Greetings friends and colleagues!
Provisional Local Government Settlement
This week, just before Christmas, we had the provisional local government financial settlement for 2025-26, which sets out the funding allocations for English councils next year. Once again, local authorities are allowed to increase council tax bills by 3% and those with social care responsibilities by a further 2%, without a local referendum. The Government’s calculations include full council tax rise, so without it, councils will definitely be short.
Even with the maximum tax rise, there is a real-terms reduction in core spending power of 2.4% compared to last year, despite the agreement that all councils will at least see their core spending power maintained in cash-terms. Moreover, the £515 million allocated to compensate for the increase in national insurance contributions, still leaves an estimated £637 funding gap for councils next year.
At the same time, some councils like Liverpool and Manchester, are projected to see large increases in funding, 9.5% in cash terms, whilst shire district councils will be seeing falls in their New Homes Bonus and removal of their Rural Services Delivery Grant, which was calculated to cover the extra expense of delivering services across sparsely populated areas.
We asked for real devolution to give power to our councils as they are. Instead, we have re-organisation on offer. The Mayoral combined county authority, called a “Strategic authority” will make all the big decisions. The “cabinet” of upper tier council leaders are not directly elected to that body but appointed. This risks making the new bodies very unrepresentative. For example in Lincolnshire new County Combined Authority, covering three counties, includes 9/10 councillors being conservative, totally unrepresentative of the councillors, as Conservatives and Independents are in very similar numbers in the County.
Proposals are now invited to dissolve our Districts and Counties to create one or two lower tier delivery unit(s), euphemistically called “Principle authorities”. A short timeframe to respond to Government by 10 January. Please do respond also to the provisional local government finance settlement consultation by 15 January. Equally important, is the current consultation on Local authority funding reform: objectives and principles. Do not be fooled by the title as it is actually referring to the settlement as well. The deadline for this is 12 February. Please remember also to book in for our Local Government Finance Conference on Thursday 9 January. It will be an ideal opportunity to see what the provisional settlement means for local authorities and wider afield, the implications for local government.
NPPF Webinars 2025
The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) are hosting a series of online lunchtime webinars January and February 2025 to provide a structured briefing on the key changes in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published on 16 December 2024. These events will include updates from senior officials at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Please click on the Eventbrite links below to register for one or all of the workshops:
Independent Group Conference, Friday 10 – Saturday 11 January 2025
In total, 83 delegates are now booked and that number is still rising! Our ‘early bird’ rate has now ended but you can still book to attend on the day or else attend the dinner and the conference but find your own overnight accommodation. The office will be glad to recommend you some suitable nearby spots! You can book to attendon our dedicated website. Come along and hear from guest speakers such as: Ayoub Khan MP (Independent Member of Parliament for Birmingham Perry Barr), Professor Colin Copus, Jess Norman (LGA Senior Adviser for Democracy and Georgia Power (Regional Policy & Public Affairs Manager for the Children’s Society). The agenda programme has also been released and our main highlight of the conference, on Saturday 11 January, will be discussion and debate on Devolution, Reorganisation and Reform..
Report on the 2024 UK Parliamentary election and May 2024 elections
The Electoral Commission has published a new report reviewing the 2024 UK Parliamentary General election and the local elections in May 2024. The Commission identified a number of significant improvements necessary to support participation and delivery in future elections, including reforms to postal voting processes, improved options for overseas voters, addressing abuse and intimidation of candidates and campaigners, reviewing the candidate nomination process and improving digital systems that electoral administrators rely on.
Civility in public life
Strengthening the standards and conduct framework consultation
The Government published their Devolution White Paper on Monday 16 December. A factual briefing is available on our Devolution Hub. The White Paper includes a commitment to consult on substantive changes to the councillor standards regime. On Wednesday 18 December the Government published the Standards consultation with a deadline of 26 February 2025. The plan is to strengthen the teeth of standards, but will they also ensure justice?
We have seen a number of cases where complaints are politically motivated and then take a very long time to resolve, even where the accused is innocent. Strengthening the sanctions that a council can deliver can be difficult to be perceived as fair, when the complaint and process are managed by the same team. Powerful safeguards need to be in place, as you have with a court, to avoid the appearance of Councils marking their own homework. It may seem that standards “have no teeth” on someone who is actually a bit of a bully, but for a scrupulous and conscientious councillor, destroying that reputation has a significant impact. Processes need to be timely and scrupulously fair. Our LGA Independent Group Executive has also discussed the idea of suspension of a councillor whilst awaiting to find out if they are guilty or not. Serious criminal accusations go to court, which is why the standards process doesn’t currently deal with them. We have a long tradition in this country of “innocent until proven guilty”. Unfortunately, the courts can take a very long time to deal with cases, especially if evidence is marginal, and may never actually bring the case forward. Indefinite suspension on a person who is still innocent is not justice.
Specific proposals include:
- A mandatory minimum prescribed code of conduct to cover new areas including discrimination, bullying and harassment, social media use, public conduct when claiming to represent the councils and use of authority resources.
- A requirement for local authorities to constitute a formal standards committee to provide consistency of approach in handling misconduct allegations, including a formal route to deal with vexatious complaints.
- A requirement to publish the outcome of code of conduct allegations, investigations and decisions.
- A requirement to complete investigations even if a members stands down.
- Improved support for complainants
- Introducing the power of suspension for up to six months possibly with related safeguards, such as disregarding the six month rule in these circumstances.
- Withholding of allowances and premises and facilities bans for poor conduct.
- Interim suspension during investigation of serious and complex complaints during which time the member would not be permitted to participate in council business.
- Disqualification for multiple breaches resulting in suspension and gross misconduct.
- Appeals processes for higher-level offences and sanctions.
- Options for a national appeals body.
Contribute to the LGA response
In preparation for the councillor standards consultation, the LGA has been working to understand the issues impacting the effectiveness of the current standards system and gather sector sentiment for changes to the regime. In mid-December, we sent out a survey to all councillors and monitoring officers. The deadline for the LGA survey is 9 January. If you are a member or monitoring officer and you haven’t received the survey, please email Jessica Norman
Remote attendance and proxy voting at council meetings
This week the Government’s Remote attendance and proxy voting at council meetings consultation closed. The LGA responded to the consultation in support of councils having the freedom to decide for themselves how best to utilise remote attendance options. We did not support the proposal to introduce proxy voting in local authorities, as in Councils, the whole debate needs to be heard before a vote is taken. The rule against pre-determination does not only exist in planning! You can find our Remote attendance Consultation Response on our website.
Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme
Councils can still sign up to the LGA’s Impact programme, and take on the very best graduate talent. The LGA undertake a rigorous recruitment process on behalf of authorities and provide a bespoke and CMI-accredited Level 7 qualification for trainees
And finally…
Wishing you a happy Christmastide and good health, happiness and success throughout 2025. Thank you for all that you do for your residents and your communities and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year!
Best wishes,
 Councillor Marianne Overton MBE
Leader of the Independent Group
Vice Chair of the Local Government Association
www.local.gov.uk/lga-independent
Pathways to Planning: new bursary for graduate planner salaries
Pathways to Planning is the graduate recruitment programme which offers councils an affordable and reliable way to attract and retain new planners and has delivered more than 80 new planners in almost 60 different local authorities. The programme covers all recruitment costs and offers a bursary to facilitate the graduates’ postgraduate study and MRTPI accreditation. As a result of the additional funding announced by the Government, Pathways to Planning may be able to provide a select number of councils with an additional bursary to cover part or all of the costs of a graduate planner’s salary. The overall goal of the Pathways to Planning programme is to enable councils who are struggling with recruitment and delivery challenges within their Planning team to access additional resource in the form of a graduate planner. The options for how to allocate any bursaries are under consideration. If you are interested please complete the Expression of Interest form and indicate your preference for salary support. The bursaries will be allocated through an assessment process in early 2025.
Innovation Zone applications 2025 now open!
Each year, the LGA Conference Innovation Zone is a vibrant and creative space which showcases the outstanding, innovative work of councils across a range of service and policy areas. We are now accepting applications from councils, and organisations working with councils, to be part of the Innovation Zone at the LGA Conference 2025, which will take place from 1 – 3 July in Liverpool. Applications on all topics are welcomed. If you are unsure if your idea is relevant, please contact us via the Innovation Zone Team and we would be happy to provide guidance. Applications close Monday 3 February 2025. Further information, including the link to apply, can be found on our website.
LGA and Arts Council England Leadership programme
Arts Council England and the LGA are offering 25 fully funded online leadership places for senior culture and library service officers. The programme aims to enhance strategic leadership skills, foster entrepreneurial thinking, build professional networks, and explore innovative approaches to addressing social challenges within local financial contexts. To apply for a place on the programme please complete this short application form by 6 January 2025.
Overhaul of local audit
The Government has published a consultation on its strategy for overhauling local audit; the proposals include the creation of a new Local Audit Office. The consultation runs until 29 January and the LGA will be responding. If you have views to feed into our response, please email them to the LGA Finance Team
Dates for the Diary
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.
Thursday 16 January 2025, 2.00 - 3.40pm
As part of the LGA’s support for councillor safety, we are offering this session to councillors to help build confidence around personal safety. Built around the role of the elected member, the session is full of practical advice and guidance.
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.
Cohesion and counter-extremism masterclasses (in-person event)
The LGA is offering a series of regional one-day masterclasses for councillors across the political spectrum to explore how councils can best respond to cohesion issues in their localities. Hearing from expert academics and leading organisations, the sessions will provide an opportunity for attendees to discuss sensitive issues in a safe space, share experiences and consider the role of elected members in tackling extremism and building community cohesion.
The courses are open to all elected members and are free of charge. Sessions are now confirmed for 10am – 5pm in:
- Manchester, Monday 22nd January
- Newcastle, Wednesday 5th February
For more details and to book a place, please contact the Cohesion Team
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