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Greetings!
Hope all is well with you and wishing you all the very best in all you do.
Cost of living
The LGA is researching the detail of the impact of the increased cost of fuel on our Councils with a view to making representations to Government. That is, the costs to our own services in terms of heating and bin collections, our commissioned services and the increased demand on our services.
Locally, Councils are reviewing their services to make savings where possible and to make increased funding available for those in need, such as in supported council tax and supporting charities like the citizens advice bureau and food banks.
Some of our councillors have put motions to their councils calling on the government to do more. These include measures to assist people in using less, such as increasing support for energy efficiency measures so more people can access the grants. The government permitted a hike in fuel prices of 50 percent in April and gave £150 to households in band A to D. With an average increase of up to £700 a year, many families will be struggling to find the “spare” cash. Big unexpected windfall spike in profits could be harvested in a windfall tax without impacting on the long term plans for increased investment in renewable energies. The Chancellor says nothing is off the table but voted against it this week.
Charities are calling on the Government to bring forward large increases in benefits and the state pension, due to be paid from next April, to help tackle the cost of living crisis, but the Treasury says there are technical constraints.
Electoral commission survey
We have long raised with the Electoral Commission their role in supporting our Independent Group Councillors through the elections. They are now surveying candidates who stood for election in May 2022 in order to understand how to better support you in the future. It only takes 15 minutes to complete so I hope you will kindly put down your key comments, which will be treated in confidence.
English survey
Welsh survey in English
Welsh survey in Welsh
Opportunity to join the LGA Independent Group Executive
The Independent Group are looking for councillors to come forward for the Independent Group Executive. We welcome applications from councillors of different backgrounds. We are a diverse bunch in our thinking and keen to be ever more representative of our membership. If you are interested, please contact the office on independent.grouplga@local.gov.uk and do keep an eye out over coming weeks as applications open for our LGA Board vacancies.
LGA General Assembly
A reminder that the LGA General Assembly will be in person for the first time in three years, on the first day of the LGA Conference in Harrogate on 28 June. All Member Authorities are invited to appoint their representatives to the General Assembly for 2022/23 by 1 June. For guidance on voting and representation, download the General Assembly: frequently asked questions.
LGA Independent Group Think Tank meeting - Affordable housing/solutions for the housing crisis
Friday 10 June – 10.30am – register by emailing independent.grouplga@local.gov.uk quoting ‘housing think tank’
LGA Independent Group Members are invited to this virtual think tank meeting to inform the group’s position around affordable housing/solutions for the housing crisis. Local government shares the collective national ambition to tackle their local housing crisis, which will only be achieved with strong national and local leadership working together. Government and all expert commentators agree: the UK is not building enough homes with the right infrastructures. Despite efforts to increase housebuilding we build 100,000 fewer homes per year than we need.
Chaired by Cllr Loic Rich (Ind, Cornwall), LGA Deputy Chair of the Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board.
In the news…
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Increase of Ukrainian refugees presenting as homeless - It is important that our communities support the Ukraine refugees staying with sponsors. If they leave, they become homeless. We already have a large number of homeless refugees from Afghanistan and elsewhere still in hotels!
Wishing you every success and yes, even joy, in your work as a councillor. I know you will be doing a great job for your communities, many busy with tackling the big issues facing all of us and at the same time, making preparations for the Platinum Jubilee. Good luck and best wishes,
Kind Regards,
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