Greetings!
Housing and Planning at the Green Party Conference 2024
As I write, I’m on my way back from the Green Party Conference in Manchester. There was incredible optimism and energy amongst our members. We had the biggest ever turnout at the LGA Independent Group reception as well as our debate on housing that filled the hall on both evenings. Have a look at our LGA Independent Group Twitter feed @LGA_Independent to see photos and comments from the event.
Housing
The crisis is one of affordability - everyone needs a decent home they can afford. Just building more does not make them cheaper, as there is no control on demand. Anyone in the world can buy a property in the UK and thus keep the prices high and rents high. There is not enough control on the types of housing built, limited by the viability assessment that gives developers a guaranteed 20 per cent profit, and still not enough homes where people can afford to live. And how do we build half as many homes again as we did not manage under the last Government, without significant impact on our carbon footprint?
We have a change of Government, but they seem to be making the same mistakes here as the previous. Planning gives councils some local democratic control to balance people, the environment and economic development. Seeing planning as a “barrier to growth” suggests the Government is focussed more on using housing as a commodity to raise tax, rather than housing the homeless. Like the previous government, they want to reset the national planning rules to remove some of the controls. Please have a look at our summary of the 105 rule changes proposed in the National Planning Policy Framework Consultation and come to the meeting on Tuesday, if you can so we can properly respond on your behalf.
There is also a “New Homes Accelerator” that seeks to remove barriers on stalled sites and call for new sites. There is a call for evidence before 31 October.
I chaired the housing debate and our three excellent speakers were Cllr Caroline Jackson from Lancaster City, our Group’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Diana Moore from Exeter, our member lead on the Local Infrastructure and Net Zero Board and Cllr Stephen McKenna from Reigate and Banstead Council, the Green Party lead on housing strategy group.
The packed hall was also incredibly lively with a great many useful contributions, which we are collating and sharing. We invite you to send your views into the Group Office and to join us at midday on Tuesday 10 September for an online meeting to go through the NPPF consultation to help form a Group and LGA response – consultation closes Tuesday 24 September.
Reminder: Independent Group Conference
A reminder that we’ll be holding our own Independent Group Conference from the evening of Friday 10 through to Saturday 11 January near Maidenhead and you can book now for early bird rates including overnight accommodation.
Grenfell Inquiry – Phase Two
This week the phase two report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry was published which examines the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the tragedy on the night of 14 June 2017. Firstly, I want to re-iterate my heartfelt condolences to all the families, friends and neighbours who lost loved ones that night. It should never have happened. As the report identifies, ‘decades of failure by central government and other bodies in positions of responsibility in the construction industry’, led to this avoidable tragedy. The Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner MP has warned that an estimated 2,000 buildings still need to have unsafe cladding removed. No timescale for the remedial works has been announced. As you know, the Independent Group chairs the LGA Fire Services Management Committee under the leadership of Councillor Frank Biederman, who also leads the Independent and Green Group on Devon County Council. The LGA and the National Fire Chiefs Council have been part of regular discussions with department officials on national action to better coordinate enforcement action and share good practice. The committee is calling for multi-year funding for enforcement so that staff can be properly recruited and retained. If you are a fire authority or have any building safety related questions or queries, please email Frank who would be happy to hear from you.
LGA Members’ Briefing Day
We held another successful lead members’ briefing day last week with 14 of our members attending in-person and five joining online. A warm welcome was given by our new Chair, Councillor Louise Gittins and an explanation of how the LGA operates by Councillor Kevin Bentley. I was delighted to be able to speak again on Civility in Public Life and how the LGA is responding to recent violent disorder and wider afield, how our Councillors and Councils are working to strengthen community cohesion. We are best placed to understand and respond to the needs of our residents and local communities, alongside the voluntary sector. You might be interested to know the LGA has produced a very helpful information page and guidance on ‘civil resilience and emergency planning’, should similar disturbances occur in the near future. In the afternoon, we had our own political group session where we discussed the latest developments in the LGA and emerging issues within local government. My thanks go to Deputy Caroline Jackson, Abigail Gallop and Councillor Jon Hubbard who gave a step-by-step guide on how to navigate our new Think-Tanks online discussion portal.
Join our Think-Tanks online discussion portal!
If you have not already signed up to our new Think-Tank online discussion portal, get in touch to be registered and start contributing to our policy sharing site! It is a great way to network with other members, get involved in a policy discussion area and provide helpful ideas to our lead members on the policy boards.
World Suicide Prevention Day
Tomorrow, Tuesday 10 September, is World Suicide Prevention Day. The aim is to show everyone that talking about difficult feelings, including suicidal thoughts, doesn’t have to be careful – and to encourage everyone to listen. Some tips for listening are available on the Samaritans website.
Big Independent Group Events
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.
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.
And finally…
I would like to extend my condolences to Councillor Sue Baxter whose partner sadly passed away recently. Sue is a longstanding councillor who has led the National Association of Local Councils and is also a Deputy Leader of Bromsgrove District Council as well as the Independent regional lead peer for the West Midlands and North West. The LGA Independent Group would like to send our support and sympathies to Sue at this difficult time.
Warmest regards,
Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme
Councils can now sign up to this programme in order to participate in Cohort 27 recruitment. Formerly known as the NGDP, the graduate scheme helps build crucial capacity within organisations whilst providing a platform for motivated trainees to kickstart their careers as future leaders of local government.
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.
Call for evidence: Institutional investment into affordable housing
This call for evidence, in partnership with the British Property Federation, is committed to supporting the supply of more homes across all tenures. We want to hear from all stakeholders across the sector – institutional investors, registered providers, councils, charities – about how the current system works for your ambitions to deliver on your fiduciary duties and any wider social goals through affordable housing. The results will support work looking into how the current level of institutional investment in affordable housing might be expanded to increase the supply of new affordable housing. Please complete the survey by 13 September.
The Children's Society – Future of Local Welfare Inquiry
The Children's Society has launched an inquiry that seeks input from councils on the future of local welfare assistance, focussing on how long-term national funding could improve aid for those in financial hardship. The LGA will be responding to the inquiry. If you wish to respond, the deadline is Thursday, 31 October 2024.
LGA Technology and Innovation Showcase: Call for Council Challenges
We are inviting councils to submit challenge statements for our new Technology and Innovation Showcase. This initiative connects you with cutting-edge AI and smart tech solutions to transform your corporate functions, service delivery, and resident engagement. The showcase will be an opportunity to engage with vetted, innovative tech vendors and drive innovation in local government. Selected challenges and solutions will be spotlighted at our hybrid showcase event on 14 November. Learn more and submit your challenge by the 19th of September.
Dates for the Diary
Thursday 12 September 2024, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
This 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. It will look at the national local government context through a South-East lens, and give councillors an opportunity 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 3 October 2024, 10.00am – 11.30am
Co-badged with the NRPF Network and ADASS, this virtual session is aimed at those supporting households with NRPF across councils. Attendees will learn about the NRPF Network’s recommendations for local and central government, find out about helpful resources and hear from councils to help inform local practice.
Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 October 2024
As a councillor, you’re likely hearing that ‘transformation programmes’ are the way to make efficiencies and savings but what does that really mean? Our series of Leadership Essentials on Transformation will help demystify transformation, giving councillors the confidence and capability to lead the transformation agenda within their councils. Visit the LGA Transformation webpage for more information.
Thursday 10 October, 10.00am - 11.30am
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.
|
