first magazine May 2016

No.600 June 2016 www.local.gov.uk

the magazine for local government Election results:

“ The two main parties continue to have more than 80 per cent of the councillors in England” Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher, Plymouth University

8

interview:

10 Putting local government first 600 editions of the LGA’s magazine

16 The Resolution Foundation David Willetts on fairness and housing

21 Devolution and democracy Citizens want to be more involved

sponsored by

Be inspired Visit the Innovation Zone The Innovation Zone is a space at the LGA Annual Conference for councils to discuss, pitch and present their innovative solutions to local issues, learning from each other and inspiring new ideas.

You will have the chance to hear from inspirational leaders from across the public sector. There will also be opportunities to look in more detail at the integration of services, digitalisation and the tools of innovation, and collaboration.

Find out for yourself how councils are changing lives for the better. www.local.gov.uk/innovation @LGAComms | #InnovateTuesday

The local government event of the year www.local.gov.uk/conference to book your place @LGAComms #LGAconf16

After the polls

C

ongratulations to all of you who were re-elected or are newly elected to your councils following the 5 May elections. You have a unique opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of the people and communities you represent, and I hope you find it both exciting and rewarding.

If you are looking for some advice on getting started as a councillor, the LGA has recently published its latest Councillors’ Guide 2016 (see p29). Or, if you are after some post-polls analysis of the election results, please turn to our lead feature from local government experts Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher (p8).

Elsewhere in this edition of first, we highlight some of the ongoing challenges and opportunities facing local government – including business rates reform (p13) and public health (p15) – and talk to Lord Willetts, Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation think tank, about its work on social issues.

Meanwhile, first is marking its own publishing landmark in this, its 600th edition, with a look back over some of the big LGA stories of the last 17 years (p10).

Let us know what stories and issues you want to see covered in future editions by emailing first@local.gov.uk Lord Porter is Chairman of the LGA

contents news

4 Academy plans

dropped Asylum children Food hygiene

4

Advertising James Pembroke Publishing Write to first: Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ Email first@local.gov.uk Tel editorial 020 7664 3294 Tel advertising 020 3859 7100 Photography Photofusion, Dreamstime and Ingimage unless otherwise stated Interview Rex Shutterstock

June 2016

16 David Willetts, Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation think tank

“You can’t expect councillors to be kamikaze pilots taking suicidal positions. But there is a winnable argument for house building”

16

Design & print TU ink www.tuink.co.uk

The inclusion of an advert or insert in first does not imply endorsement by the LGA of any product or service. Contributors’ views are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the LGA.

Fake cigarettes Composting

5

Editor Karen Thornton

Circulation 18,100 (May 2016) first is published online at www.local.gov.uk/first at least two days before the magazine. To unsubscribe email first@oscar-research.co.uk

5 Fly-tipping

interview

features

8

8 Local elections results 10 first at 600 12 Reputation 13 Business rates 14 LG Challenge 15 Tooth decay

24

comment

21 Citizens’ assemblies and devolution 22 LGA chairman and group leaders 24 Innovation and lettings agencies 25 Local museums 26 Partnership work on dementia 27 Councillors’ Commission and long-term planning

30

regulars

6 Letters and sound bites

28 Councillor – standing down and making a difference 30 Parliament – shaping new laws

first contents | 3

New scheme for refugee children

A

news Forced academisation dropped for ‘good’ schools Council-maintained schools rated by Ofsted as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ will not be forced into becoming academies, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced.

The Government had proposed that all schools become academies by 2022, in its White Paper ‘Educational excellence everywhere’ (see first 598).

The LGA led a strong, evidence-based campaign against the proposals that was echoed by MPs, teachers and parents. As part of that work, the LGA’s four political group leaders signed a joint letter to the Observer highlighting “enormous concern among councillors across the political spectrum”, and raising “serious concerns around local needs and accountability” in respect of the proposed removal of democratically elected councils from all aspects of local education (first 599).

Cllr Roy Perry, Chairman of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “We are delighted that the Government listened to our strong opposition to forced academisation.

“Our recent analysis of the grades achieved by all schools under the more rigorous Ofsted inspection framework proved that 81 per cent of council-maintained schools are rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, compared with 73 per cent of

academies and 79 per cent of free schools.

“It is right that these schools should not be forced down the academy route unless they make that decision themselves.”

He added: “Recent Ofsted figures have also shown that ‘inadequate’ council-maintained schools are more likely to improve if they stay with their local authority, rather than being forced to convert to an academy. These figures showed that 98 per cent of council-maintained schools improved in their first Ofsted inspection after being rated ‘inadequate’ compared with 88 per cent of academies.

“This clearly demonstrates that councils are education improvement partners, rather than barriers to delivering the high quality education that our children deserve. Councils stand ready to help all schools, regardless of their Ofsted rating or status.”

The LGA will be making sure that the forthcoming Education Bill, expected in the Queen’s Speech as first was going to press, makes appropriate provisions for areas of continuing concern – such as vulnerable children and school place planning.

It will also be looking at how councils, regional schools commissioners and schools can work together to improve all schools.

s first was going to press, a statement on long-term funding arrangements for unaccompanied asylum seeking children was expected from the Home Office.

It follows the Government’s announcement of a national dispersal scheme for such children, and plans to allow refugee children already in Europe and those at risk in countries around Syria to come to Britain.

Cllr David Simmonds, Chairman of the LGA’s Asylum, Refugee and Migration Task Group, said: “We have long argued that placements for unaccompanied children need to be carefully planned at a national level to ensure that there is sufficient funding, care placements and support services available, and this simply isn’t the case while a small number of councils are left to look after large numbers of refugee children.

“A co-ordinated national mechanism organised on a voluntary basis will mean children are placed more fairly across the country, with better access to the services and support that they need.

“We want to work with local authorities, regional and national partners and government to agree the long-term funding arrangements for councils looking after unaccompanied children and the detail of how a resettlement scheme will operate.

No council should be made to choose between supporting unaccompanied children and providing vital services for their local community due to lack of funding.”

He added: “The extended funding boost for children arriving into Kent recognises the current shortfall facing councils caring for unaccompanied children and the pressures facing councils with significant numbers. It is crucial that this increase in funding is now extended into a properly funded scheme at a local and regional level to support all areas struggling with increased numbers.”

Improving food hygiene

T

he LGA is calling for all food premises to be forced to display ‘Scores on the Doors’ food hygiene ratings to drive up standards. Council environmental health teams score outlets from zero to five. Displaying the scores is compulsory in Wales but not in England. Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Forcing all food outlets in England to display a hygiene rating would help to expose businesses that flout the law and put people at risk, and incentivise them to improve hygiene standards and show customers how seriously they take the issue.” * A cheese producer has been successfully prosecuted by Mendip District Council after harmful bacteria, including deadly listeria, was found in her cheese (pictured).

4 | first news

www.local.gov.uk

On-the-spot fines to help tackle fly-tipping New powers have come into force allowing councils to issue on-the-spot fines of up to £400 for fly-tippers who make residents’ lives hell and cost taxpayers millions of pounds.

The LGA has long called for the system for tackling unscrupulous fly-tippers to be overhauled.

From May, on-the-spot fixed penalty notices can be issued for the first time by council enforcement officers to help tackle small-scale fly-tipping, like dumping pieces of broken furniture, old televisions and mattresses.

The move comes as the cost of clearing up fly-tipping in England has hit nearly £50 million, with councils having to deal with almost 900,000 incidents every year. Latest figures show the number of recorded incidents has risen by almost 6 per cent for 2014/15 compared with 2013/14, while the clear-up costs increased by 11 per cent. Councils are carrying out more than 500,000 enforcement actions every year, costing almost £18 million.

Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s Environment Spokesman, said: “At a time when councils face difficult choices about services in the light of reducing budgets, they are having to spend a vast amount each year on tackling litter and fly-tipping.

“This is money that would be better spent on vital services such as filling potholes and

Compact prices for compost bins

A

rwyn Hughes (pictured, left, with council officers Karen Fulham and Spencer Thomas) was among the Carmarthenshire residents taking advantage of a half-price compost bin sale. More than 100 bins were sold for just £6 to mark Compost Awareness Week. As well as reducing the amount of waste that is buried in landfill sites, composting produces rich plant food that can be recycled back into the soil.

Cllr Hazel Evans, Executive Board Member for the Environment, said: “Many people don’t realise just how easy it is to home compost or just how much of their household waste can actually be composted.”

June 2016

caring for the elderly. Litter and fly-tipping is environmental vandalism – it’s unpleasant, unnecessary and unacceptable.

“Not only does fly-tipping create an eyesore for residents, it is also a serious public health risk, creating pollution and attracting rats and other vermin.”

He added: “The Government has responded to our call for councils to be able to apply fixed penalty notices for small scale fly-tipping – and this is a big step in the right direction. Councils also need a faster and more effective legal system which means fly-tippers are given hard-hitting fines for more serious fly-tipping. Local authorities should also be able to recoup all prosecution costs, rather than be left out of pocket.

“There are a number of additional changes that would help tackle littering and fly-tipping, including sharing more of the responsibility with product producers – such as mattress and chewing gum manufacturers – to contribute to the costs of clearing up.”

Councils use enforcement powers proportionately and take a range of different approaches to raise awareness and change culture. This includes providing advice, and encouraging residents to report incidents and businesses to keep areas next to their premises clean and clear of litter and mess that can attract dumping.

news in brief Fake cigs health risk

M

illions of cheap, illegal cigarettes containing up to 500 per cent higher levels of cancer-causing chemicals are flooding the black market, the LGA has warned. Recent council raids and prosecutions, including in Coventry, Manchester and Croydon, have unearthed illegal stashes of cigarettes hidden under floorboards, in toilet cisterns, in boxes of sweets, behind extractor fans and ceiling lights.

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “No cigarettes are good for you, and fake cigarettes contain even higher levels of cancer-causing toxins than standard cigarettes, so people should think twice about buying them.”

‘Update minimum broadband speed’

T

he LGA has been campaigning on broadband speeds, particularly for residents and businesses in rural areas, in its ‘Up to Speed’ campaign (see first 599). This has been successful in bringing the needs of rural areas to the attention of government, and Digital Industries Minister Ed Vaizey has offered some encouragement that as national speeds increase so too could the Government’s minimum standard. However, the LGA will continue to push Government to make this a firm commitment. Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Chairman of the LGA’s People and Places Board, said: “Councils look forward to fast and reliable broadband quickly becoming a reality for everyone.”

LGA political balance

A

s first was going to press, the LGA’s political balance following the May local elections was being independently verified.

Please visit www.local.gov.uk for the latest updates. See p8 for analysis of the election results from Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher of Plymouth University’s Elections Centre, and p22 for political commentary from the LGA’s group leaders.

first news | 5

Elections coverage

S

o it’s official: the BBC does not want to know Independents. I shall explain. I had received a few calls asking why, as leader of one of the groups on Peterborough City Council, was I not taking part in a pre-election discussion with other council group leaders on the local radio station? The same people were also given time on BBC Look East.

So I went through the hoops and sent in a complaint via the BBC website by email.

The lengthy response included the following comments: “The political and electoral system in the UK is built around individual parties and individual candidates, thus by definition our coverage follows this premise.

Whilst I appreciate that you are part of the Peterborough Independent Forum, that grouping is not a party in the sense of the upcoming local elections.”

They went on: “I’d clarify that we have to reflect the reality of electoral support which exists. As such, we won’t necessarily always talk to all Independents as a matter of course when speaking to others, nor do we have to as per our guidelines because the support for Independents is demonstrably much smaller by comparison.”

This policy was clearly demonstrated elsewhere by BBC Radio 4, which used the local elections to reflect national views not local ones. I think it’s the BBC that does not reflect local thinking while we do – naturally.

Cllr Chris Ash, (Lib), Leader of the Peterborough Independent Forum Group, Peterborough City Council

letters

Eastern devo opposed

Banishing ‘holiday hunger’ Many children across Derbyshire are likely to eat significantly less during the summer holidays than they would during term time when they have access to our breakfast clubs or school lunches.

‘Holiday hunger’ is a problem we and many other local authorities see in vulnerable and low income families who may struggle to meet the additional costs of feeding their children when they’re not at school.

Research shows that children who regularly miss out on meals are at a significant educational disadvantage as they can lack concentration and find it more difficult to learn. It also has implications for their long-term health and development.

In Derbyshire more than 9,000 children are eligible for free school meals and are particularly at risk, which is why we’re taking action to support them.

We’re asking organisations which run clubs or holiday activity schemes to help us support these children as part of our £528,550 ‘Feeding Derbyshire’ project (see first 595).

Some parents struggle to afford food let alone pay for social activities and trips out so we’re keen to combine the two to ensure every Derbyshire child can enjoy their school holidays.

Food will be supplied by our new FareShare depot and delivered to schemes which offer to help us distribute it to provide children with a free, healthy lunch as they take part in activities.

This project is new territory for us but one we are hopeful will have valuable long-term health, social and educational benefits for our children.

Cllr Dave Allen (Lab), Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, Derbyshire County Council

E

xtensive road and house building across our region appears to be driving the Government’s ‘Eastern Powerhouse’ devolution proposals, trying to trash our natural environment and build everywhere while bringing together an unwieldy and increasingly unwilling collection of local authorities.

Suffolk Greens are determined to see off the Government’s, and regional leaders’, misguided devolution proposals to bring together Suffolk, Norfolk, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire. So far ‘our leaders’ have devised a sure-fire way to ensure these proposals will avoid opposition; they’re not going to really ask anyone!

Few favour another tier of government led by a directly elected mayor, who will oversee a cabinet comprising the various other ‘leaders’ – overwhelmingly from one political party. They will decide on strategic planning, infrastructure and transport issues, housing, skills development and even health and social care.

What do you think? Please submit letters for publication by emailing first@local.gov.uk.

Letters may be edited and published online

6 | first letters

www.local.gov.uk

Surely, if this proposal progresses, all members of the combined authority should be directly elected to reflect a diversity of views – not just ‘yes’ men and women from Conservative Party ranks elected by the grossly unfair ‘first past the post’ system?

A quick glance at the vast area suggested will show this is one giant leap away from localism, resulting in an even more pronounced postcode lottery of reducing and sub-standard services. Remember, there is no real new money on the table, just more sharing of the austerity pain.

Many councillors – from all parties and none – have rightly expressed deep concerns about this huge and rushed constitutional change, but will the Government listen?

Cllr Mark Ereira-Guyer (Green), Leader, Green & Independent Group, Suffolk County Council

Rescuing the NE devo-deal

A

lthough few would dispute the need for a devolution deal to give the North East more power and funding for economic development, skills, transport, and health and social care, there is growing concern over the inability of council leaders to get their act together to ensure the deal goes through.

The region had until early May to conclude a deal with government, but the process is in disarray as a result of Gateshead Council’s failure to sign up. Its highly respected Leader Cllr Mick Henry is stepping down. Other councils including Durham, Northumberland, and Sunderland are decidedly lukewarm about the deal. How have we got into this mess?

It would be a huge blow if the devolution process fails, and North East council leaders have to take the blame: their inability to agree among themselves is putting economic regeneration at risk. While the deal may not be perfect, this opportunity must not be squandered.

It is now urgent that the region makes progress. While few are enthusiastic about a regional elected mayor, there is still time to come up with a better proposal which provides more powers, more funding, and better

June 2016

safeguards in terms of cross-party involvement through the scrutiny system, with a view to greater devolution over time.

It is time for the North East to get its act together and work with other parties to ensure a deal which benefits the region as a whole.

Cllr Anita Lower (Lib Dem), Leader of the Opposition, Newcastle City Council

Businesses overlooked

Y

our report on business rates retention (first 599) reflects the widespread enthusiasm throughout local government for the retention of business rates. As with all commentaries on this prospect, the effect on commerce and industry and the opinions of those compelled to pay business rates have been overlooked.

The decision to empower councils to set, collect and expend business rates is ill-judged, unfair and harmful to the national economy.

The business rate is the highest property-based tax on commerce in Europe and all councils are likely to increase taxation on business owners, rather than provoke the general public by increasing council tax.

Apart from violating a cherished principle of democracy (no taxation without representation), it is very unreasonable that productive industry should be burdened disproportionately by this pernicious tax on property. A small enterprise operating from spacious premises (such as steel fabrication) might be paying as much property tax each week as the owner of a residence worth millions of pounds would be paying in a year.

The business rate is levied with ruthless zeal by local authorities, is levied even on empty workplaces, has forced many businesses into insolvency and also created a deterrent to the establishment of new enterprises. These views would be widely expressed by the business community if only they could be engaged in consultation on this controversial subject.

Cllr Phillip Morris-Jones (Con), Warwickshire County Council, and Managing Director of Redhouse Industrial Services Ltd

sound bites Cllr Steve Clegg (Ind, North Kesteven) “Academy Schools Climbdown. Here’s to common sense!” www.twitter.com/CleggCllr Cllr Brigid Jones (Lab, Birmingham) “When @KarenInSellyOak first got elected, the rain soaked through three of my coats on polling day. Today: just put on sun cream!

Bring it on.” www.twitter.com/brigidjones Cllr Matthew Winnington (Lib Dem, Portsmouth) “Thank you to the residents of #eastneyandcraneswater for electing me councillor for another four years #humbled @EastneyPO4 @LoveSouthseaUK.” www.twitter.com/mwinnington Cllr Claire Kober (Lab, Haringey) “Great to see London’s equivalent of the High Line, Haringey’s Parkland Walk, recognised among best city walks in UK.” www.twitter.com/ClaireKober Cllr Nicolas Barlow (Con, Dudley) “Blimey they’ve gone and done it!

Congrats @LCFC. Bet their Twitter feed has gone into meltdown.” www.twitter.com/NicolasBarlow Cllr Lynne Sparks (Con, Welwyn Hatfield) “Wonderful photos of Hatfield Town centre RT @HatfieldTown: Our Town Centre flower beds are in bloom & looking lovely.” www.twitter.com/LynneSparks Do you have a blog or a Twitter account we should be following?

Let us know. Email first@local.gov.uk For LGA news follow @LGAnews

first letters | 7

features Local elections 2016 With few councils and seats changing hands on 5 May, the two main parties continue to dominate local government

DUNCAN NICOL ROBERTSON

Professors Colin Rallings (right) and Michael Thrasher are Directors of Plymouth University’s Elections Centre

“The two main parties between them continue to have more than 80 per cent of the councillors in England and enjoy single party rule in over fourfifths of the councils” 8 | first feature

T

his year’s local elections are unlikely to stay in the memory for long.

With few councils and seats changing hands, it is necessary to dig deep to discover any wider significance.

Both Labour and the Conservatives suffered a small net loss of seats with the Liberal Democrats registering clear gains in England for only the first time since 2008.

UKIP picked up about two dozen seats compared with their 2012 performance, but now actually have fewer councillors than this time last year.

The two main parties between them continue to have more than 80 per cent of the councillors in England and enjoy single party rule in over four-fifths of the councils.

As always in local elections, context is everything. If the Conservatives had performed as well as on General Election day 2015, they would have won control of a handful of additional councils. In the event, places like Crawley, Plymouth, Redditch and Southampton hardly budged.

In Crawley, for example, three seats won by the Conservatives last year went to Labour; in Plymouth, they picked up a single gain with three others (and potential overall control) eluding them.

Elmbridge was lost to no overall control as residents’ association candidates took advantage of new wards and a smaller council to consolidate their position. And in Worcester, a Green gain was enough to deprive the Conservatives of a majority.

Their only consolation was in Peterborough, where boundary changes contributed to UKIP falling back.

It suited the party well that Scotland and London hogged the media limelight. www.local.gov.uk

DUNCAN NICOL ROBERTSON

Results summary 2016 (compared with May 2015 including local by-elections and boundary changes) Seats

Councils

Conservative

-51

-2

Labour

-11

–

Lib Dem

+41

+1

Other

+21

–

–

+1

No overall control

Councils controlled (England) 2016 Cons

Labour

Lib Dem

191

100

7

Ind/ No overall Other control 1

52

Councillors (England) 2016 Cons

Labour

Lib Dem

Ind/Other

8,484

5,892

1,678

1,698

Council control changes Labour, on the other hand, was defending seats last won in 2012 when it registered its best local results for more than a decade. To have advanced much from that position was an unrealistic ambition whoever was leader, but many wanted to see just how Jeremy Corbyn would perform in his first real electoral test.

His party won both the mayoralty and council in Bristol having been out of outright power there for more than a decade, but lost control in Dudley after sacrificing four seats to the Conservatives.

Labour did indeed become the first opposition party in over 30 years to lose ground at standalone local elections, but the comparisons are inexact.

In 1982, the Falklands war was raging as both government and opposition lost ground to the new kids on the block – the SDP. In 1985, Neil Kinnock was defending nearly 1,000 gains from the previous election cycle and each of the major parties was again victim of a pincer movement by the still buoyant SDP/Liberal Alliance.

Their successor party, the Liberal Democrats, could hardly claim to have had a similar impact this year, but does have cause for a glimmer of optimism. In particular, there were signs of recovery in its traditional local government heartlands.

Both Eastleigh and Leader Tim Farron’s South Lakeland backyard remained solid, and in Cheltenham – lost at the General Election – the Lib Dems took four seats off the Conservatives to remain well ahead.

All-out elections on new boundaries in Watford helped the party retake overall control after just a year of the council being hung.

In several university cities, however, June 2016

Elmbridge

NOC gain from Con

Watford

Lib Dem gain from NOC

Worcester

NOC gain from Con

Dudley

NOC gain from Lab

Peterborough

Con gain from NOC

Bristol

Lab gain from NOC

there was less good news for the Liberal Democrats or, indeed, the Greens.

In Cambridge, where Labour strengthened its group and the Conservatives lost their sole councillor, there is little sign of a Liberal Democrat revival – even though they ran the council for a dozen years until 2012.

Bristol and Norwich, too, were once in the party’s column, but councillor numbers have fallen into single figures.

In Southampton, where they were once the largest party, the Lib Dems have had no seats at all since 2014.

The Greens remain the official opposition in Norwich, but lost four seats to Labour.

In Bristol, where all the seats were in play, they lost a little ground too.

Maybe that constitutes evidence that, as in London, Labour is doing relatively well in urban areas with a younger and more diverse electorate.

At the opposite end of the political spectrum, UKIP had a curious set of results.

On paper they made about 20 gains from a low base, yet it could be that Nigel Farage’s party may now have peaked.

In 2014, it won more than 150 seats outside London. This time it could muster less than half that total in the self-same

places. In both Basildon and Great Yarmouth, for example, UKIP took 10 seats in 2014 but just three and four respectively last week.

UKIP’s overall party numbers are also down compared with May 2015, with many of those elected in the past few years changing allegiance. The party’s majority in Thanet has been wiped out by defections, and there are now 13 UKIP-badged councillors in Tendring (the site of UKIP MP Douglas Carswell’s Clacton constituency) compared with the 22 elected a year ago.

Next year’s county council elections will bring all these issues to the fore once again.

It was in 2013 that UKIP first grabbed attention in local government by taking more than 20 per cent of the vote though a much smaller fraction of the seats.

Nonetheless its success helped rob the Conservatives of power in 10 councils and ensured that Labour was not the sole beneficiary of anti-government swing.

Neither party can afford to let that happen again.

See next month’s first for Professors Rallings’ and Thrasher’s regular column on local by-election results

first feature | 9

20 November 2004

Putting local government first We look back over the last 600 editions of the LGA’s first magazine, which has been keeping you up-to-date with local government news and views for 17 years 6 October 2001 4 November 2000

f49

The Government pledges to cover the full cost to councils of clearing up flood damage as the Environment Agency issues a record 45 severe flood warnings across 41 rivers

30 October 1999

f1

first launches with the LGA’s call to make safer sex education a compulsory part of the national curriculum

start

6 September 2003

f171

29 June 2002

f118

“Councils are best placed to organise the management of services for children according to local circumstances, not civil servants in Whitehall,” says Alison King, Chair of the LGA’s Social Affairs and Health Executive

f86

After years of local powers being eroded, Stephen Byers (Lab), Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, admits: “I don’t think I would be a councillor today”

f

irst was launched in 1999, two years after the LGA was formed, to keep member councils informed of the work the organisation undertakes on their behalf – and to share news and views about local government.

“We feel it’s our responsibility to keep you in touch with what we’re doing”, was the message on the front cover of issue 1. first continues to play as vital a role in informing our membership about the

“When I flick through the pages of first I am truly overwhelmed by the breadth of work being done on behalf of councils. In this, the 600th edition, first is true to form, raising the key issues facing local government, prompting debate and celebrating the wins. If you want to know what’s going on in the world of local government, I recommend first as your first port of call.

Congratulations to the first team and all of the contributors on reaching such a milestone” Lord Porter, LGA Chairman

10 | first feature

f228

Local authorities are ready and willing to play a central part in improving public health as long as the Government backs up its plans with adequate funding, says the LGA

Prime Minister Tony Blair pledges a ‘radical new partnership’ with councils, saying: “Labour’s second term must be more about devolving local power and allowing local communities to experiment”

work of the LGA now, as it did in 1999. Our 2015 annual perceptions survey, which polled a representative sample of councillors and council chief executives, found that the main way you find out about the work of your membership organisation is via first (77 per cent, see first 598).

Over the years others have reflected in these pages on the importance of the work you do. In 2008, Ed Balls, then Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, told delegates at the National Children and Adult Services conference: “The future of our country is in your hands.”

In 2011, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I think local government has been better, frankly, than central government in being efficient and providing good value for money.”

The first edition of first led on the LGA’s call for the government to make safe sex education a compulsory part of the national curriculum in a bid to cut teenage pregnancies.

But earlier this year, we reported (first 598) on how councils have now beaten the target set by government to halve the rate of teenage pregnancies when it launched its teenage pregnancy strategy 15 years ago, at a time when England had one of the highest rates in Western Europe – a local government success story. www.local.gov.uk

22 February 2014 29 October 2005

f270

A national register of commercial poultry farms is set up to help guard against avian flu

20 May 2006

f296

The number of people saying their council provides value for money has risen by 20 per cent in just a year, an LGAcommissioned survey finds

31 March 2007

f332

Lord Best’s independent review concludes the LGA has “successfully grappled with centralism”, and won the trust and respect of government

CHRIS SHARP

26 July 2008

f390

The LGA’s long-running Reputation campaign encourages councils to tell residents about what they are doing and the services they provide locally

7 November 2009

f441

Town halls double the number of traineeships and apprenticeships they offer to help thousands of young people onto the jobs ladder

f561

Cllr David Sparks, LGA Labour Group Leader, writes: “The floods and storms of the last month have shown how local government steps up to the mark when challenges are at their greatest”

7 September 2013

f550

LGA research reveals planning permission has been given for nearly 400,000 homes in England – but just 6,000 were built over the past year

8 September 2012

f528

9 July 2011

f504

“Local authorities are overwhelmingly saying ‘yes’ to new development. This should lay to rest the myth that the lack of new homes is the fault of the planning system,” writes Sir Merrick Cockell, LGA Chairman

“I think local government has been better, frankly, than central government in being efficient and providing good value for money,” says Prime Minister David Cameron

2 October 2010

f573

27 September 2014 Council spending on obesity soars by 20 per cent in one year

20%

28 February 2015

f583

July 2015

f589

August 2015

f590

May 2016

f599

The LGA launches its ‘Show Us You Care’ campaign to protect funding for adult social care

first goes monthly with an exclusive interview with new Communities Secretary Greg Clark.

He pledges to “transfer substantial powers and resources to our great cities but also to our smaller towns and counties”

“Devolution should not just be there for cities or regions with elected mayors,” says LGA President Lord Kerslake

f478

An LGA paper sets out how the Government could save billions of pounds by handing power to local people via local budgets

The LGA’s four political group leaders sign a letter highlighting “enormous concern” about plans for all schools to become academies by 2022

f600 Our timeline (above) gives a taste of the range of topics that has dominated the work of councils over the last 17 years.

Some have come and gone. Others, like flooding, seem to be perennial – making headlines in first in 2000, 2007 and 2014 and, after last winter’s storms, preoccupying many councils well into 2016 (first 596).

Other issues including devolution and finance remain at the heart of the LGA’s work. The then Prime Minister Tony Blair wrote an exclusive article for first in 2002, in which he said: “Labour’s second term must be more about devolving local power and allowing local communities to experiment.”

In 2010, an LGA white paper set out how government could save billions of pounds by handing power to local people and pooling budgets for local public services. That work continues (see www.local.gov.uk/devonext), June 2016

“I don’t see myself as a latter-day Beaverbrook, still less a Rupert Murdoch, but I’m pleased to have been in at the birth of first, all of 17 years ago. It’s been an important channel for communication and debate for thousands of councillors, crucial for a membership organisation like the LGA” Lord Beecham, LGA Vice-President, and LGA Chair when first was launched as more devolution deals are agreed between central and local government across the country.

In May 2011, we reported on how councils needed to act urgently to ensure their views fed into a local government resource review. Now we are working on

the details of implementing full local retention of business rates by 2020 (see p13 and visit www.local.gov.uk/businessrates for the latest updates). first is your magazine so let us know what stories and issues you want to see covered in future editions by emailing first@local.gov.uk.

first feature | 11

Building a reputation Cllr David Simmonds is Chairman of the LGA’s Improvement and Innovation Board

E

very councillor will have faced their own challenges in protecting and maintaining the reputation of local government as a whole and their own council in particular.

In the face of increasing demand for services and ongoing pressure on council finances, these challenges are going to continue to grow.

Reputation campaigns in 2005 and 2010, jointly led by the LGA and LGcommunications, successfully promoted improvements in communications in order to improve councils’ reputation with residents.

Feedback from you has told us that while we are all working hard to continue this good work, this is an area where we can do more to support you in increasing satisfaction and trust in your council. In the coming months we will be launching a campaign to help councils do this.

“Improving the reputation of local government is a priority in helping to drive improved trust in councils and public services” As councillors, we are all aware of the breadth of services we provide for our residents on a daily basis, whether this is collecting the bins or life-changing events like the nuptials of a happy couple.

One of our greatest challenges is that while people come into contact with council services every day, there are still a number of services that they might not even realise the council is responsible for – which highlights a major part of councils’ reputational challenge.

So why do we need to talk about our own reputation?

12 | first feature

The LGA wants your views on improving the reputation of local government with residents – many of whom are unaware of the range of services their council provides Some of the things councils do best in their local areas go unnoticed by residents because they are being done well and our residents have come to expect the high levels of service and efficiency that their council has always provided.

Families quite rightly expect a clean, well-lit street, a good local school and a regular bin collection.

But not all interaction with a council feels positive and it is the unresolved parking dispute or unfixed pothole that can resonate more heavily with residents, even if we are getting other things right.

This is why it is important to remind residents and staff that while we know that there is always room for improvement, with more than 800 services provided by some councils at any one time there is also a lot we are getting right.

And it is also worth remembering that we are not the only kind of organisation that has to think about reputation. People have varying levels of positive experiences with all kinds of organisations.

The most obvious example is the NHS. In general, the public understands the pressures the health service is under and values the services it provides, even though on an individual level experiences might not always be positive.

A ‘My Council’ poster from the LGA’s previous reputation campaign Improving the reputation of local government and individual councils is a priority in helping to drive improved trust in councils and public services. As we face more challenges in the coming years, it has never been more important.

LGcommunications is a national body made up of an association of authorities that works to raise the standard of communications in local government, see www.lgcomms.org.uk If you have any examples of council good practice in respect of reputation that you would be happy for us to feature as part of the LGA’s new campaign, please email victoria.daly@local.gov.uk

www.local.gov.uk

ATES

LOCA LB

US I

NE

R SS

Doing more with more?

Councils will have to take on more responsibilities in return for retention of local business rates. How should we decide which services are devolved?

B

y the end of this Parliament, local government as a whole will be able to keep 100 per cent of the business rates it raises.

Achieving this will require a radical overhaul of the local government finance system. The LGA is working with councils and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to ensure local government is central to shaping the way that will work.

Fundamental to this is the continuing work of a number of technical working groups – made up of the LGA, DCLG, other local government representatives, councils and interested bodies – which will provide information and expert advice on how the scheme can and could work.

The Government’s intention is for the reform of business rates to be fiscally neutral. This means the increase in business rates income from local retention will need to be used to pay for a range of new responsibilities. For example, there are proposals to fund the administration of housing benefit for pensioners and public health (both council responsibilities) via business rates rather than specific grants.

The LGA has been clear that discussion about the services to be devolved must be set in the context of the ‘quantum’ of

June 2016

resources likely to be available – in other words, the amount of business rates income which is left once existing commitments have been taken into account.

Most recent forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) suggest a starting figure of around £12.4 billion for the additional retained business rates councils should have in 2020. However, factors such as the impact of the 100 per cent retention pilots and policy announcements such as the cost of small businesses reliefs need to be taken into account, as does a margin for error in the original calculation.

In addition, the Government has already announced that the scheme will pay for Transport for London capital grant of £1 billion and for the transfer of revenue support grant. After accounting for these factors, we are looking at a fairly wide range of figures for the amount or ‘quantum’ left to cover devolution of additional services.

Using these figures, the Responsibilities Working Group has begun developing principles or criteria to guide decisions on whether to devolve particular new responsibilities to local government.

These include that devolution of a responsibility should: uild on the strengths of local • b

government – providing opportunities for greater integration across local services and removing barriers to other innovative service delivery models. There should be local appetite for devolving a responsibility, and it should fit with a business rates-based funding stream.

• support the drive for economic growth – for example, through a clear link to local employment, skills or infrastructure policy, and by building on councils’ work with local enterprise partnerships, growth and city deals.

• support improved outcomes for service users or local people – by giving local authorities as much flexibility as possible to tailor local services, with service provision reflecting the distribution of need across the country and consideration given to equalities issues. be made with consideration for • the medium-term financial impact on local government – so the national cost and demand for any new responsibility should be relatively predictable and stable over time, as should the relative demand for funding between local authorities.

We want to know your views on these criteria – including what else should be taken into account and whether some are more important than others – as well as on a range of other issues around business rates retention.

For more information please email businessrates@local.gov.uk and visit www.local.gov.uk/business-rates

first feature | 13

Challenging young and old Local Government Challenge, the LGA’s annual competition to find the council chief executives of the future, is nearing its final stages, after contests in Derbyshire and Bradford

A

fter a fantastic first challenge in Christchurch and East Dorset (see first 598), our 10 aspiring future chief executives have been facing tough real-life challenges in Derbyshire and Bradford, in their quest to win the £10,000 Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship.

For the second challenge, our two teams found themselves at the Donut Centre – a colourfully named creative arts centre, where they received a warm welcome to Derbyshire County Council from Deputy Council Leader Cllr Paul Smith.

The challenge was to come up with a business concept for high quality activitybased projects for people with learning disabilities that could be delivered without council subsidies.

The contestants set off on visits to Markham Vale Land Services, Bolsover Woodland Enterprise, Rhubarb Farm, and Step Forward Charity Shop – fantastic projects which are doing great work with people with learning disabilities.

It was an early start on day two, as the contestants quizzed panels of stakeholders, shaping their ideas. First up before the judges was Transform, led by Pam Gosal, with ‘Onwards and upwards: a pathway to independence in Derbyshire’.

The model brought together early intervention children’s services with the adult programme in six interchangeable pathways. Frequent assessment points with the goal of progressing participants onto meaningful, and where possible, paid employment and business engagement were central to the project.

Team Pioneer, led by Kate Henderson, pitched #Ican. Its goal was to transform day services for adults with learning disabilities into meaningful activities which focus on community projects leading to employment opportunities. This would be achieved through: introducing a game-changer team to drive growth in the projects, facilitate operations, and assess impact; and a business-focused expansion of existing

14 | first feature

community projects funded by a county-wide lottery.

In the end it came down to a slightly more polished presentation from the winners – Team Transform.

In April, it was on to Bradford where our teams were welcomed by Chief Executive Kersten England and introduced to the city council’s ‘People Can’ campaign. This builds on the fantastic voluntary work in Bradford by inviting everyone to take part, help others and make a difference. Contestants were tasked with developing a campaign plan and pitch to encourage residents to get involved with ‘People Can’ in June, for ‘cleaner, greener’ month.

The contestants were whisked away to meet the volunteers at the Bradford Community Environment Project in Wibsey Park, braving the untimely April snow and getting their hands dirty planting trees and weaving hedgerows. The teams also met some Bradford residents at the Khidmat

Centre, which offers activities for older Bradfordians, and visited the Grange Technology School.

When it came to judging, Team Pioneer was up first, led by Liz Rice. She unveiled BD Good Gym, a project aimed at bringing older and younger groups together through physical activities that create simple landscapes where there are currently concrete areas. By creating these landscapes, local people would be able to get fit while improving water drainage, reducing the risk of flash flooding.

Team Transform was up next, led by Heather Storey. She introduced Young People Can, a project centred around pupils from different schools taking it in turns to visit one another and volunteer together in local areas. The aim was not only to increase volunteering among young Bradfordians, but also to provide them with valuable life skills. But this time Team Pioneer edged it, with their innovative campaign.

You can find out more about each of this year’s contests at www.local.gov.uk/ lgchallenge. The contestants are now gearing up for the fourth challenge in West Suffolk.

The final challenge and announcement of the winner will take place at the LGA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition 2016 in Bournemouth from 5-7 July

www.local.gov.uk

Taking a stand on sugar With a quarter of five-year-olds still suffering from tooth decay, Liverpool City Council is taking direct action to alert parents to the dangers of sugary soft drinks

P

ublic health officials at Liverpool City Council have taken a stand against tooth decay by placing large, eye-catching cut-outs of bottles throughout the area to reveal how many sugar cubes popular drinks contain.

The move is part of a newly launched high-profile campaign called ‘Is your child’s sweet tooth harming their health?’

More than 100 of the cut-outs and posters are being displayed in places such as children’s centres, dentists, doctors’ surgeries and hospitals.

The drive aims to tackle the alarmingly high level of tooth decay in the city, which health officials attribute to children’s excessive consumption of sugary drinks.

The council says dentists are having to use general anaesthetic to remove teeth from children as young as five on a daily basis.

It estimates around 2,000 children in Liverpool will have had teeth extractions by the time they reach five.

The campaign shows that 500ml of Lucozade contains 15.5 cubes while the equivalent bottle of Coca Cola has 13.5 cubes. The recommended daily allowance for children is between five and seven cubes.

This comes as Public Health England published new statistics on the oral health of five-year-old children which, although down on previous years, show a quarter nationally have suffered tooth decay. In some parts of the country, the figures amount to nearly a third of the same age group.

Cllr Tim Beaumont, Liverpool’s Mayoral Lead for Wellbeing, said: “Through no fault of their own, families simply don’t realise how much sugar is in some of these drinks.

“What we’re trying to do through this campaign is get the message across that even drinks which are marketed as healthy such as orange juice and flavoured water have large amounts of sugar in them.

“This is about getting families and

June 2016

young children into healthy habits which will hopefully last a lifetime and prevent future unnecessary pain and trauma.”

Dr Sandra Davies, Liverpool’s Director of Public Health, said: “We are the first local authority in the country to name how much sugar is in specific brands because we feel it is really important that all parents have the facts they need when making decisions about which drinks to give their children.

“Many of us are not in the habit of studying labels on drinks and the evidence that we have is that people don’t realise how much sugar is in them, so we are taking steps to support them to make healthier choices.”

Liverpool’s campaign echoes previous LGA warnings about the link between sugar and tooth decay.

We recently revealed that the cost of removing rotting teeth in children

Factfile Number of sugar cubes in popular drinks Lucozade (500ml)

15.5

Coca Cola (500ml)

13.5

Frijj chocolate milkshake (471ml) 12.7 Capri-Sun (330ml)

8.25

Tropicana orange juice (300ml)

7.5

Ribena (288ml)

7.25

Volvic flavoured water (500ml)

5.75

Tap water

0

One cube equates to 4g of sugar. The recommended daily maximum added sugar intake for a four to six-year-old is 19g, or five sugar cubes SOURCE: LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL

and teenagers has soared by 61 per cent in the last five years. Hospitals spent £35 million on multiple teeth extraction in under-18s in 2014/15, and carry out on average 100 operations a day to remove teeth.

The LGA has also called for better sugar labelling of soft drinks to give parents a more informed choice, and for restaurants to offer tap water without having to be asked.

first feature | 15

interview Mind the generational gap As Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation, David Willetts has been campaigning for reduced housing costs and improved living standards – especially for younger people. But the former minister admits his work at the think tank can put him on an “awkward” collision course with friends and former colleagues in Westminster

I

mproving living standards, tackling the root causes of poverty, reducing housing costs and boosting social mobility. On the face of it, the Resolution Foundation shares many of the same ambitions as local government.

Councils insist they could do much more to meet these aspirations with greater funding and powers to run local services.

They would highlight that their ability has been undermined by years of funding pressures that have led to cuts to early years’ support; national work programmes which are failing to help the most vulnerable into work; and housing reforms which risk reducing their ability to provide affordable homes for rent.

It is hardly surprising that the Resolution Foundation’s Executive Chair David Willetts isn’t ready to sign up to that theory completely.

Up until just 12 months ago he was Conservative MP for Havant, a seat he held for 23 years before deciding not to stand in last year’s General Election. His political CV is as impressive as his intellect – he was known as ‘Two Brains’ within Whitehall. He served under four Conservative Party leaders, with stints in the Treasury and No 10 Policy Unit, and as Universities and Sciences Minister in the Coalition Government.

16 | first interview

“My personal belief is that we have got our balance wrong and if anything we are putting excessive faith in the value of early years’ interventions and insufficiently valuing what further education (FE) colleges, universities and adult education can do,” he said.

“There is a bit of thinking that if you can’t get children when they are young then they will be lost. It is better if you help them young, of course, and I am not against early years’ programmes, but fortunately it is not the case that you have to get them young.

“I have seen lots of teenagers, their lives turned around by going on an apprenticeship or leaving school and going to an FE college where they have a bit more freedom and are treated a bit more like an adult. I start from the perspective that we can do more on education across the whole life cycle.”

That should be where employment and training schemes step up to help those leaving school or college to find long-term employment and careers. But the LGA has long-warned that our current centralised system – with £13 billion spent each year on 28 national schemes – is not only failing to help some of the most vulnerable jobseekers but is holding councils back from working with schools, colleges and employers to close growing skills gaps. www.local.gov.uk

ALL INTERVIEW IMAGES: REX SHUTTERSTOCK

“You have an obligation to allow people to build houses that your children or grandchildren can own” Momentum is growing, particularly driven by devolution deals being signed across the country, for nationally-run employment, skills and careers advice schemes to be devolved down to local areas. Mr Willetts said he is “relaxed” about such moves but warns of the need for there to still be some form of “national coordination”.

He said: “I recognise in some areas that some of these training schemes – in particular careers advice – are not England’s strong point. One of my frustrations as a minister was clearly information, advice and guidance was not good enough.

“If local areas and local people can do more, then they should. But people

should not be tied to their local area. There may be a child in Derby who is really interested in surfing and a child in Cornwall who is really interested in aeronautical engineering. We mustn’t say if you live in Derby, our focus is on getting you into RollsRoyce and if you live in Cornwall our focus is on getting you into being a surfing teacher.

“There are advantages to being able to move around – the efficiency of being a single, integrated labour market and economy is that people can move to where their aptitudes are best suited.

“We can’t simply rely on the local labour market to train people. When you go local, of course, there can be local ideas and innovation but you do need legitimate national standards.”

Living standards are the Resolution Foundation’s “bread and butter”, Mr Willetts admits. So are glimmers of economic hope – real wages are rising and employment is at a record high – boosting living standards for people across the country?

The think tank is cautious. We still face a “sizeable living standards” challenge, June 2016

first interview | 17

“I have seen lots of teenagers’ lives turned around by going on an apprenticeship or leaving school and going to an FE college where they are treated a bit more like an adult”

18 | first interview

it warns, and it is the 5.7 million people on low to middle incomes – where more than two-thirds report having less than one month’s income in savings to fall back on – who remain at the sharp end.

The gap between the generations has also risen to the fore. For example, while pensioner benefits are protected, typical hourly earnings for workers in their 20s remain 12 per cent lower than they were in 2009. Mr Willetts said the introduction of the National Living Wage, which started at £7.20 in April and will rise to £9 an hour by 2020, will help, but warned young workers are still seeing their pay squeezed by the pressure of paying off huge pension deficits.

He said: “In the last 10 or 20 years, quite a lot of the extra pay has been taken by people towards the top end of the pay scale.

It hasn’t really improved the medium pay and that is clearly the thinking behind the National Living Wage.

“Also quite a lot of the returns to labour are going in plugging pension deficits.

Pensions and pension contributions count as part of rewards to labour. We now have young people working in companies whose resources are generating money to plug pension deficits in pension schemes which they are not even members of.

“For me that is a particularly vivid example of young people working for older people and that is another factor holding down the pay of young people.”

Spiralling housing costs risk undermining the living standards of millions of people in this country. Research by the Resolution Foundation found the average household now spends more than a fifth of its income on housing. Its recent analysis shows the rising share of income spent on housing over the last two decades is equivalent to a 10 pence increase in the basic rate of tax for a typical two-parent working family with a child.

The other big shift over the last few decades has been housing tenure.

In 1977, there were five million council homes, now there are 1.6 million. Just one in 10 of all households live in council housing, compared with a third in 1977. This compares with a doubling of households in more expensive, privately rented homes, from 2.2 million in 1977 to 4.5 million now.

More than half of under-35s on low to middle incomes owned their own home in 2000, today it is just a quarter. The Resolution Foundation warns this is likely to approach one in 10 by 2025 and more like one in 20 in London.

These figures only serve to reinforce the LGA’s call to reverse the long-term decline in council housing. With not everyone ready to buy, affordable homes for rent remain vital to keeping rents low, giving people the chance to save a deposit for a home, reducing growing waiting lists and stemming the rising housing costs which are such a key factor in living standards.

Mr Willetts said: “It is clear that housing costs are increasingly important in affecting people’s living standards. It is also, interestingly, one of the significant gaps between young and old. A lot of older people own their own home with the mortgage paid off and are relatively protected from housing costs.

“My experience as a local MP was that if there was housing development proposed, you’d go to a meeting of the local residents’ association – who were all good people – but they were almost all aged over 50 and almost all owned their own home. www.local.gov.uk

“We have young people working in companies whose resources are generating money to plug pension deficits in pension schemes which they are not even members of” June 2016

“They would gather to protest about a new housing development. The local paper would report a campaign to stop a housing development as a success and if it goes ahead as a defeat for local democracy.

“You can’t expect councillors – any more than MPs – to be kamikaze pilots that take suicidal positions on issues.

But I think now there is a winnable argument for house building. I found the most powerful argument of all was to say, ‘You have an obligation to allow people to build houses that your children or grandchildren can own’.”

Mr Willetts, a Tory Peer, said he would therefore “very much regret” it if the Housing and Planning Bill led to the loss of social housing provision. But as a “loyalist” and because of his “personal respect” for Communities Secretary Greg Clark – the two served as ministers together at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills – he would not join the ranks of peers opposing elements of the Bill in the Lords.

He said: “I don’t object in principle to public sector housing for rent being part of the mix. My views have changed partly by studying the amazing achievements of mainly the Macmillan government in house building post-1951.

“There is a fascinating Tory history here.

In the 1950 election, Labour just held on and got a small majority. One of the things the Conservatives did between 1950 and 1951 was to add this pledge to build 300,000 houses which really caught the popular mood.

“Then Harold Macmillan made his name as the minister who delivered on that in the 1950s and went onto become Prime Minister.

When you look at how that was done, Macmillan called it applied Beaverbrookism and there was both private and public housing. There was a mix. On this I am nonideological. Of course, I don’t mind it being a mix of some for owner occupation and some for rent.”

Mr Willetts admits his new post at the helm of the Resolution Foundation – where he will mark 12 months this month – can put him on an “awkward” collision course with his friends and former colleagues in Westminster.

That point is illustrated perfectly by the fact that as he sits down to talk to first, the think tank’s stark warning about Universal Credit is making national headlines.

“What I don’t want to do in my job is provide a running commentary on what my friends or colleagues in government are doing now,” he said.

“It’s tough enough being a minister without ex-ministers commenting day to day. On the other hand I have now stood down from the Commons and have a longstanding interest in policy, which goes back to before I was even an MP. I find them (the Government) very open to ideas.”

first interview | 19

comment Citizens’ assemblies and local devolution Katie Ghose is Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society

It’s not often that the seven biggest parties of Britain agree on something.

But in April, politicians from all of them gathered in Parliament for the launch of a new report calling for citizens to be given a far greater say over local devolution and the major constitutional changes the UK is witnessing.

The launch followed two landmark ‘Citizens’ Assemblies’ held in Southampton and Sheffield last autumn on the topic of English devolution (see www.citizensassemblies.co.uk).

The assemblies brought together a sample of local residents to get the facts on devolution deals (presented by experts, with a variety of viewpoints put forward) and to deliberate on them, and then to vote on a range of questions.

They were the first of their kind in the UK and a genuine experiment in public engagement. And what’s more, while there were lessons to be learned, participants’ enthusiasm and on-going interest was hugely encouraging for future initiatives.

There are major implications for how councils can engage the public in devolution – after all, devolution without democracy should be paradoxical, as well as potentially unsustainable if the deals don’t embed or last due to lack of public support.

The project and its report, ‘Democracy Matters: Lessons from the 2015 Citizens’ Assemblies on English Devolution’, show that citizens are ready, willing and able to take part in participatory and deliberative forms of democratic practice in relation to June 2016

complex policy issues. They want stronger devolution with more public involvement.

They want to feel part of ‘the revolution in devolution’ and not simply to have change imposed upon them.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ for public involvement. But public bodies can do better than tucked-away online consultations or old-style mechanisms that only reach the ‘usual suspects’. Deliberative methods involve significant investment in terms of money, time, energy and relationship building, but it is money well spent if it increases the efficiency of subsequent policies and decisions.

The cost of imposing a devolution model people don’t actually want, and eventually vote to scrap or alter, could be far greater.

Citizens’ assemblies should not be seen in isolation but instead, if carefully designed, can become the driver of a far broader public debate about an issue, challenge or event. And if citizens can discuss devolution deals in such detail, with the right expertise and facilitation, they can decide on other ‘big issues’ that were previously the sole preserve of politicians.

Thankfully for the devolution process, there is fast developing expertise in the UK on deliberative and participative techniques that go beyond standard consultations or

“Citizens want stronger devolution with more public involvement.

They want to feel part of ‘the revolution in devolution’” snapshots of ‘what people think’, to stimulating far more extended engagement with issues.

NHS Citizen is an example of a vast public body seeking new ways to involve patients in shaping its direction, organised by partners including Involve and DemSoc. The Scottish Government, too, has been trialling alternative ways of involving citizens in public policymaking with Fairer Scotland and so-called ‘Tings’ – deliberative forums. Innovations such as these are a stimulus for councils who, after a ‘closed doors’ approach to devolution are now poised to let the public in.

If councils can learn and share from these lessons and each other, the public could shape their local devolution deals so that there is the buy-in and legitimacy that will ensure these major constitutional changes not only garner public support, but actually develop and last, too.

The ‘Democracy Matters’ project was brought together by the Electoral Reform Society with academics from the University of Sheffield, the University of Southampton, University College London and the University of Westminster

first comment | 21

group leaders’ comments The fightback has begun

A

fter six long years of losing council seats, it was great to see the Lib Dems coming out of the May local elections with more seats than we had going into them – we had a net gain of 45 seats. This builds on the by-election successes we have had in places like Torbay, Cumbria and Sutton over the past year.

With both Labour and Conservatives seeing a net fall in the number of seats they hold, it put the Lib Dem increase in seats in an even better light.

Inevitably there were sad losses mixed in with the good news. Some good councillors lost their seats, but many more former councillors and new councillors joined the team.

It was good to see established Lib Dem areas of strength do well. Areas like Eastleigh and Cheltenham were joined by a Lib Dem majority in Watford.

But maybe even better was seeing councils where the Lib Dems had ceased to be represented getting their first Lib Dem councillors back onto the council. Sunderland, Manchester and Knowsley once again have Lib Dem councillors and this should allow us to grow in the future.

Other areas where we gained seats included Maidstone, Liverpool, Hull, Peterborough, Sheffield, South Cambridgeshire, Bury, Gosport and Portsmouth. And a big ‘welcome back’ to all our Sheffield councillors,

“Sunderland, Manchester and Knowsley once again have Lib Dem councillors and this should allow us to grow in the future”

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson is Leader of the LGA’s Liberal Democrat Group

now that your authority has re-joined the LGA! We look forward to working with all our newly elected councillors – and those who have been successfully re-elected.

Of course, this is just the start.

It will take several years to get back the number of councillors the Lib Dems have had in former times, but it is clear that the fightback has begun in earnest.

Finally, we know that the coming year will see fresh government assaults on issues our councillors care about, such as the provision of social rented housing and the local authority role in education. We will work with our growing team to challenge Conservative Government plans and hold them to account.

chairman’s comment

One of the best jobs in the world

Lord Porter is Chairman of the LGA

W

e’ve finally made it to the other side of election day: all the votes have been counted and the results finalised.

Some of us will be celebrating a win while others will be seriously thinking about a life beyond local government – if that’s at all possible.

Regardless of the outcome, and no matter your political colour, you cannot question the dedication of our councillors and the work they have done to improve our local communities.

Elections are a funny time, we all get swept up in the hype and forget

22 | first comment

to reflect on the real reason we do what we do.

As local leaders we recognise the importance of local communities. We seek every day to improve the lives of our local residents by investing in jobs, health and social care, transport, roads and the many other services that our communities rely on.

I would like to extend a big thanks to all those who were involved in supporting the local elections, from returning officers to candidates.

Without your hard work and dedication, election day wouldn’t be possible.

Congratulations to those councillors who have secured another term, your electors have rewarded you once again – this is a great privilege.

For those who join the council benches for the first time, welcome.

Being a councillor, I believe, is one of the best jobs in the world.

We are one of the most trusted parts of government and rightly so. We get the job done and deliver positive outcomes for our residents. Good luck over the next few months, it will be a roller-coaster ride, but an enjoyable one at that.

For those who have not made it across the line this time around, I want to say thank you. You have achieved a lot in your time and you should be extremely proud of the contribution you have made to local government.

“We are one of the most trusted parts of government and rightly so. We get the job done and deliver positive outcomes for our residents” www.local.gov.uk

group leaders’ comments

Cllr David Hodge is Leader of the LGA’s Conservative Group

Cllr Marianne Overton MBE is Leader of the LGA’s Independent Group

Cllr Nick Forbes is Leader of the LGA’s Labour Group

Solid results after six years in power

Threat of academy conversion by stealth

Unfair media coverage an election concern

I

would like to congratulate all the Conservative councillors who won their seats in the local elections and offer my commiserations to those who, despite their hard work, were unsuccessful.

Particular congratulations are due to Peterborough Conservatives for taking control of their council and also to colleagues around the country who strengthened their positions.

Set against the background of being six years in power nationally and the forthcoming EU referendum, the results were solid for the Conservative Party.

By contrast, Labour became the first opposition party in 30 years to suffer a net loss of seats at local elections not held on the same day as a general election. Considering they were starting from a very low base and that they are now in opposition, the Lib Dems’ gains were minimal.

On a disappointing note, I would like to pay personal tribute to Gordon Keymer following the loss of his seat to a single issue residents’ association candidate. Gordon was the Leader of Tandridge District Council for many years (and the first leader that I served under), and a former Leader of the LGA Conservative Group, Chairman of the Conservative Councillors’ Association and Chairman of the District Councils’ Network.

Gordon has made an enormous contribution to local government in Surrey, nationally and in his EU roles, and can be proud of his many years of service and numerous achievements.

I

T

“Particular congratulations are due to Peterborough Conservatives for taking control of their council”

“Plans remain for parent governors to be removed from governing bodies”

extend my congratulations to all re-elected or newly elected to council. I’m honoured to be re-elected to my ward and as Leader of Newcastle Labour Group.

Congratulations also to newly elected Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and our other elected mayors.

For the first time, Labour controls all core cities in the UK. Over the past months, Labour councillors, MPs, teachers, parents, trade unions, school governors, and the LGA have put pressure on the Government over its plans to force state schools to convert to academies.

Following our efforts the Government announced a significant U-turn on this.

However, the Secretary of State made clear that the Government is still determined to convert all schools to academies and that plans also remain for parent governors to be removed from governing bodies by 2022 – which we oppose strongly.

The Government also noted two areas where it would push forward with forcing academy conversions. In both cases the thresholds are open to interpretation and we must make sure that this is not used as a way to force conversions by stealth.

We’ve come a long way in defending the tremendous contribution good local authorities make to improving education in our communities – but there is more to be done.

We’ll continue to work together with schools and communities to deliver the best for children, their parents and teachers alike.

he local election results have seen less change than we might have expected, with our LGA Independent Group continuing to grow steadily and maintain its position as the third largest group at the LGA. Prior to the election our members had leadership roles in 24 councils and we are hoping that this figure is strengthened over the coming weeks when the real impact of the results are known. Our members are vital to the success of local councils and are increasingly recognised as having an inclusive and listening approach which focuses on delivering the best outcomes for their communities.

This positive performance of our group comes despite the significant barrier that is put in front of us by the media. Over the past few years we have worked hard with the media at all levels to encourage wider coverage than just the same old three parties. They have responded with UKIP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens, but Independents were still short of fair coverage, despite our efforts.

It is simply not good enough for the media, disconnected with reality, to think it is acceptable to cover the ‘serious’ parties and then look to us for some entertaining mavericks! The real story is one of steady growth, year on year. Our group members continue to develop and progress in making strong contributions across England and Wales with a determined focus on working for residents.

“We have worked hard to encourage wider media coverage than just the same old three parties”

For more information about the LGA’s political groups, see www.local.gov.uk

June 2016

first comment | 23

Easy as ABC for landlords Cllr Paul Clokie (Con) is Portfolio Holder for Housing at Ashford Borough Council

We are proud of our relationship with private sector landlords. Working closely with them is critical to the success of the way in which social, as well as private sector, housing works in our borough.

Indeed, the views of landlords have been instrumental to the revision of ABC Lettings, an innovative scheme that helps landlords to offer private rented sector properties to households identified as being on local housing allowance rent levels.

ABC Lettings (A Better Choice Lettings Agency for Ashford) operates in a similar way to a high street lettings agency, but it houses people who are on the council’s housing waiting list – people who can be perceived by landlords as a high-risk group.

Devised by the council and with a fresh offer recently created through the valuable feedback of landlords, who were invited to join council officers in its innovation space, ABC Lettings is now in its fourth year.

We check the prospective tenants and broker a tenancy agreement between tenant and landlord. The landlord has the guarantee that rent will be paid on a monthly basis for the duration of the tenancy and the reassurance that the tenancy will be fully managed, for a competitive fee, by the council.

We devised ABC Lettings in anticipation of funding reductions from central government as the scheme helps us to slowly increase the resilience of our housing stock; sustain tenancies by reducing the risk of rent arrears for landlords; and lowers the bed and breakfast costs incurred by the council by offering a

“The scheme helps us increase the resilience of our housing stock and lowers bed and breakfast costs” viable alternative to homeless applicants to whom we accept a duty.

With its different model, ABC Lettings has the backing of the National Landlords Association, which acknowledges that there is no direct competition posed to high street lettings agencies. The scheme has also extended into neighbouring Shepway.

For more information on ABC Lettings visit www.ashford.gov.uk/abclettings, email abclettings@ashford.gov.uk or phone Mark Botting on 01233 330378 or Vicki Henham on 01233 330869

Innovative care for vulnerable children Cllr Val Gibson (Lab) is Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at City of Wolverhampton Council

I was delighted to present our Families r First (FrF) programme at the Innovation Zone at last year’s LGA Annual Conference. FrF is designed to get all agencies to work together to safely reduce the number of looked-after children in Wolverhampton – something most councils have been trying to do. The zone was the perfect opportunity to share learning from initiatives such as ours.

FrF started with us holding three stakeholder events in Wolverhampton to get all partner agencies to understand the issues and to pool ideas about what each agency needed to do to identify children and families that needed help at an early stage. Then we reviewed our council structures to ensure early help could be made available.

24 | first comment

A whole new operating model has been implemented across the children and young people’s service area, including the creation of two additional social work units, tasked with concentrating on early intervention work.

A dedicated campaign to recruit additional local foster families was launched in support of FrF. I played a key role in fronting this campaign, including promoting ‘Fostering Fridays’, a high-profile poster and social media campaign challenging the myths about fostering.

Providing appropriate support to children and their families at the earliest point, to ensure only the children who really need to come into care, has meant that, since the introduction of FrF in 2014, we have reduced the number

of looked-after children from more than 800 to less than 650.

By presenting FrF at the Innovation Zone, I was able to talk to and learn from fellow councillors who had similar issues. The session I participated in gave a taster of three different topics and then a more detailed round table discussion on a topic of delegates’ choice, which was a great format. Councillors got a lot out of the discussions and were able to take ideas from the session back to their directors for further consideration.

For information about FrF, please email val.gibson@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

To find out more about the LGA’s Annual Conference and Innovation Zone, please visit www.local.gov.uk/conference

www.local.gov.uk

Local museums: delivering public policy priorities Diane Lees CBE is Director-General of Imperial War Museums and Chair of the National Museum Directors’ Council

The UK’s museums have never been so popular, so internationally respected and the quality of exhibitions and displays better. For every £1 of public money they receive, museums return £3 of economic value.

These strengths apply as equally to our local and regional collections as our national museums. This is testament in part to the long-term investment and support from councils, who are custodians of considerable and remarkable aspects of the nation’s heritage.

Museums deliver public policy priorities.

They create a vibrant and diverse cultural life; contribute to regional prosperity; develop peaceful and prosperous communities by creating safe and welcoming community spaces; promote health and well-being; sustain tourism; provide education and skills development; and are the catalyst for scientific, technological and creative innovation.

Museums are able to have this impact because of their collections, their buildings and their staff expertise, and it is these which museums require long-term investment in.

They are also loved and trusted civic institutions, and it is this love and trust which they need to maintain as they evolve into successful cultural enterprises.

The cuts to local authority budgets and the rising cost of providing statutory services can seem inescapable. Councils are finding it increasingly difficult to invest in their museums and local heritage in the way they have over the past 20 years. At the same time, no councillor I have met wants to see their local museum weaken or close.

While museums’ sustainability will require careful consideration, there are some short-term measures councils could consider which would allow museums to make more effective and efficient use of the resources available to them.

1 Grant museums their digital independence There are many museums which do not have their own digital identity. They are not able to tailor their digital content to their audience; their marketing and messaging gets lost within the broader communications of the local council; and they fail to maximise fundraising and audience engagement. Granting museums their digital independence would allow them to generate greatest benefit from their collections, staff expertise and buildings. Independent Instagram and Twitter accounts and an independent website are crucial tools for a 21st century museum.

2 Ensure there are no unnecessary barriers to enterprise The Imperial War Museum had a 30 per cent cut to its central government funding between 2010 and 2015. A difficult situation was mitigated in part by a quid pro quo: to maximise efficiency and enterprise, the Treasury gave us greater freedom and flexibility from some central government controls. This helped with business planning and could be applied to local authorities, without necessarily turning a museum into an independent trust.

Independence over procurement, creating development trusts to retain gift aid or greater freedom over setting staff wages could help.

“For every £1 of public money they receive, museums return £3 of economic value” June 2016

“Museums make a place more attractive to live in, work in and visit. Yet there are very few LEPs with a museum representative” 3 Ensure museums are part of local economic and community plans Businesses invest in attractive and creative environments with a strong civic infrastructure.

Museums make a place more attractive to live in, work in and visit. Yet there are very few local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) with a museum representative on the board. Where there is – such as with Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly LEP – there is a closer working relationship between the business community and local museums. Museums are safe and social public spaces, with many using their collections and skilled staff to deliver health and well-being projects. Despite this, they are not always part of long-term public health and social care planning.

A museum is the means by which councils can address the most pressing priorities for their area. As budgets tighten, it is imperative that the potential of museums is realised and they are able to maximise their public impact.

first comment | 25

Helping residents with dementia Borough of Poole, the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and local residential care homes.

Weight loss in people with dementia is quite common, but can lead to serious side-effects, including further mental and physical deterioration. The aim of our project was to research this issue and see how we could help staff working in residential care homes to support people with dementia to eat and drink well.

We have developed two training tools – a workbook and DVD – packed full of information about the importance of nutrition and hydration and tips for how to support people with dementia.

One example, already being used by our partner organisations, is about food choice.

Instead of asking people to choose their meal in advance, offer residents a choice of two plates of food just before mealtime. The combination of sensory and visual cues acts as a helpful prompt and the lack of delay between choice and mealtime means people can enjoy their food before they forget what they had chosen.

Working together, across health and social care, brings many benefits as well as cost savings to local authorities and the NHS. For more

Cllr Elaine Atkinson OBE (Con) is a member of the Borough of Poole Council

There are around 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers likely to rise as the population ages. My own Borough of Poole commissions around 800,000 hours of care per year but, it’s the quality of care that matters the most.

The annual Dementia Awareness Week (15-21 May) is a good opportunity for us to reflect on how best to support people. With adult social care under significant pressures, both from increasing numbers of people needing support and budgetary constraints, finding ways of working in partnership to improve the quality of care is a necessity.

I am part of an innovative collaborative project funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing and run by Bournemouth University, the

information, please visit www.bournemouth. ac.uk/nutrition-dementia-video

ef ExSpeakers include: The Housing & Finance Institute Chief Executive Natalie Elphicke OBE Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell MP Journalist and TV Presenter Cathy Newman

The local government event of the year www.local.gov.uk/conference to book your place @LGAComms #LGAconf16

first revised_annual comment conference ad_half_page_first.indd 26 |L15-554

1

13/05/2016 13:11

www.local.gov.uk

Being a councillor Colin Copus is Professor of Local Politics at De Montfort University

Just a couple of weeks after the local elections seems an appropriate time to update first’s readers on the De Montfort University and Municipal Journal Councillor Commission, which began taking evidence in January.

The commission is exploring all facets of the role of the councillor, the work they do and, importantly, why – given all the frustrations and limitations on the office and the potential heart-break of election day – they do it.

Already, clear patterns are beginning to emerge from the evidence that shows the real nature of councillors’ day-to-day experiences. There is increasing interaction with organisations (public and private) beyond the council, and difficulties in influencing

what they do and in holding them to account.

Responding to central government austerity policies and managing the impact on public services, and increasing casework which demands councillors take up the problems citizens have with a range of organisations, not just their council, add to the pressures.

Also emerging are unrealistically high public expectations of what councillors can achieve for individuals and communities; insufficient powers to tackle the issues that confront councillors and their councils; and the ongoing need to construct positive working relationships with officers so as to achieve political goals. Also coming out clearly from the evidence is frustration at the restricted access councillors have to information from

and about their own councils.

But there is much more for the commission to know and explore. We will be taking evidence from councillors and others to the end of July, with eight round table discussions planned and more to follow.

We would be grateful to hear from councils interested in hosting these events, and to receive written submissions of any kind or length from councillors on any aspect of their work. Please email councillors@dmu.ac.uk We want to generate an ongoing public debate and understanding about the value of councillors to the overall governance of the country. So please let us know what you think of your office as councillor, the work you do and the powers you need.

“ There is frustration at the restricted access councillors have to information from and about their own councils”

Long-term planning makes sense Cllr Mike Eathorne-Gibbons (Ind) is Vice-Chairman of Cornwall Council’s Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee

We have come to expect shocks and unanticipated changes in local government, but effective long-term planning is helping Cornwall Council better deal with upheaval.

The council has a four-year business plan covering operational and financial matters. The first year covers the annual budget, with later years incorporating financial estimates based on council strategies, commitments, and our best guess on likely funding from government.

It also incorporates Cornwall’s devolution deal, agreed with ministers last summer.

Considerable work has been done to determine action plans to implement the various elements of the deal and these are nearly finished. Key elements include plans for a combined estate covering all public sector property, and transport, where bus and rail services are being brought together.

Integration of health and social care is one of the most complex parts of our business plan and devolution deal. Cornwall’s health commissioners are presently finalising plans to implement the recommendations of external consultants who were invited to address financial and management issues.

Meanwhile, the various health delivery organisations have recently come together into a single consortium covering acute, community and mental health care, as well as a single body for GP services. NHS England continues to be closely involved through its

“ Integration of health and social care is one of the most complex parts of our devolution deal” June 2016

prescriptive sustainable and transformational programmes but the devolution deal has given Cornwall more flexibility.

Oversight of all these arrangements lies with a new governance body chaired by Cornwall Council’s leader and including the three Cornish MPs as well as leading members and officials from the constituent bodies to the Cornwall Devolution Deal.

The success of the council in securing devolution and being prudent in setting out a four-year business plan, should enable residents to get the best possible services at the lowest possible cost. Long-term planning makes sense.

first comment | 27

councillor Standing down – end of an era England’s longest serving borough councillor is looking forward to spending more time on the golf course after standing down on 5 May after 61 years in office.

Cllr Godfrey Olson, 86, Leader of the Conservative Group on Eastleigh Borough Council for the last 55 years, was Mayor three times, made a Freeman of the Borough in 1977 and received an OBE for services to the community in 1994.

Cllr Olson (second on right) at a 2015 presentation to mark his 60 years’ service, with fellow Conservative councillors and local MPs Steve Brine (first on left) and Mimms Davies (third on right)

Why were you attracted to politics?

“I was asked if I wanted to join the Young Conservatives when I completed my national service in the army. I’d been away from my home for nearly two years and it took some time to get back into the run of things. The group in Chandler’s Ford was very strong.”

You represented the Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury areas of your borough, what have you achieved?

in an air-controlled room.

“Facilities for Eastleigh residents have certainly improved in that time.

We bought an enormous piece of land to create a country park and made a lake there after some gravel extraction when the M27 was constructed.”

What advice would you give new councillors?

“I was only the second Conservative to be elected to Eastleigh and I could see lots of things that needed to be done. In my first year as mayor (1961-62) we raised money to build a youth centre. In my second (1976-77), we built an activities centre for people with special needs. In my final year (1997-98) we supported both and, although the youth centre has now gone, the activities centre is still flourishing.”

“It can be quite fulfilling if you want to serve your local area, to preserve an attractive environment and improve facilities. There’s always something new and something more to do.”

What has changed over those 61 years?

What is the future of local government?

“Councils didn’t have computers when I first joined. I can remember the first computer being installed in Eastleigh.

It was a great event. It had to be put

“Devolution seems to be the current trend. I would like Eastleigh to be part of a Hampshire-wide devolution arrangement.

The future is being as local as we can be.”

28 | first political

What have you most enjoyed and what has been the hardest to take?

“I very much appreciated my mayoral years because of the influence one is able to bring to bear to more things. I also enjoyed being leader of the council for a number of years for similar reasons. The hardest thing is definitely being in opposition.”

What are the most useful skills in being a councillor and council leader?

“I worked as an estate agent and I think it was the business skills I was able to bring to my council roles that were most important.”

Would you recommend the role?

What next?

“I would recommend it to anyone who wants to take an interest in and make a contribution to the community.”

“I’m relieved and a little apprehensive.

I shall be around for whoever takes over from me as leader. It will also give me rather more time to play golf.

When I joined I was the youngest member of the council and I became one of the youngest mayors in the country. I joined Eastleigh as one of the youngest and leave as one of the oldest. I’m grateful to the electorate and the village of Chandler’s Ford.” www.local.gov.uk

Being elected as a local councillor offers you a unique opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of the people and communities you represent.

But after the excitement of elections day, getting down to work and coping with the different pressures you will face can be daunting.

Being a councillor is hard work and you will have many different roles to play. Every day you will have to balance the needs of your local area, your residents and voters, community groups, local businesses, your political party (if you belong to one), the council, family, friends and work.

Help is at hand, though, with the LGA’s new Councillors’ Guide 2016, packed with the key information every new councillor needs to know. There are also hints and tips on how to get started from experienced councillors – and we’ve picked out four of these below.

For more information, please visit www. local.gov.uk/councillors-guide-2016/17

‘Learn to say no’ Cllr Laura Conway (Ind, North Kesteven) I got involved in politics around the time my daughter left home to start work. I met a local ward councillor and was struck by how effective she was at sorting out issues for local residents, including myself.

It’s great to be able to give something back to a community that has given me so much. I love the challenge of getting results for my community and the sense of achievement when I can make a difference.

My top tips are: • don’t be afraid to ask questions of officers and other councillors • participate fully in the life of the council – it helps you to feel part of a team • learn to say no, as sinking under an unhealthy workload is no help to anyone.

‘Don’t be scared’ Cllr Alice Bramall (Con, Milton Keynes) I work full-time in London but the company is very supportive of my role as a councillor. My fiancé, Tim, is equally understanding of the long hours and addiction to emails.

Coming to a local councillor can be a June 2016

DUNCAN NICOL ROBERTSON

Making a difference

last resort for people and there is nothing more satisfying than helping them to resolve a problem or being their voice in the council chamber.

As a young female councillor it has taken some time to be taken seriously and not be overlooked. However, I love the role and wouldn’t change a thing about it.

My top tips would be: • don’t be scared of speaking in the council chamber, the nerves go with practice • when it gets tough, don’t lose sight of the good you are doing • enjoy it, but make time for friends and family.

‘Set yourself aims’ Cllr Saima Ashraf (Lab, Barking and Dagenham) I am a single mother of three wonderful girls and chair of governors at the largest primary school in the country. I enjoy playing an active part in the community, especially working with the local mosque and other faith groups to bring people together.

I am one of two deputy leaders of the council and am Cabinet Member for Housing, a topical and sometimes emotive subject.

It’s interesting to be able to formulate and influence policy. My top tips for a new councillor would be: • set yourself aims of what you want to achieve and work hard at them

• •

a lways keep an open mind without being judgemental get to know as much as possible about different community groups, cultures and faiths.

‘Knock on doors’ Cllr Bill Winlow (Lib Dem, Lancashire) I have three grownup children and three grandchildren. I am a Professor of Neuroscience, nominally retired but still with plenty of research interests and contacts.

As a councillor, I enjoy meeting people and trying to solve their problems or, better still, help them to solve their problems for themselves. I am the Liberal Democrat Group Leader and I chair both the new executive scrutiny committee and the main scrutiny committee. I find these scrutiny roles interesting as they have given my political group an influential position. My three top tips would be: • be assiduous in doing community casework, get good results where possible then tell people about it • knock on lots of doors to keep in touch with your local community • make friendships across party lines so you can influence others when the need arises.

first political | 29

parliament LGA influencing legislation It’s been another busy parliamentary year, and a crucial one for local government.

The Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, setting out the Government’s spending plans for the next four years, was published, along with the latest local government finance settlement.

The Government also announced a move to full business rate retention, which the LGA will continue to lobby on to ensure any new system works effectively (see p13).

And the 2015/16 parliamentary session has seen significant legislation passed on devolution, housing, welfare, education and children’s services that will change the way local public services are provided.

In response, the LGA has worked with central government on behalf of all councils to highlight the financial challenges local government faces. It has influenced a range of flagship legislation such as the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act, the Welfare Reform and Work Act, the Housing and Planning and the Education and Adoption Act – see right.

In making the case for local government, the LGA was referenced on 525 occasions in the Commons and on 294 occasions in the Lords up until the end of April, or the equivalent of four and two times per working day in the Commons and the Lords respectively. The LGA has had significant success in influencing primary legislation, most notably the following:

The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 This legislation provides the legal framework for the Government’s devolution deals, including mayoral combined authorities (see first 590). The LGA worked with a cross-party group of Peers to secure an amendment that requires the Secretary of State to report annually on progress on devolution, which will bring greater transparency and accountability.

We also tabled proposals that called for greater fiscal devolution to local government ahead of a government announcement on full business rates retention and the provision of multi-year settlements, for those councils that want them.

The Housing and Planning Act The Housing and Planning Act 2016 completed its passage through Parliament, receiving Royal Assent on 12 May. It contains provisions on new homes, landlords and property agents, abandoned premises, social housing (including extending Right to Buy to housing association tenants and the sale of local authority assets), planning, compulsory purchase and public land (duty to dispose).

The LGA worked with MPs and Peers across all political parties during the passage of the Bill to provide background information and research on the proposals, support and table amendments to the legislation, and influence government policy. Changes secured include giving councils the ability to grant secure tenancies to families with children, restrictions around the resale of starter homes, changes to the taper rate for ‘pay to stay’, and time-limited pilots on competition in processing planning applications.

The Childcare Act 2016 The Act extends free provision of childcare to 30 hours for working families. The LGA worked with Peers to table an amendment that led to the announcement of additional early years funding in the spending review (see first 594).

Our engagement with the Department for Education also encouraged the Government

30 | first political

to remove the powers for the Secretary of State to prescribe the type and timings of local childcare provision that councils provide.

The Education and Adoption Act 2016 The Act makes it easier to convert schools causing concern to academies and provides a statutory footing for regional collaboration for adoption. Following arguments made by the LGA (see first 596), the Government amended the legislation to extend the definition of a ‘coasting’ school to academies as well as council-maintained schools.

Therefore academies will be subject to intervention and improvement measures if they are deemed to be coasting.

The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 The LGA welcomed this legislation to tackle new psychoactive substances, having called for a complete ban on the sale of all legal highs, and worked closely with the Home Office and parliamentarians to support the Bill through its passage in Parliament. The then Minister of State, Lord Bates (Con), writing in first 591, thanked councils and the LGA for their work on this area, and said the Home Office would work with local authorities to ensure the successful implementation of the Act.

The Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 The Act introduces a duty to report to Parliament on progress made towards achieving full employment and the three million apprenticeships target in England.

It also introduces reporting obligations on the effect of certain support for troubled families and provision for social mobility, the benefit cap, social security and tax credits, loans for mortgage interest and social housing rents (see first 593). The LGA campaigned for the Government to conduct a review of supported accommodation, and its findings are due out shortly. www.local.gov.uk

Shaping the debate Lord Porter is the LGA’s Chairman

I

The Enterprise Act 2016 During the Act’s passage through Parliament we welcomed extending the Primary Authority Scheme to smaller businesses; opposed mandatory apprenticeship targets for public bodies and highlighted how councils can instead contribute to creating apprenticeships; supported proposals on non-domestic rates, including measures to allow the future reform of the business rates appeals process; and raised concerns and obtained information about the public sector exit payment cap.

The Immigration Act 2016 The LGA highlighted the important role councils have in protecting families, children and vulnerable adults who are seeking asylum.

We sought to ensure local authorities are able to deliver their duties, keep children safe and prevent families from becoming homeless.

We also raised concerns about the proposal to compel local authorities to take responsibility for unaccompanied minors who arrive elsewhere in the UK, as there was no clarity on how their support needs will be funded.

The Investigatory Powers Bill The Bill contains provisions on the interception of communications, equipment interference and the acquisition and retention of communications data, bulk personal datasets and other information. Although councils are not the main users of communications data, teams within councils, such as trading standards, use communications data to tackle a range of criminal activity and fraud.

We have called for the process of judicial authorisation to be more efficient so that it does not hinder appropriate use of communications data by councils.

See next month’s edition of first for a report on the Queen’s Speech and the key pieces of new legislation for local government. For more information about the LGA’s parliamentary work, please visit www.local.gov.uk/parliament

June 2016

have always said that local government are the ones to get things done, and this parliamentary year is proof that the LGA has been instrumental in delivering real change for councils and their residents.

We have made sure that when decisions about local government are being made in Parliament we are the first people through the door promoting the interests of local government. This is largely due to the hard work of our president, vice-presidents and supportive MPs and Peers who have been actively defending the interests of councils in both Houses.

This year we have had many noteworthy wins. Who would have thought that we would see the finance settlement agreed with central government or that councils would be able to keep the money raised from business rates? These are major achievements that should not be underestimated.

By working with government on the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act we were able to secure a commitment that will see parliamentary reports published on devolution. We were heavily involved in the Welfare Reform and Work Act which resulted in government conducting a review of supported accommodation, the findings of which are expected to be published soon.

Meanwhile, we’ve worked closely with government and parliamentarians to influence the Housing and Planning Act. Throughout discussions on it, I’ve been keen both in parliamentary debates and in my conversations with the Secretary of State to highlight the important role councils play in building new homes.

The achievements detailed here (left) are confirmation that we are making a real difference.

On a personal level, it has been a real privilege to represent local government in Parliament. I know that many members share in my passion for local democracy and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who gave evidence to Parliament on behalf of local government in the last session.

We have done a lot to further the local government agenda and I know that we will continue to build on our successes and shape the debate in the year ahead.

first political | 31

Our online guide for new councillors Being elected as a councillor is only the beginning. To help you get the best start, the LGA has designed an online resource to provide you with the key information that you need to know as a new councillor.

As well as exploring some of the main issues and challenges facing local government today, you can find: • the ‘Councillors’ Guide’ in an easily accessible format • a quick reference tool • hints and tips from experienced councillors • links to other useful information.

Support also comes in the form of our Community Leadership Programme, which is part of ‘Highlighting Political Leadership’, the LGA’s development offer for councillors. The Community Leadership Programme offers a choice of different learning methods. The resources range from e-learning modules and self-guided workbooks to training events.

Find out more at:

www.local.gov.uk/ councillors-guide-2016/17