Greetings Friends and Colleagues!
I hope many of you managed to get some rest and relaxation over these past few days of Christmastide and spent time with family, friends and neighbours.
Looking back on 2024
As we approach a new year, I would like to thank my deputy Councillor Caroline Jackson for all the support she has given me throughout the committee year cycle, as well as my Executive Team for their hard work and sound advice given in our many meetings. Thanks to our Board leads who have worked cross party with colleagues to represent you all in shaping policy for the whole of the LGA. Thanks to Councillor Adam Paynter, who has been brilliant as our National Lead Peer, continuing to lead an expert panel of regional lead and member peers. Our member peers continue to provide local knowledge and insight of our member councils whilst generously giving their time through corporate peer challenges and peer mentoring.
A special thanks to our superb LGA office staff: Abigail, Rodrigo and Noleen who do so much for all our members, from administration, event management and delivery, to policy support and advice throughout the year. It is a small team but each one of them deliver a professional service to our members which is hugely appreciated.
Finally, thank you to each one of you for helping and supporting your communities this past year and our group. Tough times lie ahead with changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and more importantly, local government reorganisation, and we must demonstrate at every possible opportunity the value of local democracy shining through our councils. Wholesale re-organisation of all our councils, including unitaries under 500K electors, may be a luxury we cannot afford when we are already facing the big challenges of helping people make ends meet, health and housing, and tackling climate change.
Independent Group Conference, Friday 10 – Saturday 11 January 2025
On the issue of local government reorganisation, as you know we shall be hosting a special one-hour discussion on Devolution, Reorganisation and Reform at our upcoming Independent Group Conference at Moor Hall Conference Centre in the New Year.
I am pleased to confirm Sonika Sidhu (LGA Assistant Director of Policy), Emeritus Professor Colin Copus (Former Director of the Local Government Research Unit at De Montfort University), Councillor Hannah Dalton (Vice Chair of the District Councils’ Network) and Green Party Councillor Emily O’Brien (Cabinet Member on Lewes District Council) will all feature on the panel and give their perspectives on the Government’s proposals and its life changing impact on the future of local democracy.
It will also be an opportunity for you to share your thoughts, particularly if you are a district or county councillor, and tell the LGA directly what some of your ‘key asks’ are in response to the white paper. Ahead of this most important discussion on Saturday 11 January, you may like to read Professor Colin Copus’ paper on ‘The political and governance implications of unitary reorganisation’. We have already commissioned Colin to provide a paper to our group with his updated research and look forward to him sharing his latest findings at conference.
You can still book to attend our upcoming conference either on the day or else attend the dinner and the conference. The office will be glad to recommend you some suitable nearby spots! You can book to attend on our dedicated website.
Be a Councillor North East Regional Event – 31 January
The new year sees our ‘Be a Councillor’ regional and online promotional events re-start once again and our first event shall take place at the Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle, hosted by our North East and Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Lead Peer, Councillor Georgina Hill. The event takes place on Friday 31 January starting at 2pm and finishing by 3.30pm. Refreshments will be served.
If you know of anyone interested in politics and local government who is looking to stand in the upcoming county council elections, and resides in the following areas of Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland as well as Tyne and Wear, please get in touch with Councillor Georgina Hill for more details. Or you can phone her directly on 0775 374 9755.
The session will be an opportunity to meet current councillors and hear from them directly about what it means to stand for council and the difference you can make once elected as a councillor. Please do encourage those that you know to attend and show their support for Georgina!
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:
NPPF workshops 16 Jan 2025: Local plans and transitional arrangements
NPPF workshops 23 Jan 2025: Housing numbers
NPPF workshops 18 Feb 2025: Green Belt & Grey Belt
NPPF workshops 19 Feb 2025: The Golden Rules
Contribute to the LGA response on councillor standards
Our Independent Group suffers the most from unfair politically motivated complaints, as well as some genuine ones! I would be most grateful if you would kindly complete the quick survey on the standards proposals to assist in keeping the balance of 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
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…
May I take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year and hope that 2025 brings you continued success, joy and happiness for yourselves, your families and your local communities!
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.
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.
Thursday 30 January 2025, 2.00pm - 3.30pm
As part of the LGA’s support for councillor safety, we are offering this session for councillors to build confidence around handling online abuse and intimidation, a growing problem faced by many councillors.
Wednesday 5 February, London
The LGA’s next Smith Square Debate will bring together a panel of expert leaders in public health, government and community advocacy to address the urgent issue of health inequalities. The debate will explore the challenges, opportunities, and leadership roles councils can take in narrowing the health inequality gap.
Thursday 6 February 2025, 2.00pm - 3.30pm
As part of the LGA’s support for councillor safety, we are offering this session for councillors to build confidence around handling online abuse and intimidation, a growing problem faced by many councillors.
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 12 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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