A partnership for mission-driven government
If the national missions are supported with sustainable long-term funding then local areas can mobilise their delivery as key partners, says LGA Labour Group leader Cllr Bev Craig
The Government's mission-driven approach is a timely change to how this country is governed. With their emphasis on ambitious long-term objectives that provide a driving sense of purpose for the country, the missions drag us away from the short-termism that has characterised policy-making in the past decade.
Local government's role here will be key. Whether it is delivering the core tenets of the social contract, or acting as convenors of place to foster growth, local leaders play a central role in maintaining the architecture of prosperous and vibrant places.
The work being done by Labour in local government is inseparable from the national vision the people of this country have backed us to deliver. There is an opportunity to harness this local momentum and direct it towards accelerating mission delivery, with examples to be drawn from local government across all five missions.
In this sense, we do not approach the national missions from a standing start and if supported in the right way – via sustainable, long-term funding arrangements – local areas can catalyse their delivery as key partners in the years ahead.
We have seen a marked change in the approach towards the sector since July, amid a growing sense that we are entering a new era of genuine partnership between national and local, and the ambition is there to strengthen this. The English Devolution Bill is one such example with its commitment to put power in the communities we serve and turbocharge the nascent devolution we have seen in recent years. It will give communities a vital stake in the decisions that shape their daily lives.
A defined and coherent role for local government within this will be essential. We are at the frontline, with a keen understanding of the challenges that the country faces – and the scale of the opportunity should we have the courage to solve them.
Cllr Bev Craig is the leader of the Labour Group at the LGA
Building a fairer, greener, more liberal Britain
Cllr Joe Harris sets out his councillors' key asks of the Government, including long-term financial reforms and flexibility on council tax
The May local elections saw the Liberal Democrats win more than 500 seats, including 100 from other parties. We now have more than 3,100 councillors across 79 local authorities. And in July, people saw the brilliant work many Liberal Democrat councillors can and will do and chose us to represent them in Parliament. We are the party of local government.
Despite severe budget cuts, our councillors have remained committed to serving their communities. From tackling climate change to building affordable homes, Liberal Democrat councillors have been on the front foot. Our councils lead on recycling and investing in renewable energy, and we are fighting the housing crisis by pushing for councils to start building homes again.
Ahead of the Budget and the Local Government Finance Settlement, we have been vocal in requesting immediate action to stabilise council finances and protect vital services.
We need increased funding for adult social care, children's social care, special educational needs and disabilities services, home-to-school transport and temporary accommodation. We need long-term financial reforms, including multi-year settlements, simplification of funding pots and council tax flexibility. We need certainty on the future of the likes of the statutory override for Dedicated Schools Grant deficits and the Household Support Fund. These are just some of the measures that are crucial to safeguard services, particularly for vulnerable communities, and to ensure councils can continue to support national housing, growth and infrastructure goals.
A strong and sustainable local government sector is essential to achieving the Government's goals for growth. Local government plays a vital role in giving young people a strong start, implementing preventative strategies, and unlocking the potential of talents, skills, spaces, and communities across the country.
Together, we will keep championing affordable housing, infrastructure, climate action and strong communities
Together, we will build a fairer, greener and more liberal Britain.
Cllr Joe Harris is leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at the LGA
Let's make Conservative local government central to the rebuilding of our party
LGA Conservative Group leader Cllr Kevin Bentley says that, while his councillors are in no doubt about the scale of July's defeat, they have been lifted by some recent ‘excellent' council by-election results
Just months after a terrible election defeat, Conservative councillors will assemble in Harrogate for the LGA Conference in positive spirits.
Although clear about the scale of the defeat in July, and aware that we face key elections next May, the Conservative local family has been buoyed by some excellent council by-election results in recent weeks as we have made gains from Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens in England and Wales.
For example, in Worthing – where we have suffered significant losses in recent years – we won the by-election in Marine ward that was caused by the resignation of the new Labour MP for the area on a swing of more than 14%.
From a LGA Conservative Group perspective, I am proud of the work our group executive has done to ensure that Conservative local government is central to the rebuilding of our party.
In August we welcomed the then-leadership candidates – Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverley, Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel, Mel Stride and Tom Tugendhat – to 18 Smith Square where group leaders from across the country heard them make their pitches and take questions.
I took this opportunity to present the candidates with copies of our ‘contract' which outlines how we can support our next leader while also making 10 key ‘asks' of them on behalf of our Conservative local government family.
It was pleasing to see The Times recently acknowledge our work when it commented that ‘Conservatives in the Local Government Association have been on the front foot in this leadership contest'.
By the time that we gather in Harrogate, the membership ballot will be under way. I am looking forward to discussing developments with colleagues and hearing more from them about how we can work with the new leader to ensure that Conservative local government is central to the rebuilding of our party.
Cllr Kevin Bentley is leader of the Conservative Group at the LGA
What we need is a national energy plan
Councils lack the capacity to enable local net zero delivery with gaps in powers, policies, and funding, says leader of the Independent Group Cllr Marianne Overton
We are now gathering in the highest numbers ever for the ‘Glastonbury of local government', the LGA Conference in Harrogate. We have a great opportunity to help shape the direction of travel of the new Government. It is critical we keep democracy near to our residents and for services to be delivered at the most local level. Councillors are our bastions of democracy, closest to the people we serve.
These really are unprecedented times for local government and by extension all our residents and our communities.
The Budget from the new Government will land just after our annual conference, so we must take the opportunity to show just how fantastic the work of our councils is and how the residents we support simply cannot take the brunt of any cuts to spending.
A particular concern to me is affordable and renewable energy, alongside the importance of our green and farmland infrastructure. We need a national energy plan. Otherwise, we are at the mercy of speculative energy developments who industrialise vast areas of good farmland, tying in expensive long-term contracts on fast-outdated solar technology, while 630,000 acres of roof lie vacant.
We need energy that benefits local communities, not foreign investors. We need to tackle our energy needs to address the climate change emergency.
At conference, members of our group will debating a statutory duty on climate change, recognising councils' vital role in achieving our national climate goals.
But with gaps in powers, policies and funding, councils right now lack the capacity to enable local net zero delivery. We need impactful and effective local climate action to get to net zero quickly.
Cllr Marianne Overton MBE is leader of the Independent Group at the LGA
