Calls for action
Supporting council improvement – annual report 2021/22
At the opening of our Innovation Zone at the LGA Annual Conference, we launched our Supporting council improvement – annual report 2021/22. The report showcases local government success stories and demonstrates the wide range of improvement support we delivered to councils across all regions during the last financial year.
Our Net Zero Innovation Programme is open for expressions of interest
Our Net Zero Innovation Programme – a collaboration between University College London and the LGA – is now open for expressions of interest. Apply now to learn how partnership and co-production skills between councils and universities can help to tackle sustainability, climate change and ecological challenges. Please submit your expression of interest by 5.00pm on Friday 9 September.
Brownfield Land Release Fund (BRLF2)
Our One Public Estate (OPE) programme has made up to £180 million of capital grant funding available to English councils through the newly launched Brownfield Land Release Fund (BRLF2). The fund provides capital grants to remove constraints on council-owned brownfield land, tackling the challenges and complexities that make them unviable and allowing them to be released for new homes. Find out more about the fund and how to apply
Councillor engagement in resilience work – case studies
We are commissioning a series of case studies highlighting good practice in relation to councillor engagement in emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities. Please email ellie.greenwood@local.gov.uk if you have examples you would be happy to share. We are also looking for examples of good practice from councils in response to the cost of living crisis. Please email lusi.manukyan@local.gov.uk to share these with us.
Disabled Councillors Leadership Programme and one-to-one coaching offer
July is Disability Pride Month, and the LGA is offering a series of leadership development opportunities for disabled councillors, funded by the UK Government. This includes our Disabled Councillors Leadership Programme (see below) in partnership with Disability Rights UK, and a one-to-one coaching offer. Find out more in First magazine online or by emailing us at leadership@local.gov.uk
Webinars and events
Various dates | Online
This course will help senior council officers across all service areas to explore their crucial roles in responding to the climate emergency. During the course, attendees will commit to two carbon-reducing actions which will be evaluated by the Carbon Literacy Project. The aim of the course is to certify attendees as 'carbon literate', enabling them to train others in their area of work. Find out more about the course in our frequently asked questions or book now
Tuesday 13 September, 10.00am–11.30am | Online
The declaration of ambitious net zero goals by councils to address the climate emergency means that there is increasing focus on commissioning and procurement. This webinar will support councils by showcasing examples of green and sustainable local government procurement projects that aim to meet climate change commitments and targets. Book now
Wednesday 14 September, 2.00pm–3.30pm | Online
Join us for our Behavioural Insights programme 2022 showcase as we share the results and the lessons learned from this year’s programme. Attendees will hear from the Yorkshire and Humber sustainable transport consortium and the North East London health inequalities consortium. Book now
Disabled Councillors Leadership Programme residential event (followed by monthly online workshops)
Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 October | Manchester
Our new leadership programme for disabled councillors – in partnership with the charity Disability Rights UK – has been co-produced with disabled people and councillors, ensuring it responds to the specific needs of disabled leaders. The carefully chosen topics and activities will take disabled councillors through a six-month journey of personal development and will accelerate and develop their leadership skills. This residential event will be followed by monthly online workshops between November and March. Places are limited, so please express your interest early by emailing leadership@local.gov.uk
Latest publications and reports
Debate Not Hate: the impact of abuse on local democracy
Our call for evidence of abuse and intimidation of councillors was launched in October 2021. Our new report – 'Debate Not Hate: the impact of abuse on local democracy' – sets out the findings from the submitted evidence, and recommendations for the future of local democracy.
Additionally, you might be interested in...
Innovation Zone at the LGA Annual Conference
Our Innovation Zone, dubbed by the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) as "the beating heart" of the LGA Annual Conference, highlighted the strength and imagination of councils in responding to challenges in innovative ways. Our programme of Innovation Zone presentations showcased a wide range of learning and inspirational ideas related to the theme of ‘resilience and renewal’.
A blog from our climate action plan roundtable
This month, our climate action roundtable saw climate officers from around the country meeting together to share learning through facilitated peer support. Officers discussed in detail the challenges they are facing and shared good practice.
LG Inform and LG Inform Plus
For more information on using LG Inform (our free data benchmarking platform) or subscribing to LG Inform Plus (our paid data benchmarking subscription service), please contact us at lginform@local.gov.uk or lginformplus@local.gov.uk
LG Inform – updated design
Following detailed user research, we’ve made a series of changes to present data in a new way and highlight previously hidden system functionality. The new LG Inform homepage puts more focus on the dashboard that users can customise when they are signed in to the platform. It is now easier to access our popular themed reports and we have made it clearer that some features require sign-in, such as the report builder. We hope that these updates help you to keep making the most out of all the data and features available on LG Inform.
LG Inform – data now available on the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme
New to LG Inform is our report presenting the latest data on the cumulative number of visas issued, and arrivals to the UK, as part of the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme. Access the new report and use the modifiers to view the data from your local area.
2021 Census data added to LG Inform
We were delighted to see the Office for National Statistics (ONS) release the 2021 Census data, which you can now access on LG Inform. Our new LG Inform report provides you with quick and easy access to:
- the 2021 results for your local area
- how things have changed in your area since 2011
- how your area compares to your region – and to England as a whole.
first magazine
The LGA's membership magazine, 'first', is delivered free each month to just under 17,000 councillors and local authority chief executives. Access first online to browse all news articles, features and opinion pieces, including those from past issues.
Councillors who receive the magazine should also be receiving the first e-bulletin. If you find that first online and the first e-bulletin satisfy your need for information from the LGA, please consider helping us reduce our carbon footprint by opting out of receiving the magazine. Councillors and officers can sign up for the first e-bulletin using their council email addresses.
|
|
