Sector support offers
LGA Sector Support programme 2024/25
We are pleased to have launched the 2024/25 Sector Support programme, which provides councils with new enhanced tools and support to harness opportunities, drive improvement across all regions, and deliver critical services to communities.
The 2024/25 programme continues to build on key themes of governance, leadership, finance, workforce and transformation, directly informed by engagement with local government and by insights from the improvement and assurance framework consultation.
It offers a range of both new and continuing support, such as our expanded range of officer and councillor development opportunities. This includes new training for statutory officers, a wider range of councillor-focused Transformation support, and, with Solace, the introduction of a new foundation programme for newly appointed chief executives successfully piloted in 2023/24.
The 2024/25 programme will launch the LGA’s flagship National Recruitment Campaign and see our enhanced Corporate Peer Challenge approach provide greater assurance to councils, with greater focus on finance, data, and evidence through our new, robust CPC report structure, style, and format.
The programme forms part of the LGA’s wider Sector Support offer, which includes:
Children’s services; Partners in Care and Health; Cyber, Digital and Technology; One Public Estate (OPE); Planning (PAS and Pathways to Planning); Procurement; Sustainability; NGDP Finance, Adult Social Care Peer Challenge and Culture and Sport.
To find out more about any aspects of the Sector Support Programme, contact the Principal Adviser for your region or visit the LGA website to view our updated sector support summary.
Local government budget setting for 2024/25
The Local Government Budget Setting report explores the challenges that councils have faced in trying to set a balanced budget for the upcoming financial year, including the services most likely to be impacted by cost savings and the anticipated consequences of these cost savings. The report combines the findings of two surveys of council chief executives, conducted before and after the announcement at the end of January of an additional £600 million in funding for councils.
Combined authorities
We have worked with Grant Thornton to produce guides for senior members and officers on good governance and good financial management for combined authorities. The guides provide pointers for those beginning their journey and detailed checklists for more established authorities to review and develop their approaches.
Supporting good governance
The LGA is developing a suite of support, guidance and tools so that councils can assess and assure themselves of the effectiveness of their governance, and gain help to address any areas for improvement. Recent additions are top tips for chief executives and a growing series of case studies.
Must Knows – finance
We have published a short series of guides to key elements of local government finance, written for senior political and managerial leaders. The guides cover how to get the annual budget process right, how to achieve the greatest value from working with auditors and the importance and role of the statement of accounts.
LGA Sustainability Survey – results
Councils are taking urgent action in their areas to address sustainability. The LGA is committed to supporting this and launched a survey to inform the support work. Thank you to each local authority who responded. The anonymised results can be found on our webpage and they will greatly inform our sustainability support to you going forward.
Webinars and digital events
Tuesday 30 April 2024, 10.30am-12pm
A national recruitment campaign for local government has been co-produced with local authorities and Solace: ‘Make a Difference, Work for Your Local Council’. This event will present the campaign, the findings from a pilot delivered in the North East, and the ambitions for a national roll-out.
Friday 17 May 2024, 10.30am-12pm
This online event provides Officer Peers with the opportunity to hear about the recently launched sector support offer, the improvement and assurance framework for local government and the developments made to CPCs. It will provide an opportunity to discuss how you as Officer Peers are best placed to understand the challenges and opportunities facing councils and can help support the sector.
Thursday 23 May 2024, 10.30am-12pm
Join this session to hear about the latest updates to the Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool and the Waste Emissions Calculator. Further options for recording Scope 3 emissions including Anaerobic Digestion for waste treatment will have been added. You will hear from councillors, council officers and climate experts from Local Partnerships.
Tuesday 4 June 2024, 1-3pm
Part of the role of a council leader is to decide what to focus on and act strategically. This interactive workshop will give you tools and techniques for: listening for what’s being said, questioning and listening, letting people know you’ve heard them as well as finding your way through information to help you move forward.
Tuesday 2 – Thursday 4 July 2024 | Harrogate
Join us in Harrogate for the biggest event in the local government calendar, where we’ll be discussing the latest issues affecting local government.
Additionally, you might be interested in...
Change in political leadership or control support
Our change in political leadership or control support offer is available throughout the year from regional support teams and expert peers, to help smooth political transitions and ensure that members and officers have access to resources and support they need to deliver effectively in their roles. Find out more from the principal adviser for your region, or visit our changes in political leadership hub, which explains more about wide ranging support available.
Next Generation
The Next Generation programme is run across three modules that cover themes of personal leadership, political leadership and communication & media skills. Applications for the 2024/25 cohort will open after LGA Conference in July 2024. For further information contact one of the Political Group Offices or leadership@local.gov.uk
Leadership Academy
A series of 2024/25 dates for our long-running successful Leadership Academy programme recognised by the Institute of Leadership are now available. The Leadership Academy is the LGA’s flagship political leadership development programme for councillors in leadership positions which has been updated to reflect current challenges and is based on three two-day residential modules over a three-month period. For more information and dates, visit the Leadership Academy
Leadership Essentials
A series of 2024/25 dates are now available for our various Leadership Essentials programmes. The Leadership Essentials programme is a series of themed leadership programmes and workshops offering a stand-alone opportunity to concentrate on particular themes and share experiences amongst colleagues dealing with similar challenges like Children; Adult Social Care; Finance; Licensing; Sports and Physical Activity; Effective Cabinet member; Effective Scrutiny. For more info and dates Leadership Essentials
Focus on Leadership
Our Focus on Leadership councillor development events provide councillors with valuable opportunities to build networks and meet peers and colleagues from across the country. 2024/25 dates for our weekender events like Young Councillors; LGBTQ+ Councillors and black, Asian and minority councillors are now available as well as our Effective Opposition programmes Councillor development events – 'Focus on Leadership' series
Boosting Middle Leaders
Boosting Middle Leaders is a leadership programme bringing together councillors and officers to build relationships, share perspectives, and develop practices that will help them to deliver the best outcomes for their places and communities. The first cohort have completed a residential module, day workshop and two online workshops so far. They have one remaining module taking place in late April. Following the success of this programme, we will look to launch the second cohort for 2024/25 with more details about applications to follow soon.
LG Inform and LG Inform Plus
New LG Inform report on Sport and Leisure
Check out our new report, an overview of Sport and Leisure. This new report provides an overview of sport and leisure activities in a certain area by highlighting metrics, which cover physical activity, attendance at sporting events, museums, nightlife, and more.
Sport and leisure can play a positive role in promoting the health and well-being of people and their communities, with local councils continuing to work hard to provide these services.
first magazine
Yours faithfully,
Cllr Abi Brown
Chairman, LGA Improvement and Innovation Board
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