Weekly update from the LGA Liberal Democrat Group

Priorities for the year Working with Lib Dems in Parliament Good practice and more!

Dear colleague,

Last week I was back at the LGA offices in Smith Square to plan our work over 2024, and I look forward to meeting with our Lib Dem Group Exec next Thursday to catch up with them and hear the work they are doing on the LGA’s policy Boards.

I recorded a brief message which you can see in full here outlining priorities for the coming year which I will be pushing the LGA to highlight in its lobbying and campaigning work:

• Fixing council funding: Councils need more certainty and more cash
• Putting the Climate Emergency back at the top of the agenda
• Helping councils deliver genuinely affordable homes - in particular social rented housing.

On a positive note, congratulations to local Lib Dem Campaigners in both Sheffield and Richmond upon Thames last night on their excellent results! Richmond had a Tory council until 2018. Now for the first time in its history there are no Conservatives on the council.

Keep up the good work!

Best wishes,

Councillor Joe Harris Leader LGA Liberal Democrat Group

P.S. If you want another way to get updates about the Lib Dems nationally on WhatsApp, a link is here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EYUAadWSygv7ippQjymg7E

Lib Dems working for you in Parliament

Please ask your MP to sign this Early Day Motion tabled by Lib Dem MP Helen Morgan on council funding: Council budgets and audits - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament

Helen Morgan MP is also raising concerns from rural councils and the LGA over the Shared Rural Network in a House of Commons debate next Wednesday.

Richard Foord MP and Christine Jardine MP have tabled questions to the Government over Local Government Finance and Social Housing respectively next Monday.

LGA Liberal Democrat Deputy Group Leader Councillor Bridget Smith gave evidence this week to Parliament calling for councils and communities to have more say in provision of renewable energy: https://twitter.com/districtcouncil/status/1747725337276903791

Press releases

• Under one roof: Cllr Roger Harmer explains some of the housing challenges in Birmingham - Birmingham Liberal Democrats (birminghamlibdems.org.uk)
• Somerset council proposes “unprecedented” action to fill £100 million budget gap
• Government must do more to help as another council raises the alarm over finances
• A briefing from the Liberal Democrats on the Post Office Horizon scandal can be found on the party website

Good practice from Lib Dems in local government

• New Climate-friendly council housing built in South Cambridgeshire
• Well done Oxfordshire Lib Dems on rolling out new electric buses

Council motions

• Motion on ADHD from Milton Keynes Lib Dems
• A fair deal for private renters - tabled by Oldham Lib Dems
• We have based a template press release and motion based on the work by Lib Dem Groups on Southwark and Lambeth Councils on benefits. Data on each constituency and council area

LGA training events coming up

Reducing rough sleeping in rural communities (virtual event)

Monday 29 January 2024, 2.00pm - 3.30pm

This webinar primarily focuses on good practice on reducing rough sleeping in rural communities. There will be an opportunity to hear from English Rural, the Local Government Association, and councils, on good practice and the future of rural rough sleeping reduction.

Focus leaflet template

The Campaigns & Elections Team have released a new Focus leaflet template for February - as part of our year-round campaign plan.

Whether you have local elections in May, or are planning ahead for the General Election, now is also a good time to sign up your voters to postal votes. Postal voters are more likely to vote, so PV recruitment is important. 

Our February postal vote recruitment materials are now up on the Campaign Hub, and you can also access via this Google Drive.