Sector support offers
Sector support offer delivers high impact
The annual review of sector support delivered in 2023/24 shows the LGA has a proven track record of delivering high impact, low-cost programmes to the sector. 100 per cent of chief executives and 97 per cent of council leaders say that LGA support has had a positive impact for their authority. Evaluations and feedback from the sector show that LGA programmes continue to play a key role in supporting councils to improve, achieve local ambitions, and provide services communities rely on.
Councillors’ guide to the improvement and assurance framework for local government
Following the publication of the improvement and assurance framework for local government, we have produced a guide for councillors, which aims to support elected members to take appropriate measures to gain assurance both of the performance of their authority’s services and of its corporate governance.
Launch of national local government recruitment campaign
The 'Make a difference, work for your local council' campaign is launching nationwide to encourage careers in local government. Co-produced with councils by the Local Government Association (LGA) and Solace, and funded by the UK Government, it aims to fill essential roles that support critical community services like planning, adult and children’s services, finance, and environmental health.
The campaign responds to significant staffing shortages across the country. More than 9 in 10 councils across the country are experiencing staff recruitment and retention difficulties as demand for services continues to rise, highlighting the vital need to attract more people into the workforce.
The national campaign follows a successful pilot in the North East of England, supported by the North East Regional Employers Organisation, which ran from January to March 2024. The pilot campaign generated over 17 million impressions and an 8.96% increase in job applications, boosting awareness and interest in local government careers. It has since been shortlisted for two LGC Workforce Awards in the categories of ‘Best Innovation in Recruitment’ and ‘Best Next Generation Employer’.
The national campaign will roll out across the UK in Autumn 2024, offering support and a digital toolkit to councils nationwide. It will highlight the wide range of rewarding careers available in local government and the meaningful impact individuals can make in their communities.
LGA Technology Innovation Showcase: Call for council challenges
The LGA invites councils to submit challenge statements for our new Technology Innovation Showcase. The goal is to gain the opinion of the sector on what are the problems that services face that could potentially be solved by AI or smart technology. Following a review period, the November hybrid event will invite vetted, innovative tech vendors to showcase the cutting-edge AI and smart tech solutions available to transform council services.
Learn more and submit your challenge by 19 September.
LGA transformation action learning sets 2024/25
The LGA transformation action learning sets provide a unique development opportunity for councillors and officers to work with peers to explore solutions to transformation challenges in an action learning set environment. The first set has been announced for the following dates:
Please express your interest in the series you will be available to participate in via this registration form. If you have any questions, please get in touch with tom.denman@local.gov.uk.
Councillor Transformation Network
Our Councillor Transformation Network is for councillors working in transformation, change and innovation roles. Members will discuss emerging issues and trends affecting councils, and hear from each other and guests on policies, programmes and practices. The inaugural meeting of the network will be taking place in November 2024. To join this network please complete our expression of interest form.
Pathways to Planning
The LGA’s Pathways to Planning graduate programme delivering new planners into local planning authorities, is now encouraging councils to express interest in its third cohort. Graduate planners recruited in Cohort 3 will start work in councils by September 2025. Contact pathways.planning@local.gov.uk for more information.
Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme
Councils can now sign up to Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme in order to participate in Cohort 27 recruitment. Formerly known as the NGDP, the graduate programme helps build crucial capacity within organisations whilst providing a platform for motivated trainees to kickstart their careers as future leaders of local government.
Local Government Challenge
On 31 July, Faith Scott Deuchar from the London Borough of Islington, was announced as the winner of the LG Challenge 2024 for her research project identifying, understanding and addressing the risks of disengagement with early help services. This project will seek to understand why some families disengage from early help services, what the impact is when they do, and how we can prevent or reverse disengagement.
Applications and nominations are now open for the LG Challenge 2025. LG Challenge offers a unique leadership programme for officers to develop as the future generation of local government leaders.
Interested officers can email questions, or arrange an informal call, via lgchallenge@local.gov.uk
Webinars and digital events
Tuesday 10 September 2024, 10.00am - 11.45am | Virtual
This roundtable has been organised to provide participants with the opportunity to explore how the sector can influence and improve the energy efficiency of housing and assets to deliver mitigation targets within local government decarbonisation and retrofit programmes. It will feature ‘spotlight on’ presentations from councils with experience and insights on leading the decarbonisation agenda before we progress into a roundtable discussion.
Wednesday 18 September 2024, 10.00am-11.45am | Officers | Virtual roundtable
The session will focus on managing and building a resilient and adaptable workforce. This roundtable offers an opportunity to network and share notable practice on change resilience and people management approaches. Following the ‘spotlight on’ presentation, delegates will participate in a roundtable discussion.
Thursday 10 October 2024, 10.00am - 11.30am | Virtual
This LGA virtual event will focus on how local authorities use their status as ‘anchor institutions’ to lead by example by adopting policies and processes more favourable to low carbon options in procurement, commissioning, the design of services, contract management and delivery of all services.
Tuesday 22 – Thursday 24 October 2024 | Harrogate
Join us for the biggest event in the local government calendar. We’ll be discussing the latest opportunities and challenges facing local government – as well as learning more about the latest big ideas and innovations, including sessions at the Innovation Zone.
The Innovation Zone offers a vibrant, creative space within the LGA’s Annual Conference, which enables councils to showcase their new ideas and solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing local government.
This year’s programme will include more than 40 engaging sessions from across the country, showcasing work on key issues of significance for the sector – ranging from social services, and digital technologies, to public health and workforce.
We are aiming to share excellent practice that all delegates can learn from and utilise to create tangible, positive impact in their own councils and communities.
Additionally, you might be interested in...
Leadership essentials - transformation
We are delivering a series of Leadership Essentials sessions on transformation events for councillors that will help to give delegates greater confidence, capability, and awareness to shape and lead the transformation agenda within their local areas. The dates for the courses can be found on the LGA transformation webpage.
The cost of attending this programme will be fully subsidised, including accommodation, meals and course materials. To sign up on any one of the ‘Leadership essentials’ programmes, please contact grace.collins@local.gov.uk
‘Boosting middle leaders’ programme
Applications are now open for ‘Boosting middle leaders’, a leadership programme that brings together mid to senior level councillors and officers to help build relationships, share perspectives, and develop practices to help them to deliver the best outcomes for their communities. The deadline for applications is Sunday 8 September.
For any queries about the programme please contact leadership@local.gov.uk.
‘Focus on leadership’ development programmes
Our 'Focus on leadership' councillor development events are designed to support councillors to excel in their existing roles and to provide them with a bridge to senior leadership positions. Coming events include:
For more information on any of the above events, including pricing, availability and how to book, please email grace.collins@local.gov.uk
CIPFA leadership development programme for Section 151 Officers
The new CIPFA LEAD Programme is a leadership development programme aimed at new and existing Section 151 officers. The programme will develop their leadership skills and capabilities as strategic leaders, supporting their role in the governance and assurance of their organisation, and exploring their relationship with other statutory roles in the golden triangle. Bursaries are available for this programme.
To express an interest in this course, please contact lee.schofield@cipfa.org.
LG Inform and LG Inform Plus
Did you know LG Inform is always adding new published datasets at the request of council officers and councillors. Existing datasets are updated within five days of the publication.
For information on LG Inform contact us at lginform@local.gov.uk, or to take advantage of the benefits of subscribing to LG Inform Plus contact lginformplus@local.gov.uk.
Recent new data: Liver disease profiles
Liver Disease metrics published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) have been added to LG Inform. Hospital admission rate due to liver disease per 100,000 in England for males in the financial year 2022/23 was 194.8 compared to 118.6 for females. The region with the highest rate was the North East at 155.2 per 100,000 persons.
Hospital admission rate for alcoholic liver disease per 100,000 (Persons) in England for the financial year 2022/23 was 49.4 an increase from 31.8 a decade ago in 2012/13. Under 75 mortality rate from alcoholic liver disease per 100,000 in England for males in the 3-years 2020-2022 was 14.7 compared to 8.0 for females.
Acute hepatitis B incidence rate per 100,000 population in England for 2021 was 0.31, this has been coming down since 2016 when it was 0.82 persons. The area with the highest incidence rate was in Blackpool at 5.68 persons.
Recent updated data: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) have published the latest Greenhouse gas emissions statistics. Many of these are included in the LG Inform Climate Change report.
Total CO2 emissions estimates in England for 2022 were 243,641.3 kilotonnes, down from 259,523.3 kilotonnes in 2021 and significantly lower than in 2012 when they were 370,112.4 kilotonnes. Per Capita Emissions (tCO2e) in England for 2022 were 5.1 tonnes per person, compared to 8.0 tonnes per person in 2012.
first magazine
Yours faithfully,
Cllr Abi Brown, OBE
Chair, LGA Improvement and Innovation Board
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