|
Visit our website
Follow us on Twitter
Like our Facebook Page
Local Government Conference 2022 – Bookings now open!
The LGA Labour Group and Association of Labour Councillors (ALC) Local Government Conference 2022 will be held on the 4 and 5 February 2022 and booking is now open.
The conference is an opportunity for Labour councillors, mayors, and members to meet and discuss how Labour in local government should approach the complex political and financial challenges we face. The leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer MP will deliver the keynote speech, and many speakers from across the front bench and local government will also be participating. The conference will be a mix of plenary sessions, policy and campaign workshops.
The details are:
Friday 4 February, 19.30 – 22.30
Drinks reception and dinner (£25 + VAT)
Saturday 5 February 2019, 09.30 – 17.00
Labour Local Government Conference (£25 + VAT)
The conference will be held at The Slate, which is part of Warwick University Conference Centre.
To book your place, please visit our dedicated bookings webpage. Please note we are only able to take online bookings with a credit or debit card.
If you are a new councillor, i.e. elected for the first time since our last in-person local government conference in February 2020 you are entitled to a free conference place. You will need to get a promo code from the Association of Labour Councillors to enter when booking your place. To get the code or if you have any queries please email councillors@labour.org.uk for further information.
Accommodation:
We have a number of rooms on hold at Warwick University Conference Centre, available on a first come first served basis. Rooms are available in either Radcliffe or Scarman and cost £73.50 + VAT (£82.69 inc VAT).
Bookings must be made through Warwick Conferences’ dedicated accommodation booking webpage using the promotional code LabourPartyBBSingFeb22
Start your booking on the left hand side, enter arrival and departure date and how many rooms you require. Location is a drop down, allowing you to choose Radcliffe or Scarman. Enter the promotional code LabourPartyBBSingFeb22 and search. This will then take you into a new page to make your booking. Rooms not booked by 7 January 2022 will be released.
Please note, whilst vaccine passports are not a current requirement for conferences and events, this could change before the conference. We strongly advise anyone planning to attend the conference to have proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or proof of a negative lateral flow test taken in the 48 hours before entry to the dinner and conference. We will update you on this in line with any updated government guidance or regulations on vaccine passports.
If you have any questions please contact martin.angus@local.gov.uk
Climate Change events for Labour councillors
Over the last two weeks, the eyes of the world have been on Glasgow which has hosted the COP26 summit. We all know that local government has a crucial role to play in tackling climate change. Many of you will have passed climate emergency motions, and many of you have set ambitious targets for your councils and communities to become Net Zero ahead of the Government’s national 2050 target. In light of this, and following our hugely successful Climate Change conference in January 2020, we are running a series of events for Labour councillors on climate change that will be useful for all councillors to attend, regardless of the length of time you’ve been a councillor or whether you have a leadership role or not. The details are below along with the Zoom links, but please email Hannah.lazell@local.gov.uk if you’re planning to attend so we have an idea of numbers.
After COP26 – What next for local government?
Thursday 18 November, 16.30-17.30
Christopher Hammond, the Network Membership Director at UK100 will share reflections on COP26, what it means for local government and how local government can deliver effective and long-lasting climate and environmental policies. This session is open to all Labour councillors.
Join the 'after COP26' webinar via Zoom, Meeting ID: 860 6832 0681
Campaigning on the climate emergency from Opposition
Monday 22 November, 16.00-17.00
Cllr Helen Silman, Worthing Borough Council, Cllr Claire Penny Evans, Newcastle City Council and other speakers TBC will talk about campaigning from opposition on the climate emergency, how to get your ruling group to take action on climate change and how to hold them to account in this area. This session is open to all Labour Opposition councillors.
Join the 'campaigning on the climate emergency' webinar via Zoom, Meeting ID: 835 4508 2337
You’ve declared a climate emergency – two years on
Tuesday 23 November, 11.30-12.30
Cllr Tom Hayes, Deputy Leader of Oxford City Council and Cabinet Member for a Zero Carbon Oxford will lead a session looking at how councils can deliver on their climate emergency motions. Many councils passed their climate emergency motions around two years ago and this will be an opportunity to look at the progress you’ve made, actions you take now, and how the pandemic has reshaped how we think about the climate emergency. This session is open to all Labour councillors.
Join the 'you've declared a climate emergency' webinar via Zoom, Meeting ID: 879 2858 5241
Labour Party Constitutional Commission – consultation events for Labour councillors
Earlier this year, Keir Starmer launched the Labour Party’s Constitutional Commission, looking at how power, wealth and opportunity can be spread out of Westminster, and how this can happen. The Commission includes local government representatives, and is advised by Gordon Brown.
As part of the Commission process, we are holding a series of consultation events for Labour councillors to give you the opportunity to share your views on where power in England should lie, the role of local government, the difference that this could make and how you think this can be communicated to residents. It is really important for local government to be heard loud and clear in this debate, so we’d encourage as many people to attend as possible. The session details are below along with the Zoom details – please email hannah.lazell@local.gov.uk if you’re planning to attend as we will send out some discussion points ahead of the meeting.
Tuesday 23 November – 4-5pm
Meeting ID: 879 7615 0585
Friday 26 November – 12-1pm
Meeting ID: 861 9738 0816
Thursday 2 December - 6-7pm
Meeting ID: 857 8790 9780
Friday 3 December – 12-1pm
Meeting ID: 890 2333 4045
Monday 6 December – 6-7pm
Meeting ID: 840 6496 7374
Political Assistants Network
Jake Clough and Alistair McIntosh are looking to set up a network of Labour Political Assistants throughout the UK, to share ideas and good practice. For example, this could be ideas for motions, campaigns, etc, as well as just general advice. They’ve asked if you can pass this message on to your Group’s Political Assistant where you have them.
If your Labour Group’s Political Assistant is interested, please could you ask them to get in touch with Jake Clough, Bristol Labour Group Political Assistant (jake.clough@bristol.gov.uk) and Alistair McIntosh, Birmingham Labour Political Assistant (Alistair.mcintosh@birmingham.gov.uk) with their contact email. Depending on the level of interest, it may also be worth them providing a phone number they would like added to a Political Assistant WhatsApp group.
Cyber Security Leadership Training
The COVID-19 crisis has been a catalyst for digital innovation within local government, however, this comes with an increased cyber risk. A risk, that if realised, may not only cost councils millions but could also result in the sensitive data of thousands of our most vulnerable residents being sold on the dark web.
The LGA Cyber Security Programme is providing grant funding for a cohort of Leaders, Deputy Leaders, Cabinet Members and those responsible for scrutinising IT and/or safety and resilience, to improve their understanding of cyber security. The funding should be used to enrol on a university-led course for leaders. For example, Oxford University’s Cyber Security for Business Leaders Programme, for which they have offered a discounted rate. We’re currently taking expressions of interest from those wanting to enhance their understanding of cyber risk to enable better strategic decision making for a cyber-resilient future. Places are limited so we are asking expressions of interest to be submitted to LGAcybersecurity@local.gov.uk with details of your role.
News from Labour Councils
Milton Keynes Council ready to help local people affected by universal credit cuts
Salford City Council approves new £1.5 million skills and work programme
Reading Borough Council’s new community pool is beginning to take shape
Haringey Council launches Haringey Streets for People: Walking and Cycling Action Plan
Cheshire West and Chester Council gives huge boost to community projects through the Cheshire West Crowd
News from Labour
Ed Miliband comments on the latest COP draft text
Labour demands Government sack Deloitte from Test and Trace public inquiry “strategy” contract
Bridget Phillipson comments on new GDP figures
Jonathan Ashworth responds to highest NHS waiting list on record
Angela Rayner responds to Boris Johnson’s press conference
Ed Miliband comments on the draft COP26 text
Labour demands Deputy Prime Minister withdraw remarks saying a Conservative MP working from and advising a tax haven was “quite important” work
Labour calls for Prime Minister to launch investigation into Caribbean-based barrister MP
Opposition Watch
Rochdale councillor leaves fourth party citing Tory sleaze
News from the LGA
COP26: Green economy could see nearly 700,000 green jobs created by 2030
COP26 – Councils trusted most to lead the fight against climate change – new survey finds
LGA responds to Home Office announcement regarding the Safety of Women at Night Fund
LGA: Greater investment in buses needed in the mission to net zero
By-elections
Cardiff City Council, Health – 11 November 2021
Labour: 1729 [47.1%, +16.1%]
Conservative: 1128 [30.8%, +2.5%]
Lib Dem: 561 [15.3%, +11.5%]
Plaid Cymru: 250 [6.8%, +0.5%]
Labour GAIN from Independent
Lancaster City Council, University & Scotforth Rural – 11 November 2021
Labour: 216 [46.1%, +5%]
Green: 193 [41.2%, +11%]
Conservative: 44 [9.4%, -7.2%]
Lib Dem: 16 [3.4%, -8.8%]
Labour HOLD
Thanet DC, Thanet Villages – 11 November 2021
Green: 638 [60%, +36.8%]
Conservative: 358 [33.7%, +8.9]
Lib Dem: 67 [6.3%, -15.7%]
Green HOLD
North Kesteven DC, Metheringham (DOUBLE VACANCY) – 11 November 2021
Conservative: 424 (elected)
Lincolnshire Independent: 404 (elected by drawn lot)
Conservative: 404
Lincolnshire Independent: 369
Labour: 85
Labour: 69
Lib Dem: 29
Conservative GAIN from Lincolnshire Independent
Lincolnshire Independent HOLD
North Kesteven DC, Sleaford Castle – 11 November 2021
Conservative: 135 [42.2%, +10.2%]
Labour: 93 [29.1%, -2.9%]
Independent (Mason): 49 [15.3%]
Independent (Fernandes): 22 [6.9%]
Lib Dem: 21 [6.6%]
Conservative GAIN from Independent
Denbighshire CC, Llandrillo – 11 November 2021
Plaid Cymru: 179 [44%]
Independent: 140 [34.4%]
Conservative: 88 [21.6%]
Plaid Cymru HOLD
Melton BC, Melton Dorian – 11 November 2021
Conservative: 362 [56%, +3.9%]
Labour: 284 [44%, from nowhere]
Conservative HOLD
Future Bulletins
If there are issues you think we should try to include in future bulletins, please let us know by replying to this email or contacting Annabel.ainsworth@local.gov.uk
|
