from the feedback to traffic schemes introduced during the pandemic? This webinar will present findings from research into the diverse experience of English councils with stakeholder engagement and offer practical recommendations for successfully navigating controversial policy issues in future.
Thursday 20 May 2021, 1.30pm – 3.00pm
Insight has shown that those in the youngest age cohort, from 18 to 29, are more likely than other ages to be hesitant about choosing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In this webinar, we will explore how council communications teams can work to increase vaccine uptake amongst our younger residents.
Thursday 20 May 2021, 10.30am - 12.00pm
As COVID-19 restrictions start to ease and we begin to look ahead to the future with a renewed impetus to rebuild our economies better, local government as leaders of place have a key role in powering economic recovery. This event will explore local government’s role in supporting a jobs and skills recovery.
Tuesday 6 - Thursday 8 July 2021
The conference will be an opportunity to hear from central and local government leaders discuss and debate a wide range of issues including economic recovery, climate change, devolution, equalities, funding, health, housing, planning, social care, and much more.
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