Greetings!
I hope many of you have been taking advantage of the great spell of weather we had recently because spring has certainly arrived now!
Renewed Call to Action
At the LGA, we have been drawing up a White Paper setting out our direction as we head towards a General Election. Working on it now has meant there is more opportunity to get as much as possible into the party manifestoes. Thank you to all who have contributed through the think tanks, events or correspondence. Our elected Deputy and Treasurer and I have worked to ensure the new document includes what is important to you. We have pressed for economic prosperity and wellbeing as a foundation in a safe, clean, green environment.
Rishi Sunak gave us five pledges; halve inflation (yes), grow the economy (hardly), reduce debt (rising up to £2.7tn), cut NHS waiting lists (no), stop the small boats (currently on a record high). Keir Starmer sets out what Labour would do first if it wins election - BBC News; to increase the economy (along with “tough spending rules”), cut NHS waiting times, set up a state-owned energy company, tackle anti-social behaviour, recruit 6,500 teachers, and create a border security command. The Green party manifesto is here, but eyes are also on Bristol City Council where the Greens are now the largest group with a clear manifesto
Standing at the General Election?
If you are thinking of standing in the forthcoming general election, please let us know so we can keep you informed and in touch with other councillors. There is new advice from the Electoral Commission on 10 May on keeping a record of expenses over the long campaign period and their useful bulletins.
Support for you
Following the recent local elections, many of our members will be deep in discussions over potential coalitions with other parties and groupings to form administrations in our local authorities. Some of you may have the honour of being a council leader, a portfolio holder or leading a group in opposition. If this applies to you, please visit our changes in political leadership page which contains useful information for councils facing change of control, no overall control and changes in leadership, whatever the scenario please remember the Local Government Association and the Independent Group is here to help you! Also our extensive network of regional lead peers is on hand to help with any ongoing requests for help and support throughout this sensitive time.
Are you a newly elected councillor?
If you are a newly elected councillor or perhaps a re-elected one and fancy some re-fresher training, the LGA has updated its Councillor hub full of useful information with everything you need to know also about the Local Government Association, how it works and the benefits of membership. You may also be interested in several upcoming events organised by the LGA aimed at newly-elected councillors, starting with Time management on 21 May, 1.00pm. The LGA National welcome event for new councillors is online on 19 June 2.00pm. This features the LGA Chair and Chief Executive discussing the LGA’s priorities for the forthcoming year, introduces our lead peers from each of the political groups. Next the Independent Group will be having its own breakout session for our members to meet each other and hear from our top team. Please encourage any new councillors you know to attend this event or contact the Group Office for more information!
The LGA does excellent leadership courses, well worth attending. Are you an opposition leader or deputy, a young councillor under 41, or a BAME or LGBTQ+ Councillor? Our Focus on Leadership series are designed to support councillors to excel in their existing roles and to provide them with a bridge to senior leadership positions.
You can also apply for a free place on the Independent Group Next Generation course, held annually over three weekends and amazingly effective.
There is something for everyone! Please take a look and book a course now or email Grace Collins for further information.
Oflog: LGA shares concerns with Secretary of State
As you will remember, the Local Government Association hosts LG Inform, which compares performance of councils. The Government Office of Local Government (Oflog) have produced their own. We argued that we could just improve ours to suit any new requirements, but they have gone ahead never-the-less. Ofsted taught us the risks and our warnings were vindicated with an article in the Times, Worst-performing councils in England revealed — where does yours rank? They used the data from the Office for Local Government (Oflog) which has concerned many of our member councils. I co-signed a joint letter alongside other LGA political group leaders, expressing our concerns to the Secretary of State Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, on what this has demonstrated about the role of Oflog to our members.
Ministerial Statement on Energy
We have long called for a proper strategy where the renewable energy we need is calculated and proper planning takes place to decide where it should go. In my council, we also called for the ability to take the cumulative impact into account, so that areas such as rural farmland do not get swamped, changed to an industrial landscape.
These new applications cover many thousands of acres of productive farmland - energy security at the expense of food security, while car parks, roofs and even some brownfield sites lie vacant. These issues have been included in a ministerial statement this week, from Claire Coutinho, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. There remains the point that the division between land 3a and 3b is arbitrary and both grow excellent crops.
More funding
… for sports fields
Many of you will be engaged in helping local clubs access funds for sports, keeping people healthy. There is a summary: UK sports funding for individuals, organisations and teams. Last January £93 million was made available for over a thousand projects across the country. A new announcement this week is to help clubs tackle flooding, seen as an impact of climate change.
for public buildings
This week, the government has announced £530 m funding for public buildings and businesses to help reduce their energy bills and carbon emissions. Funding is to support schools, pools, and hospitals to make energy efficient upgrades. The government has also announced £27.5 million from the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund to support businesses with high energy use to reduce their bills and carbon emissions.
And to build affordable homes
The Affordable Homes Programme has just been updated, useful for our councils building new housing.
Care Act: 10 years on
This week marked the 10th anniversary of the passing of the Care Act which has huge implications for councils. It brings a responsibility for all vulnerable people in our area, entitled to a care assessment as well as comprehensive information and advice about care and support services in their local area.
We also help develop a market that delivers a wide range of sustainable high-quality care and support services and funds individual care costs.
The LGA has posed two questions to a variety of experts right across the country and in all sectors; what has been achieved in ten years of the Care Act and how do we address any shortcomings? Do take a look at the recently released and rather excellent LGA report: The Care Act 2014: Ten years on from Royal Assent.
Mental Health Awareness Week
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and May is Mental Health month. Mental Health UK has a brilliant range of resources about talking to someone about mental health. Like many of you, I work on the committee for Adult Care and have been active in calling for better services in the area and contributing to shaping them, including a 24/7 helpline. As we know, working in politics and local government can take its toll on mental health whether it’s juggling family commitments, council meetings and casework or the abuse and intimidation from social media.
The LGA flagship campaign ‘Debate not Hate’ is there for you and many have passed the Civility motion at their council. There is no excuse for abuse and/or intimidation, whether online or in person. We have campaigned for and been promised a dedicated police officer dealing with abuse and intimidation of elected officials.
Partners in Care and Health has surveyed current practices in mental health and social care and made recommendations to help Councils and integrated care boards shape services in future. Adult mental health social care: Report from the findings of the 2023 insight survey is an excellent report with well-reasoned proposals you can support in your council.
LGA and ADASS are Partners in Care and Health, supporting councils to improve the way they deliver adult social care and public health services; and helping Government understand the challenges faced by the sector.
Join the East of England Independent Conference
Saturday 25 May, 11.00am – 2.00pm
If you are an Independent/Green councillor and/or activist in and around the East of England, the regional Independent Conference is taking place at The Essex, Earls Colne, Colchester CO6 2NS.
Everyone is welcome and I am pleased to host this exciting event alongside the East of England Regional Lead Peer, Councillor Jo Beavis.
For more information, please contact either me or Jo Beavis directly. The event will focus on the East of England 2025 elections and beyond. An evening dinner will take place on the Friday night and overnight accommodation is available. Please note this is not an LGA Independent Group supported event.
Looking forward to seeing you soon and wishing you every success. Please let us know of your achievements and we will be pleased to share and celebrate them on a new web page of cracking good ideas!
Best wishes,
Electoral Commission post-election candidate survey
The Electoral Commission is running its usual post-election candidate survey and have asked us to promote it. Please do share and encourage people to respond, it has some very useful questions about harassment, intimidation and threats.
Migrant Champions Network briefing session
The Migrant Champions Network will be running a briefing session on the UK's immigration system for local councillors on Tuesday 4 June, 6.00pm to 8.00pm. The session will include an overview of the UK's current immigration rules, and attendees will also hear guidance from experienced councillors on advocating for the rights of people who move in a local authority setting.
Electricals recycling fund
Material Focus has reopened its Electricals Recycling Fund, offering £750,000 of funding to support projects that make it easier for more people to reuse and recycle old and unwanted small household electricals. This follows previous rounds of funding that provided £1.8 million to fund over 40 UK projects, including council projects, which will make it easier for people to repair, donate or recycle their unwanted electricals.
LGA Sustainability Action Learning Sets – last few spaces available!
Our Sustainability Action Learning Sets are open to all council officers in England to provide a safe space for officers to reflect, exchange and curate knowledge around delivery projects. The sets will be made up of nine council participants and facilitated by the LGA. You can find out more information and read the frequently asked questions about Sustainability Action Learning Sets.
Book onto an Action Learning Set now:
Book onto Cohort 1
- Session 1: 10:30am – 12.00pm, 5 June 2024
- Session 2: 10:30am – 12.00pm, 24 June 2024
- Session 3: 10:30am – 12.00pm, 17 July 2024
Book onto Cohort 2
- Session 1: 10:30am – 12.00pm, 6 June 2024
- Session 2: 10:30am – 12.00pm, 25 June 2024
- Session 3: 10:30am – 12.00pm, 18 July 2024
Ending abuse in public life: council self-assessment toolkit launch
The LGA is launching a new self-assessment toolkit for councils looking to improve the level of support they provide councillors around managing the risks associated with their elected role. The new toolkit is based on the LGA Ending abuse in public life for councillors report and provides councils with key points to consider to prevent abuse of councillors, support councillor wellbeing and equip them with the right support and information to know what to do if an incident occurs. If you’re an officer who supports councillors, please join us at the online launch to learn how to get the most out of the toolkit. We'll also hear a short case study from a council that trialled an early version of the toolkit.
Sign up to attend online at Ending abuse in public life: Council self-assessment toolkit launch.
Placements for children in care resource
Where a child is in the care of the council, it is vital they feel safe and are able to thrive where they live. To support councils and councillors with this we've published a resource pack: Placements for children in care dedicated to exploring the key legislation, policies and good practice for providing quality placements for children in care.
Best value guidance
The Minister for Local Government, Simon Hoare has published a written ministerial statement on best value standards and interventions in councils and the Best Value guidance has also been published. The guidance clarifies what constitutes best value, the standards expected, and a clear escalation pathway involving the various models of statutory and non-statutory intervention We have said in our . statement on LGA statement on Best Value Guidance publication our Corporate Peer Challenge reflects the current challenges facing the sector and that the guidance reiterates our call for all English councils to have a Corporate or Finance Peer Challenge every five years.
Accountability within public bodies
A reminder that the Committee for Standards in Public Life has launched a new review on accountability within public bodies and the importance of acting on early warning signs. Its consultation: Accountability within Public Bodies closes at 5.00pm on Friday 14 June 2024. To inform the LGA’s response to this consultation, please share your views on the consultation questions by close of play Friday 17 May.
Dates for the Diary
Tuesday 21 May 2024, 1.00pm - 2.30pm
This virtual event will examine how councillors can balance pressures and expectations and develop effective time management strategies. It will also examine the related issue of personal resilience and how councillors can avoid burnout and stress through a number of practical steps.
Tuesday 28 May 2024, 1.00pm - 2.00pm
Focussing on the 2023/24 employer standards health check survey, this webinar will be an opportunity to reflect on the results of the health check and discuss the next steps. We will be hearing from the Department for Education and Work in Confidence (the survey providers) with time for feedback on the survey.
Monday 3 June 2024, 2.00pm - 3.00pm
Join us to hear about the new Ending abuse in public life council self-assessment toolkit, a new resource aimed at helping councils improve their support for councillors experiencing abuse through self-reflection.
Tuesday 4 June 2024, 1.00pm - 3.00pm
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 11 June 2024, 10.00am - 11.30am
The Government has announced its intention to introduce the Building Safety Levy. Colleagues from DLUHC will be presenting on what the Levy is, how the collection process will work and the role of authorities as collection and administrative agents.
Thursday 13 June 2024, 3.00pm - 4.00pm
Following the introduction of new social housing regulations in April 2024, this online event brings together the Housing Ombudsman and Regulator of Social Housing to discuss councils’ new requirements. This informative session will provide time to hear from both organisations and provide an opportunity to ask questions.
Thursday 20 June 2024, 10.00am - 11.45am
The session will focus on how councils can set a clear direction of activity by creating a set of transformation principles and a strategy. Delegates will hear from the sector on how a defined direction for their transformation work empowers officers and councillors across their authorities to improve the lives of the community they serve. Following the ‘spotlight on’ presentation, delegates will participate in a roundtable discussion.
Thursday 11 July 2024, 1.00pm - 3.00pm
When making decisions, it is important to do against a basis of good evidence. This webinar aims to show you how to use the numbers to tell an effective story, so that everyone can understand what you want to achieve.
Tuesday 16 July 2024, 10.30am – 12.00pm
Join us for this virtual event which will explore opportunities to increase the climate change and wider environmental sustainability knowledge and skills of local leaders. We will hear about the new carbon literacy accredited training courses that the LGA has been delivering to local authority councillors and members from across England. Delegates who have benefited from attending the courses will share their experience with us and we will discuss the opportunities for councils to access training locally.
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