Greetings friends and colleagues!
Times Article on Devolution and local government reorganisation
Recent very disturbing announcements by this new Government suggests that hundreds of councils are dissolved to create ever bigger unitary organisations. Examples such as Birmingham show that there is no evidence that councils can be too big to fail. Councils already make savings by combining back services where appropriate but keeping our democratic identity and accountability to local residents.
To be successful, local government has to be well connected to residents, and this is diminished when councillors have ever bigger areas to represent and an ever-smaller voice when it comes to what should be local discussion-making. Fewer councillors over bigger areas means it’s hard to know your local councillor, and breaking those connections leaves the field open to media control and fewer Independent group councillors. An inability to be responsive seriously undermines trust in local democracy.
To see the full article please refer to the Times newspaper “Dozens of councils to be abolished under biggest reforms in 50 years"
COP 29
People representing organisations from all over the world gathered at COP 29 to encourage, inform and inspire action to do more to tackle climate change and to mitigate the impacts. Elected spokesperson on climate and energy by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), I represented you and all 130,000 councils in 41 countries across the whole of Europe. We joined forces with World local government in the Local Government Multi-level Action Pavillion (LGMA). In the final COP agreement, we focussed on making the case for a more localised approach to tackling climate change, each tasked with approaching our own Government delegations.
To the CEMR Plenary, I contributed on ‘climate finance’, and then on the significance of the work of local government to the Ministerial Meeting. I spoke on ‘greening’ our local transport, and how we can provide the tools that enable our councils to do the job better. I also presented to a plenary session on combating climate change through generations, horizon scanning in skills and education.
The Chinese big City Mayors were there in force driving alternatives to fossil fuels, with packed audiences. I also had a good look at the Japanese latest technology for capturing CO2 from the air, combined with calcium to make “concrete” as well as capturing solar energy by roofs, walls and windows. The idea of wasting good farmland on holding up solar panels, seemed very bizarre.
The cheapest energy remains the energy we do not use. Foremost is the need to use less of the earth's resources with energy efficient buildings.
The COP29 sticking point remains funding $1.3 trillion dollars needed for mitigation by the poorer countries of the global south, impacted by climate change caused by the emissions from the global north. With President Trump entering The White House, and European government not yet settled, the UK delegation, led by Ed Miliband became the lead voice. Last year $100 billion was promised, though not altogether paid. This year, a bill of $300bn/year by 2035 was agreed. Equally significant, the agreement under this presidency does not refer directly to a phase out of fossil fuels but simply reaffirms the call on nations to give up fossil fuels, coal, oil and gas. Clearly, still a long way to go if we are to achieve net zero by 2030!
LGA Independent Group Conference, 10 – 11 January 2025
We are pleased to confirm the agenda for our upcoming conference in January as follows:
Friday 10 January
7.30pm: Group Dinner and Clarence Barrett Awards and Citations
Saturday 11 January
9.15am – 9.45am: Conference Registration
10am: Conference starts, welcome and Group Executive introductions
10.15am – 11am: Panel Session - ‘Independents and smaller parties as a force to be reckoned with’
11am – midday: Facilitation discussion with Q&A: Devolution, reorganisation and reform
Midday – 12:15pm: Coffee break
12:15pm – 1:15pm: Workshops
- Meeting the 2030 carbon target
- A new standards regime for councillors
- The future of high streets and their role in inclusive economic growth and community cohesion
1:15pm – 2pm: Lunch
2pm – 2:30pm: Networking session – meet and raise issues with regional lead peers and discuss support, corporate peer challenges and assurance.
2:45pm – 3:45pm: Workshops
- Being effective in opposition
- Independent groups in administration and staying in power
- Planning for power, taking the administration
3:45pm – 4pm: Coffee break
4pm – 5pm: Changing nature of local government leadership
- The co-leadership model
- The rotating leadership model
- Coalitions and partnerships
- Opposition representation
- Combined authorities
5pm: Closing remarks and end of conference
Remember, this is YOUR conference, put on by the members and for the members, so do not forget to sign up on our website. It is always a brilliant event and well worth attending. Also, if you want an extra night of accommodation on Saturday 11 January, please email the office by Friday 20 December so we can arrange this for you.
Citations and Awards
We will be presenting awards and citations at the LGA Independent Group Annual Conference Dinner on Friday 10 January at the Moor Hall Conference Centre in Maidenhead. To nominate someone for this award please complete the form by 10am on Monday 2 December.
The Clarence Barrett Award is in memory of our former Havering Residents’ Association colleague, who was the Independent Group Treasurer, a key member of the Resources Board and valued Peer at the time of his passing. Last year's recipient was Councillor Sue Baxter, Deputy Leader of Bromsgrove District Council for work and engagement with the LGA over many years.
Remote attendance at council meetings focus groups
As you know the Government has launched a consultation on options to allow councillors to attend council meetings remotely and to use proxy votes. Please do make your views known as the deadline is Thursday 19 December.
Reforming the Right to Buy consultation
Similarly, a government consultation on the ‘Right to Buy’ is now out and again, I encourage you to make your views known. Whilst Right to Buy has benefitted many in the past, it has left a huge void in the housing market with sold houses not being replaced sufficiently, adding massive pressures to waiting lists. The consultation asks for views on:
- the qualifying criteria for tenants
- initial and maximum discounts as a percentage of the property value
- which types of properties should be exempted under the scheme
- whether there should be increased restrictions on properties after sale
- the replacement of homes sold under the Right to Buy
- rules governing the use of Right to Buy receipts and how these could be simplified
The consultation runs until Wednesday 15 January.
And finally…
Debate Not Hate campaign evaluation
We are refreshing our Debate Not Hate campaign and want your feedback on what’s gone well, what could be better, and how best to use the campaign going forward. We want to hear from people who know the campaign or have been involved in promoting it locally. Have your say and shape the new campaign through the Debate Not Hate campaign evaluation survey.
Have a great week!
Best wishes,
 Councillor Marianne Overton MBE
Leader of the Independent Group
Vice Chair of the Local Government Association
www.local.gov.uk/lga-independent
Make a Difference, Work for your Local Council
Monday 4 November marked the launch of the ‘Make a Difference, Work for Your Local Council’ campaign. Funded by UK Government, the campaign is being advertised in all regions in England on radio, podcasts, billboards, social media and digital advertising. Councils across England have been using the toolkit made available to them promote the campaign locally – thank you to all those who have so far helped to spread the word.
The campaign website has already attracted 45,000 visitors and includes information about what it’s like to work in local government. A postcode search for job seekers looking for council roles features every council and combined authority in England. For further information, please contact the team!
Local Government Workforce Survey 2024
The information you provided to us in previous workforce surveys has been invaluable in helping us to analyse and act 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 respond by 29 November or contact Roopal Shah if you have any queries.
Burial and Cremation Law Consultation
The LGA is hosting a webinar with the Law Commission to help inform our response to their consultation on burial and cremation law before it is discussed at the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board. You can register to attend through Teams: The webinar will be on Thursday 28th between 10-11.30.
Change NHS: Have your say
A reminder to help ensure that local government’s voice is heard as part of the nationwide conversation about the future of the NHS. Do respond by the 2 December deadline.
We are organising an online webinar to be chaired by Cllr David Fothergill, Chair of our Community Wellbeing Board, with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) next Tuesday, 26 November where we will be joined by Tom Riordan, Second Permanent Secretary, DHSC and Sally Warren, Director General, 10-Year Health Plan, DHSC to hear more about the engagement and policy work underway to inform the 10-year plan.
The consultation is also an opportunity to showcase the fantastic work that councils are doing, especially in relation to prevention and tackling inequalities. Do share any good practice examples and your response with us by emailing the Healthcare Team.
Buses funding allocations
Following the Budget, the DfT has published allocation of local buses funding for 25/26. This includes for BSIPs (Bus Service Improvement Plans) and local authority BSOG (Bus Services Operators Grant). Lookout for letters to individual transport authority transport directors for information on your allocations in the coming days.
Dates for the Diary
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.
Thursday 12 December 2024, 2.00pm - 3.30pm
This webinar looks at the important role of scrutiny within a council. It will examine the legal background and role of councillors in the overview and scrutiny process. As well as providing practical insight from an experienced councillor, it will also look at into effective work planning and questioning skills.
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.
Tuesday 1 – Thursday 3 July 2025 | Liverpool
Join us in Liverpool for the biggest event in the local government calendar, where we’ll be discussing the latest issues affecting local government.
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