Greetings friends and colleagues!
Impact of National Budget on Local Services
The new Government budget was announced this week, following a great deal of work behind the scenes by the LGA and partners. We made the case for money to fill the Councils’ funding gap of £4.6bn over 2 years and got £1.3bn for next year. There is a little more for potholes, housing, special educational needs, schools and care. But we also got a significant extra bill for employers’ national insurance rising to 15% and the living wage rise to £12.21 from April 2025. We are checking the detail, but this is likely to swallow up the extra money for social care.
The NHS has an extra 22.5bn, but Councils provide the care that reduces pressure on the NHS, as well as providing much of what makes for healthy living. From next year, we are expecting a redistribution of funds between councils and some structural reorganisation. There is concern this could involve the demise of our District and County Councils to create unitaries, with fewer councillors. With the resulting very big wards, big national parties with constant rhetoric on the media make it hard for good, local councillors to be heard, and we tend to lose out. Professor Colin Copus has written extensively on this, most notably in his publication entitled ‘Bigger is not Better’.
To quote the Office for Budget Responsibility, “This Budget delivers a large, sustained increase in spending, taxation, and borrowing." A real-terms increase in total core spending power of around 3.2% is expected in 2025/6, based on Councils further raising council tax and continuing to retain business rates.
Risks to SEND
Longer-term, there are still significant risks to local authority finances and SEND. “The current statutory override is due to end after 2025-26. If this happens and SEND spending needs continue to outpace central government grant funding, then some local authorities may be placed in financial distress or be unable to set balanced budgets from 2026-27 onwards.” The increase in employer-based national insurance contributions needs urgent clarity over whether it affects those working for our local authorities. Some have described the rise as a ‘tax on jobs’.
Elsewhere, I welcome further positive measures in the Budget which include Right to Buy reform, and extending the Household Support Fund. Please do take a look at the LGA’s comprehensive budget briefing which provides key messages and the LGA’s cross-party response on how this affects us in local government.
Be a Councillor 2024-25 launch
Our regional peers and I were pleased to officially launch the Independent Group ‘Be a Councillor’ programme for 2024-25. The LGA Independent Group Peers have a series of regional events, aimed at attracting individuals who are interested in becoming a councillor.
The Independent Network runs fortnightly support sessions on Saturday noon (next is on 9 November) for anyone who is interested in helping or standing in next year’s elections. They also run in person events and a full programme on how to get elected. These sessions cover everything you need to know about standing including webinars on electoral law, campaigning, canvassing and communication. The Green Party and Plaid Cymru also run excellent sessions. Please do recommend anyone who is thinking of standing in next year’s local elections to get in touch.
Have you seen our new Facebook page?
The LGA Independent Group is pleased to announce the creation of its new Facebook page. If you are on social media and use Facebook, start following our public profile page ‘LGA Independents’! Aside from my weekly bulletin, X and the group website, our public Facebook page is a useful point of news and information for elected members.
Season’s Greetings
Following All Souls Night or “All Hallows Eve”, Halloween, where we honour the faithful who have passed before us. Then Guy Fawkes night on the 5th November, commemorates the failed gunpowder plot to blow up of House of Lords in 1605. Happy Fireworks Night this week and if you are a pet owner, don’t forget to keep our furry friends indoors!
Best wishes to those who celebrated Diwali last week; known as the ‘festival of lights’, an occasion to celebrate good triumphing over evil. For many people this five-day festival honours ‘Lakshmi’, the goddess of wealth. Lamps are lit and windows and doors are left open to help Lakshmi find her way into people’s homes. Other ways that Hindus celebrate the festival include exchanging gifts, decorating buildings with lights and huge fireworks displays. I hope those of you celebrating had a great time with friends and family!
And finally…Reminder: Independent Group Conference, 10 - 11 January
Now that the LGA Annual Conference is over, we look ahead with excitement to our own Independent Group Annual Conference in Maidenhead. A reminder it runs from the evening of Friday 10 through to Saturday 11 January and you can now directly book via our webpage for early bird rates including overnight accommodation.
Warmest regards,
 Councillor Marianne Overton MBE
Leader of the Independent Group
Vice Chair of the Local Government Association
www.local.gov.uk/lga-independent
Nature Towns and Cities Grant
As part of the Nature Towns and Cities initiative, £15 million has been committed to support local authorities and community partners across the UK to put natural heritage and green infrastructure at the heart of their plans, priorities and investment, improving the climate resilience of their places and enabling access for all. There will be one round of funding with grants available from £250,000 up to £1 million. Read the full application guidance for a Nature Towns and Cities grant. Expressions of Interest will be accepted until 12pm on 12 November 2024.If your initial proposal is successful, you will be invited to submit a full application between 16 December 2024 and 7 March 2025.
Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
Phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme launched this week which will make capital funding available from 2025/26 to 2027/28. Guidance notes are available now with the applications portal opens mid-October and closes on 25 November 2024.
Cost of Living Network
We are in the process of updating the Cost of Living Hub to capture recent work that councils have delivered, and to share this learning. If you would like to share an example or case study of your work around preventing poverty and supporting low-income households, please email Hannah Sadik. We also welcome proposals from anyone who would like to present at one of our Cost of Living webinars or explore other opportunities to work with us to develop good practice and inform the new government.
Local Government Workforce Survey 2024
The information you provided to us in previous workforce surveys has been invaluable in helping us analyse and take action on the key workforce issues facing local government. We are asking some questions specifically related to the Government’s recently announced employment reforms where it would be particularly useful to hear your views. Please contact Roopal Shah if you have any queries.
Industrial Strategy
The Government launched an open consultation on its Industrial Strategy Green Paper. The industrial strategy is the UK government’s proposed 10-year plan for the economy. Given the vital role of councils in supporting local economies, the LGA intends to respond to this consultation and would welcome councils to share their submissions with us – please send to Alex Howell. The consultation closes on 24 November.
National recruitment campaign – updated toolkit for councils
Nine out of 10 councils told the LGA they are struggling to recruit into key service areas such as finance, environmental health, adult and children's social care, and planning. Monday 4 November marked the launch of the 'Make a difference: Work for your local council' campaign a collaboration between the LGA, SOLACE, Regional Employers Organisations, and councils across the country as part of the LGA’s Sector Support Offer and funded by the UK Government.
A new website launched alongside an out of home advertising campaign. Job seekers can now visit localcounciljobs.gov.uk and use the postcode search to help find their ideal council role. To show your support, follow, like and share content from the Local Council Jobs LinkedIn and Facebook pages.
Message from The Children’s Society
We are now conducting an inquiry into the future of local welfare and crisis support. Our aim is to explore how sustainable, long-term funding for local authorities could improve assistance for those facing financial hardship, and how local authorities can collaborate with the voluntary and charity sector to achieve better outcomes for households in need. The inquiry is open until the 14th November and you can find details on inquiry section on our campaign webpage. If you would like more information on the inquiry, or the work The Children’s Society does please contact Regional Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Georgia Power
The inquiry is open to all tiers of councils, majority and opposition councillors and council officers.
Dates for the Diary
Tuesday 12 November 2024, 10.00am - 11.30am
As the world prepares for the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan, this virtual event will focus on how local authorities have and continue to play a critical role in the delivery of net zero, adaptation and climate action. The speakers will present case studies aligned with COP29’s key objectives and emphasise the integral role councils have in the net zero agenda. By acting locally, our impact can be global.
Wednesday 13 November 2024, 9.30am - 12.00pm Tuesday 26 November 2024, 9.30am - 12.00pm
Our 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 registration for the second series is open for October to November. Please express your interest in the series you will be available to participate in via this registration form.
Spaces available on Leadership Essentials for Cllrs: Sport and physical activity in Crewe
Wednesday 13 November 2024 - Thursday 14 November 2024
This is an essential programme for councillors with the responsibility for active wellbeing, physical activity and communities. This programme is suitable for councillors in opposition, scrutiny and place boards. The programme aims to support councillors to develop skills to use systems approaches to:
- Help break down barriers and to reduce inequalities being faced by local communities.
- Work collaboratively with local partners and officers.
- Champion and advocate for physical activity and active wellbeing in all agendas.
- Take confident decisions.
The programme includes inspiring speakers and case studies from across the sector with transferrable good practice and there will be plenty of opportunities to network with councillors from across England. To book your place email Grace Collins
Thursday 14 November 2024, 9.30am - 3.30pm,
London and hybrid This event works with the local government sector to identify the challenges they face that could be solved by AI and smart technology, leading to a one-day ‘Showcase’ event highlighting the potential solutions offered by vendors to solve these challenges.
Tuesday 19 November 2024, 2.00pm - 3.30pm (virtual event)
This virtual event will provide useful insight into the role and function of the audit committee in local government. Looking at the role of an elected member in terms of the purpose of the audit committee itself and your wider governance role in this area.
Tuesday 19 November 2024, 2.00pm - 3.30pm (virtual event)
This virtual event will provide useful insight into the role and function of the audit committee in local government. Looking at the role of an elected member in terms of the purpose of the audit committee itself and your wider governance role in this area.
National Children and Adults Services Conference and Exhibition 2024 (NCASC)
The ACC, Liverpool, 27 - 29 November
NCASC is the annual, three-day conference for elected members and senior leaders in local authorities with responsibility for, or an interest in, the delivering effective services and opportunities for children, young people and adults. For more information on the full programme, including keynote speakers, and how to book, visit www.ncasc.info.
Thursday 9 January 2025, London
The LGA’s in-person annual Local Government Finance Conference is on Thursday 9 January 2025 at Smith Square. It will address the 2025/26 Local Government Finance Settlement and look forward to the multi-year spending review.
Tuesday 11 - Wednesday 12 March 2025 | Gateshead
The Annual Fire Conference and Exhibition is a key event in the conference calendar for senior fire officers and members of fire and rescue authorities. The conference provides an opportunity to meet in-person and discuss key strategic and practical developments impacting the fire and rescue sector over the next twelve months.
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