Greetings!
The Autumn season is starting as busy as it means to go on, with the new Government keen to make as many changes as quickly as it can.
Planning
New housing targets and consultation on National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – deadline Tuesday 24 September
Thank you for responding to my previous bulletins on the significant changes proposed to the planning rules, called the National Planning Policy Framework. Many of you have been in touch raising concerns about the new Government’s reintroduction of housing targets, half as big again as the targets we were not able to meet under the previous Government. Proposals in the NPPF consultation provide the mechanisms to force increased development, especially in rural areas. We have produced a summary of the consultation for our members on our Independent Group publications page.
The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) are holding a free to attend briefing session on Friday 6 September 1pm – 2.30pm You can book your place on the dedicated booking page.
We will be holding our own event to garner our members’ views on the consultation so we can present that to the LGA for the cross-party response, and so we can establish whether we need to submit our own response. Please join us online at a Teams meeting Tuesday 10 September 12-1.30pm to discuss how we should be responding to the consultation. Contact the Group Office to register or join the Teams Meeting directly.
Green Party Conference
I’m very much looking forward to joining our Green Party members at their annual party conference in Manchester at the end of the week. The LGA will be hosting its annual drinks reception and will be holding a fringe session looking at housing and building healthy communities – join me and my Deputy Leader Cllr Caroline Jackson with a host of other speakers at 5.15pm on Saturday 7 September.
Independent Group Annual Conference: 10-11 January 2025 Cookham, near Maidenhead
As the Independent Group we also hold our own very exciting and successful annual national conference! Please join us for the annual LGA Independent Group Conference and awards dinner 2024/25, a fantastic opportunity to come together to network, reflect, discuss, debate, learn, share and plan ahead for the next elections.
If you are an Independent, Green or smaller party councillor in England or Wales at a district, county, unitary authority, or a combined authority, this is a key date for your diary.
We have an early bird all inclusive conference rate for our members, supported by the Independent Group Office. This rate brings together onsite accommodation with breakfast and lunch, the awards dinner and the conference, but places are limited at this reduced rate.
Virtual and hybrid council meetings
We have heard that the new Government is reconsidering the country’s approach to virtual and hybrid council meetings, an issue many of you have discussed with me. Cross-party, the LGA is continuing to call for virtual attendance at council meetings to be an option, utilising the technology. Councils should be given the freedom and flexibility to choose for themselves whether and when to allow virtual attendance at their meetings.
Training for ambitious councillors – the Next Generation programme – last week to apply
The Next Generation Programme offers ambitious and talented councillors an unparalleled political development opportunity. Uniquely developed for members of the LGA Independent Group, the programme equips emerging political leaders with the skills and confidence to be bold champions of local government and progress in their political careers. Please do apply or encourage your colleagues to apply for a chance to be in this year’s cohort.
LGA Annual Conference – you can still book to attend
The programme for our upcoming Annual Conference in Harrogate 22-24 October has now been published! Please click on the ‘programme’ tab for more information. I will be looking forward to welcoming Carla Denyer MP who will be our special guest speaker at our group political dinner as well as our plenary session reflecting on her journey from local government to becoming an MP and sharing her thoughts on re-setting the central-local government partnership - a journey worth hearing! Current numbers are showing a record number of Independent Group councillors attending, so I am looking forward to an exciting conference.
Ukrainian Independence Day
This week saw Ukrainian Independence Day on 24 August, 33 years since Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Early prisoner release
Thank you for raising with me how the prisoner release programme could influence your council and communities. We have raised this with Angela Raynor and Jim McMahon regarding housing, mental health support and the speed of release when preparations are needed, especially in areas close to the prisons. The HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has reactivated Operation Early Dawn in some regions in England which aims to provide extra oversight of prisoner transfers between the police, courts and custody. We have been asking government to ensure councils and their local partners are engaged in the early prisoner release scheme so relevant support can be provided to individuals and communities and the impact can be assessed. Please continue to send in your local intel to the Group Office.
And finally…
Start to a busy Autumn
As the summer holidays come to a close, we are looking ahead at an exceptionally busy autumn. The new Government has a very full timetable of legislation it is looking to push through, and the LGA and our Group Office will be scanning it all to understand the implications for councils and to seek to influence where we see issues arising.
Our members who are on the LGA Boards will be having their annual briefing day on Thursday 5 September to equip them to hit the ground running as the LGA policy boards start re-convening. With the new Government there will be so many new issues to tackle. Do sign up to our online Think Tanks portal so our Leadership and Board members, who are representing you and your views to the LGA, know what you are thinking and we can give a really collective and strong argument to the LGA for our positions. Contact the Group Office for more information.
Have a great week ahead!
Warmest regards,
Household Support Fund
At the LGA we have been calling for the Household Support Fund, which is due to expire at the end of the month, to be extended for at least six months to avoid the impending cliff-edge in support to vulnerable families. We are continuing to seek an extension to enable councils to plan ahead and retain the staff and those voluntary partners that deliver vital support in our communities. In the longer-term, we want to see a transition to a preventative and sustainable approach, to help prevent people from falling into poverty and hardship in the first place.
Improvement and assurance framework - councillors’ guide
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.
Recruitment reset programme
The LGA has launched its Recruitment Reset programme, a 10-week development programme designed to empower councils with the tools, insights, and strategies needed to modernise their recruitment practices. Councils can find out more information and apply for the programme on our website.
Special Interest Group on Countering Extremism
During the recent far right disorder, the LGA provided support to the sector including through its Special Interest Group on Countering Extremism (SIGCE). The SIGCE knowledge hub allows councils to share advice, best practice etc and contains numerous useful documents and details of forthcoming webinars. Membership is open to council officers. For queries contact charles.loft@local.gov.uk
Monkeypox
Chief Executives, Directors of Public Health and other local government colleagues joined the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) update call last week. Over 600 people joined and colleagues were able to hear from Professor Susan Hopkins, Dr Will Welfare about what we know so far about the virus and preparedness plans. UKHSA has updated their mpox guidance collection, published a blog and the NHS website has also been updated.
Dates for the Diary
Thursday 5 September 2024 | Manchester
This Local Government Association event is open to new members from across the North-West who have been elected (for the first time) in May 2024. The event will support newly elected members in exploring their roles. It will provide an opportunity to hear from cross-party guest speakers about their experiences and insights, as well as support this cohort of newly elected members from across the region to develop their networks.
Thursday 12 September 2024 – Virtual
The Local Government Association's London and South-East regional team is hosting an online induction for new councillors in the South-East region. This Government funded event will provide an opportunity to meet other new councillors and hear from more experienced councillors, as well as introducing the LGA’s regional team and support available from the LGA. The session will look at the national local government context through a South-East lens, discuss the role of councillors, and give councillors an opportunity to discuss their experiences four months in as well as to ask any questions.
Thursday 19 September 2024, 2.00pm - 3.30pm
This virtual event which is funded by Government will provide an overview of local government finance without any numbers - focusing instead on roles and responsibilities, key terminologies and processes. It will give you an understanding of both what you need to be aware of in your role and what you need to understand about your authority’s role and is aimed at newly elected members or those just looking for a refresh.
Thursday 10 October 10am – 11.30am
The pressure to find greater efficiencies and reduce consumption, while striving to improve productivity and do all of this sustainably, is driving councils to look for different ways to procure and deliver better outcomes for local people. Sustainable procurement adds value to the sector and local authorities through improved reputation and futureproofing against compliance issues and supply chain risk. It also considers social, economic, and environmental factors alongside the usual price and quality considerations when buying goods and services.
|
