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‘Project Victory’ - Launch event: 4.30pm, Friday 4 November
In May 2023 Labour faces a crucial set of local elections – and we’re determined to do everything we can to help elect more Labour councillors, provide Labour leadership to more councils, and show that Labour is ready to take on and win the next General Election.
On Friday 4 November at 4.30pm we are launching ‘Project Victory’, a new and comprehensive programme of training and development for Labour leaders, councillors, and candidates for the 2023 local elections.
We’ll be joined by Shabana Mahmood MP, National Campaign Coordinator and Morgan McSweeney, the Labour Party’s Campaign Director, who will outline the support available and how you can get involved.
All councillors are welcome, but you must register in advance to take part in this webinar.
This session will be the first in a series of monthly political briefings ahead of the 2023 Local Elections, in which senior party politicians and staff will keep you up to date with progress towards May 2023. As part of ‘Project Victory’ the Labour Party, Association of Labour Councillors, LGA Labour, and the Labour Local Government Campaigns Co-Operative are working together to deliver campaign training across five training programmes tailored to leaders, campaigners, councillors, and activists.
If you have any questions about Project Victory or the webinar in particular, please get in touch with us at councillors@labour.org.uk
Save Local Services
Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on 17 November, local government has a crucial opportunity to speak with one voice to highlight that the future financial sustainability of councils is on a cliff-edge. Without Government action, councils will have no choice but to significantly cut the local services our communities rely on.
The LGA has launched a cross-party #SaveLocalServices campaign to call on Government to adequately fund councils, in line with inflation and demand for services.
Labour councillors can join us in highlighting the urgent need for certainty for councils by supporting us on social media and sharing the key messages through your channels. You can find more information and images for social media on the campaign hub. The LGA have also put together a campaign pack for councils with some ideas and assets to help you do so.
News from Labour Councils
Chesterfield Borough Council completes £3.8 million refurbishment of all of it’s 41 independent living homes
Exeter City Council has been showcased as a pioneer for Passivhaus building standards
The first of Birmingham City Council’s warm spaces have opened this week
Lewisham Council has acquired a housing development that is now set to be 100 per cent social housing following the council’s acquisition
Leeds City Council has launched a #binfluencer campaign to encourage more residents to recycle
Training for Labour Group Whips
Following successful training for Labour Group Whips held at Labour Local Government Conference and Labour Party Conference, the Labour Party is holding online Whip Training for Labour Group Whips. Deputy Whips, Assistant Whips and other Group Officers.
The training will be held in two parts. We’d strongly advise people to attend both parts if they can.
Part One – Wednesday 16 November – 5-6pm
Registration for Part One
Part Two – Tuesday 22 November – 5-6pm
Registration for Part Two
You must register for these sessions in order to get the Zoom link.
Sector led improvement survey
The LGA is doing a survey of member councillors on their improvement needs. It includes telling the LGA what you have found helpful and what sort of support you would like in the future. The deadline to fill the survey in is Friday 11 November.
Planning Advisory Service Survey
The LGA Planning Advisory Service wants to understand the views and experiences of councillors involvement in planning pre-application discussions. As part of this research they would like to make sure the views of councillors are properly represented so have prepared this short survey aimed specifically at councillors.
You can read more about the wider project on Pre-application advice and Planning Performance Agreements.
LGA Training
Effective Opposition
This program, aimed at opposition leaders and deputy leaders, is designed to help participants to get a better understanding of how they can enhance the effectiveness of their role in leading an opposition group on their council. It will focus on a range of relevant topics, skills and techniques, including building good working relationships with key officers, engaging with external stakeholders, working with the local media and getting the most out of social media.
The programme will provide a unique, cross-party opportunity for participants to explore the nature of effective opposition and gain some insight into their personal leadership and influencing styles.
Programme 15: Saturday, 28 January – Sunday, 29 January 2023
Warwick Conferences, Coventry CV4 7SH
Fee: The cost for attending this two-day residential event is only £150, which covers the cost of accommodation, meals, tuition, and materials. Attendees may wish to join us for dinner and stay at the venue the night before the event for an additional £50.
Register now: To register for one of these events, please contact Grace Collins MBE, Adviser – Leadership: grace.collins@local.gov.uk
Digitalisation: Leadership Essentials, Free Residential programme
Saturday 19 November – Sunday 20 November 2022 (in person)
The LGA are running a two-day ‘Digitalisation: Leadership Essentials’ workshop for leaders, deputy leaders, relevant portfolio holders and members with an interest in cyber, digital and technology.
The workshop aims to give elected members greater confidence in harnessing the potential of digitalisation to better support the communities they serve. The workshop will focus on:
- Scrutinising the delivery of digitalisation
- Key outcomes for digitalisation
- Key issues and challenges,
- Responsibilities and challenges for portfolio holders
- Leading and delivering the practical and cultural changes required
- Ensuring residents voices are at the heart of the digitalisation agenda
The workshop will be delivered by expert facilitators and will provide an opportunity to network with peers and hear good practice from the sector. Additional input will be provided from national, regional, and local speakers creating a space for reflective thinking.
Where: This event will be delivered at Conference Aston in Birmingham, approximately, a 10-minute walk from the city centre.
Fee: Free. Package includes accommodation, meals, course materials and tuition. Accommodation is available for the pre-night. Conference venue features an on-site gymnasium and swimming pool.
Register now: To register, please contact Grace Collins MBE, Adviser – Leadership: grace.collins@local.gov.uk
Local leadership: What helps councillors to be more effective?
The LGA is currently refreshing its local leadership framework and wants to hear from councillors, through a series of engagement events, as part of the process.
This new local leadership framework is intended to support councillors as they face challenges, old and new, in their day-to-day work.
The events are free, will be held virtually, via Zoom, and are open to all councillors of all councils in England. Each event will be an opportunity to:
- Contribute to the development of the new local leadership framework
- Network with councillors from other councils
- Share tips and advice on how to be effective as a councillor
The event will be held on the following dates, and you only need to attend one.
- Wednesday 16 November, 10am – 12pm
- Monday 21 November, 2.30pm – 4.30pm
- Monday 28 November, 10am – 12pm
You can register for the Local Leadership event using the online form.
For further information, please contact leadership@local.gov.uk
Planning Advisory Service Briefings
Biodiversity Net Gain and Nature Recovery Update for Councillors - Tuesday 1 November, 5pm.
The Planning Advisory Service are running an online event for Local Planning Authority councillors to provide an overview and highlight experience of current practice on biodiversity net gain (BNG) and nature recovery. Councillors can register for the event online.
Design and Place Councillors Briefing – Thursday 10 November, 12:00pm – 13:30pm
The Planning Advisory Service are working with Urban Design Learning to delivering a free Councillors’ lunch-time online session on design codes and delivering well-designed places. It will focus on current policy and resources to deliver growth and good design, with speakers from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Royal Town Planning Institute and PAS.
If you are a local authority councillor and you would like to attend, please email info@urbandesignlearning.com to book a place.
East of England new members’ event- Wednesday 30 November
The LGA East of England regional team will be hosting an event for new members six months in from getting elected. You can register for the event using the online form. This event is for new councillors to meet the LGA regional team, meet their regional peer from the political groups, discuss issues in their patch, and hear more about the support available. The event will be followed by an opportunity to network over lunch.
Speakers include:
- Rachel Litherland, Principal Adviser for the East of England, LGA
- Regional Peers
- Councillor William Nunn, Breckland District Council (Conservative)
- Councillor Richard Henry, Stevenage Borough Council (Labour)
- Councillor Sarah Bütikofer, North Norfolk District Council (Liberal Democrat)
- Councillor Jo Beavis, Braintree District Council (Independent)
- Jessica Norman, Senior Policy Adviser covering the LGA’s ‘Debate not Hate’ campaign
- Cheryl Davenport, Managing Director, EELGA
It will be held at Homerton College, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8PH on Wednesday 30 November 2022, 10.30am to 1pm followed by lunch. Please arrive from 10.15am.
Labour Local Government Conference 2023 – Save the date
The 2023 Labour Local Government Conference will take place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February. Details coming soon with how to book your place and accommodation. For now, please save the date.
News from the LGA
LGA responds to new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak MP
LGA responds to Devolution APPG enquiry into Levelling Up White Paper
LGA responds to latest children in need statistics
LGA responds to NAO report on air quality
By-elections
Derbyshire CC, Long Eaton
Labour: 1104 [51.1%, +15.1%]
Conservative: 723 [33.5%, -16.5%]
Liberal Democrat: 239 [11.1%, +5.1%]
Green: 94 [4.4%, -1.6%]
Labour GAIN from Conservative
Sandwell MBC, Wednesbury South
Labour: 854 [51.3%, -6.3%]
Conservative: 654 [39.3%, -3.1%]
Liberal Democrat: 77 [4.6%, from nowhere]
Green: 56 [3.4%, from nowhere]
TUSC: 23 [1.3%, from nowhere]
Labour HOLD
Upcoming by-elections
3 November
Croydon, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale
To support Tom Bowell’s campaign, contact thomaspfbowell@outlook.com
Nottinghamshire, Eastwood
To support Milan Radulovic‘s campaign, contact eastwoodbrinsleylabour@gmail.com
Salisbury, Salisbury St Paul’s
To support Tony Mear’s campaign, contact tonyjamesmears@googlemail.com.
South Cambridgeshire, Longstanton
To support Dan Greef and Anand Pillai’s campaigns, contact LongNorthOakLab@gmail.com
Lichfield, Chasetown
To support Paul Taylor’s campaign, contact susanwdwrd@gmail.com
10 November
Braintree, Braintree South
To support Martin Green’s campaign contact info@labour4witham.org.uk or peterlong@labour4witham.org.uk
Braintree, Coggeshall
To support Robert Powers’ campaign contact info@labour4witham.org.uk or peterlong@labour4witham.org.uk
Broxtowe, Greasley
To support Danny Hall’s campaign, contact broxtowelabour@gmail.com
East Devon, Newton Poppleford & Harpford
To support Caleb Early’s campaign, contact liz@lizforlabour.org
Kingston-upon-Thames, Green Lane & St James
To support Nick Draper’s campaign, contact patdobson56@gmail.com
South Kesteven, Grantham St Wulfram’s
To support Archie Hine’s campaign, contact robbieshorrock@gmail.com
South Kesteven, Bourne East
To support Alex Molyneux’s campaign, contact robbieshorrock@gmail.com
Burnley, Rosehill with Burnley Wood
Cannock Chase, Cannock West
17 November
Blackburn with Darwen, Darwen South
To support Matt Jackson’s campaign, contact talbotdamian@hotmail.com or mattdarwensouth@gmail.com
Suffolk, Beccles
To support Christian Newsome’s campaign, contact peter.byatt1@btinternet.com
Blackpool, Greenlands
Bolsover, Pinxton
Oldham, Hollinwood
Rhondda Cynon Taf, Abercynon
If you have an upcoming by-election, please contact jasmine.hawes@local.gov.uk with an email of who to contact to offer help.
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 jasmine.hawes@local.gov.uk.
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