CommsNet

For LGA member council communication teams

December’s agenda will include updates on: 

StreetLink and Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) helps rough sleepers

Guidance for SWEP and extreme weather: 

As of October 2023, StreetLink has been delivered by a new provider, Home Connections. If you have any questions or feedback on the new platform, please contact: vicky.sterrett@levellingup.gov.uk or frances.taylor@levellingup.gov.uk.

Government review of May 2023 elections

Last week, the Government published their Evaluation of the Electoral Integrity Programme, including the implementation of voter ID and new accessibility requirements. The report stated that these are well implemented, but that targeted awareness raising efforts would help future implementation in both cases. They also responded to the Electoral Commission’s review of the May 2023 elections, accepting very few of the Commission’s recommendations. The LGA is disappointed that the Government did not agree that the list of accepted ID should be broadened, respond to the issue of poor police and prosecutor response to electoral intimidation, or publish a risk assessment and mitigations plan for the delivery of the remainder of the Elections Act provisions.

LGA in the news

Council finances

Our snap survey of council leaders and chief executives has found that almost one in five councils in England say their council is likely to have to issue a Section 114 Notice either this year or next, ahead of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement. We have said: “No council is immune to the risk of running into financial difficulty. As our worrying survey shows, many now face the prospect of being unable to meet their legal duty to set a balanced budget and having section 114 reports issued. The Government urgently needs to act.” This line and the survey were covered by the Financial Times, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Express and The Guardian, BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, BBC Radio 2, Channel 5, Evening Standard, Mail Online and across regional radio. LGA Chair, Cllr Shaun Davies has been interviewed on LBC News, ITV News and Talk TV.  

Our warnings on the pressures facing children’s and adult’s social care systems were reported on Times Radio by Kate McCann and Adam Boulton. This was reported after Nottingham City Council issued a 114 notice the previous week. 

Section 114 notices

In response to Nottingham City Council issuing a section 114 notice, we have again warned in the Daily Mail that councils in England face a funding gap of £4 billion over the next two years. We have also said that “this is just the start of a massive upward trend. We know from speaking to a lot of cross-party councils and councillors that there is not a single one of them that can look past the next three years without falling off a cliff (financially).” Cllr Pete Marland, Chair of the LGA's Resources Board, also discussed the financial challenges facing councils on Talk TV. 

Gove concedes funding pressures

Record numbers of pothole breakdowns

The Evening Standard reported that there has been a 12 percent rise in callouts for vehicles damaged by road defects compared with the same month last year. In response we said: “Investing in cost-effective and resilient roads resurfacing, rather than retrospectively dealing with potholes, is a priority for councils. The recently announced extra £8.3 billion of funding will help with bringing more of our local road network up to scratch. Longer term, the Government should award council highways departments with five-yearly funding allocations to give more certainty, bringing councils on a par with National Highways so they can develop resurfacing programmes and other highways improvements, tackling the scourge of potholes.” Our comments were also reported in the Telegraph, Mail, Express, BBC Online, BBC Breakfast, Sky News and Daily Star.

Low traffic neighbourhoods

In response to reports published in the Mail on Sunday that low traffic neighbourhoods can reduce house prices, we said “Councils are on the side of all road users and residents, and are working hard to tackle congestion, make our air cleaner and improve the quality of life in their communities. We want to work with Government to achieve this. It is important that we consult with all residents and businesses to find the best solutions to ease congestion and improve air quality for everyone. However, it is councils who are best placed to make decisions with their communities in improving the lives of people and businesses. As democratic organisations they continually review all kinds of services and schemes based on local circumstances.”

Debate Not Hate

We have reiterated to BBC Radio Three Counties and BBC Radio Northampton that “The LGA’s call on Government is to do something about the requirement for councillors to have to publish their addresses, as anyone can find out where councillors live by just looking at a council website”. This is part of the LGA’s debate not hate campaign, which finds that Councillors and other politicians continue to receive unacceptable in person and online abuse. 

Have a lovely weekend. Nicky Old Director of Communications Local Government Association Follow me on LinkedIn