LGA first magazine July 2017

No.613 July 2017 www.local.gov.uk

the magazine for local government

“Local choice and decision-making are good for our residents and what they want” ‘Growing places: building local public services for the future’

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Manchester after the bombing Public services and partnership working

The Innovation Zone Creative and positive disruption

Queen’s Speech Brexit, social care, children’s services and funding

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GOOD INVESTMENT FOR L O CA L G OV E R N M E N T

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BE CA US E G O O D IS BETTER

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23/06/2017 12:19

#LGAconf17

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hile the LGA’s annual conference in Birmingham (4-6 July) will be overshadowed by the recent awful events – from the Manchester bombing (p7) to the Grenfell Tower fire (p5) – it will be good to meet members and discuss the key issues facing us.

This edition of first outlines our conference paper, which includes some of the key issues we want the new Government to address (p8), and you can also find out more about conference’s ever-popular Innovation Zone (p13).

Our interview is with Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (p16), who will be speaking at conference on Brexit.

The LGA was set up 20 years ago, and we look back at some of the key achievements of the last two decades and hear from former chairmen of the organisation (p10). Looking ahead, we have commentary from conference speakers on what they think the future holds for local government (p24).

Meanwhile, we are calling on councils to mark another anniversary – the centenary next year of some women getting the right to vote in parliamentary elections – by helping us find the local pioneers who went on to use their new political voice to improve things in their communities (p15).

Lord Porter is Chairman of the LGA

contents news 4

Audit savings Child protection Birthday honours

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Design & print CPL www.cpl.co.uk Advertising john.wheaton@cpl.co.uk

Email first@local.gov.uk Tel editorial 020 7664 3294 Tel advertising 01223 378 042 Photography Getty Images and iStock.com unless otherwise stated Circulation 18,300 (April 2017) 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 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.

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comment

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features

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July 2017

Grenfell Tower Queen’s Speech Pay claim

Manchester bombing Annual conference – growing places Twenty years of the LGA Innovation Zone Women pioneers

16 Gunn Marit Helgesen,

President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities

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Editor Karen Thornton

Write to first: Local Government Association Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street London EC1M 5LG

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interview

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social care LGA chairman and group leaders Local productivity and public parks Canal & River Trust Business loans fund Rural health

“Central government has to give trust and responsibility to the local and regional level”

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regulars 6 28 30 31

Letters and sound bites Parliament – Queen’s Speech Councillor – improvement services Local by-elections

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23/06/2017 12:19

news Audit savings to top £6m Local authorities are set to save in excess of £6 million a year as a result of a national approach to procuring auditor services developed and managed by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA).

The national scheme was set up to ensure the delivery of a cost effective, quality audit service for authorities, and more than 98 per cent of those eligible have opted in.

The collaborative procurement will mean that local bodies will save the time and expense associated with establishing and maintaining an independent auditor panel to oversee a local auditor procurement.

PSAA, following lobbying from the LGA, was specified by the Government in July 2016 as the organisation which is authorised to make future external auditor appointments on behalf of principal local authorities in England. These include: councils; police bodies; fire and rescue authorities; joint authorities; combined authorities (covering elected regional mayors); national park authorities; passenger transport executives; waste authorities;

and the Greater London Assembly and its functional bodies.

LGA Chairman Lord Porter said: “It’s been a long journey, but I am extremely pleased that so many local authorities will reap such positive rewards – in terms of both quality and value for money.

“Collectively, councils are set to save millions after they placed their confidence in the PSAA to commission audit services on their behalf. This has been a long-standing project of the LGA and demonstrates the power of the sector-led model.

“The outcome is testament to the thoughtful and robust approach developed

by PSAA which has clearly proved attractive to both councils and audit firms.”

PSAA Chairman Steve Freer said: “We are delighted by the results of the tender process and the appointment of six experienced and well respected firms. At the outset our objectives included maintaining high standards of audit quality and attracting very competitive prices. We are extremely pleased by the outcomes on both criteria.”

Honours for local government

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everal key local government figures have been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board and Leader of Warwickshire County Council, was awarded an OBE, while Cllr Judith Blake, the LGA’s Vice-Chair of the Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board and Leader of Leeds City Council, was made a CBE, both for services to local government.

Rodney Bass, a former Essex County Councillor, was made an OBE, while MBEs were awarded to Cllr Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, and Cllr Pamela Posnett, Leader of Melton Borough Council, all for services to local government.

Three others were made MBEs: Cllr Anne Hall, of South Lakeland District Council, for services to the community in the Lake District; Cllr Raymond Howard, of Essex County Council, for services to local government and the community in Canvey Island; and Cllr Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council, for political and public service.

And there were OBEs for Sally Burlington, Head of Policy at the LGA, for services to adult social care services, and for former Richmond Chief Executive Gillian Norton, for services to local government.

The full honours list can be viewed on the Cabinet Office website at http://bit.ly/2sLef1B

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Call for research on child abuse

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here has been a dramatic increase in reported incidents of emotional abuse of children, according to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

Its annual report, ‘How safe are our children?’, reveals that calls to the NSPCC’s helpline about emotional abuse have soared by 200 per cent in the last seven years – more than any other form of child abuse. It says it’s unclear how many more children in the UK are suffering from emotional abuse, or any other form of maltreatment, because of a lack of research.

The NSPCC is calling on the Government urgently to commission a nationwide study that looks at the prevalence of child abuse and neglect in the UK. Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said such a study “would be a helpful step”, but warned urgent action is needed to ensure child protection services are properly funded.

“Councils have worked hard to protect funding for child protection services, but ongoing cuts to local authority budgets are forcing many areas to make extremely difficult decisions about how to allocate increasingly scarce resources,” he said.

“Pressure on children’s services is growing.

In the last 10 years we have witnessed a 140 per cent increase in child protection enquiries and a funding gap of £2 billion is projected by 2020.

Councils have responded by reducing costs and finding new ways to deliver services. But there are very few savings left to find without having a real and lasting impact upon crucial services that many children and families rely on.”

He added: “Early intervention has long been recognised as a way of limiting the need for children to enter the social care system.

However, government cuts to the Early Intervention Grant of almost £400 million since 2013 have put councils in a difficult situation where they cannot afford to withdraw services for children in immediate need of protection to invest in early help instead.

“We are calling on the Government to ensure that councils have the funding they need to tackle the early stages of abuse and keep children and young people safe.” www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 12:39

High-rise safety checks continue after London fire Insulation on Grenfell Tower failed safety tests as well as outside cladding, the Metropolitan Police announced as first was going to press.

At least 79 people died or are missing and feared dead following the blaze in the block in west London, which started in a fridge freezer.

Eleven residential high-rise buildings in eight local authority areas had been found to have combustible cladding following safety tests, with tests being carried out on 600 high-rise buildings with cladding across England.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has written to all local authority and housing association chief executives to advise them on steps to take if tower blocks in their area are found to have combustible panels.

LGA Chairman Lord Porter and Chief Executive Mark Lloyd wrote to leaders and chief executives on 16 June sharing some of the actions councils were taking to reassure residents, taking account of advice received from the National Fire Chiefs Council, with whom the LGA has a close working relationship through the Fire Commission and the Fire Services Management Committee.

They asked councils to establish which of their tower blocks have been refurbished, that building control sign-off has taken into

account fire safety, especially with regard to cladding, and that an up-to-date fire risk assessment has been carried out since any refurbishments. In addition, councils have been asked to confirm that if tower blocks have been designed to contain fires in individual flats, that no work has compromised that design since construction.

Councils are also working with tenants to review and offer fire safety advice.

DCLG subsequently wrote to councils on 18 June asking councils and other social housing providers to identify whether any panels used in new build or refurbished flats were of a particular type or cladding, and to send samples for testing.

Further recommendations are expected from DCLG and the LGA will update member councils. It was closely involved with DCLG in drafting messages, although all the technical advice contained in them has been produced by a group of experts convened by DCLG. LGA Chairman Lord Porter said: “Councils take the safety of residents extremely seriously. We need to know with certainty how this fire started and why it spread so quickly so that councils can take any action needed. The thoughts of the whole local government family remain with the victims and families affected by this devastating fire, the local community and the emergency services.”

No rates reform in Queen’s Speech

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he Local Government Finance Bill – setting out the framework for allowing English councils to keep all local business rates – was not reintroduced in the new Government’s first Queen’s Speech.

LGA Chairman Lord Porter said the omission was “hugely concerning”.

“Councils are facing an overall £5.8 billion funding gap by 2020. The Government needs to commit to using its existing powers to keep working with local government to continue these vital reforms,” he said.

“Local government collectively must keep every penny it raises locally in taxation to spend on local services to help secure the long-term financial sustainability of councils and ease the pressure facing the public services our communities rely on.”

As expected, the main focus of the Queen’s Speech – setting out the Government’s legislative July 2017

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programme for the next two years – was on Brexit.

Lord Porter said: “The UK’s exit from the European Union will have a significant impact on local government and the people we represent, creating challenges that need to be addressed but also opportunities to do things differently.

“Local government must play a central role in deciding whether to keep, amend or scrap the EU laws which impact on the council services that affect people’s day-to-day lives, once they are converted into domestic law.

“While negotiating Brexit will be a huge challenge for the Government, it cannot be a distraction from the challenges facing our public services. The day-to-day concerns of our communities go far beyond Brexit.” ● See p28 for more on the Queen’s Speech

news in brief New ministers

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ollowing the General Election, Sajid Javid remains Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, while Labour has appointed Andrew Gwynne as Shadow Communities Secretary. The new Housing and Planning Minister is Alok Sharma, who replaces former Housing Minister Gavin Barwell, now the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff. Nick Hurd is the new Policing and Fire Minister.

Mental health

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hink tank Localis has warned that mental health services for children and teenagers need a radical overhaul to avert a crisis, despite a recent £1.4 billion cash boost. Its report, ‘A healthy state of mind’, recommends bringing services into all schools – including academies – and putting them on a statutory footing by allowing councils to retain up to 6.5 per cent of pupil premium allocations centrally. Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “We need a root and branch overhaul of children’s mental health services that ensures children get access to the right treatment at an early stage.”

Fewer smokers

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he percentage of adults aged 18 and above in England who smoke has fallen from 19.9 per cent in 2010 to 15.5 per cent in 2016, with the largest fall among 18 to 24-year-olds (from 26 to 19 per cent).

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “As we approach the 10th anniversary of the ban on smoking in public places, it is pleasing that these latest figures demonstrate the huge strides we have taken in reducing smoking rates.”

Pay claim

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ocal government trade unions have put in a claim for a 5 per cent pay increase in 2018. Cllr Sian Timoney, Chair of the National Employers, said consultations with councils will begin soon and will include the unions’ claim. She added: “We recognise that public sector workers have had lower than average pay awards for a few years now, but local government continues to face significant financial challenges so we are surprised that the unions are seeking such an ambitious pay award. Local government has lost more than half a million jobs in recent years and meeting this claim would result in many more such job losses.”

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sound bites Cllr Anne Fairweather (Ind, City of London) “I’m a bit done with waking up to bad news in my city. Stay strong London #loveLondon.” www.twitter.com/AnneFairweather

letters

Cllr Molly Giles (Con, Stratford-on-Avon) “Scary few days for a Conservative. But what is clear is that people don’t want the same old politics. That is a good thing. We must respond.” www.twitter.com/mollygiles2015 Cllr Aidan Van de Weyer (Lib Dem, South Cambridgeshire) “The British people have spoken clearly: we want the whole of Parliament to sort out Brexit, not one faction of one political party.” www.twitter.com/AidanVdeW Liverpool Council “Delighted to have the support of our great neighbour #Manchester for 2022 Commonwealth Games bid #IAmLiverpool2022 http://www.liverpoolCG22.org.” www.twitter.com/lpoolcouncil

A&E closures

Tell us once

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e must stand against dangerous NHS reforms. I, along with my fellow members of the Southend Independent Association, am increasingly worried about the state of our NHS and we are united in supporting nurses and other staff at Southend General Hospital to fight the proposed changes.

Fighting against A&E closures is nothing new and there are very few areas of public policy that people are so passionate about.

I have had many letters and a petition from hospital staff to fight the proposed move of A&E provision from Southend to Basildon under the argument that the concentration of specialist surgery there would be good for patients.

In reality, we believe this is another cynical and short-sighted NHS cost-cutting proposal by government. Southend is a highly populated conurbation that needs its own A&E, and the extra ambulance journey to Basildon means the potential for this proposal to cost lives is very high.

I will be submitting a petition and motion to the next full council to investigate and fairly inform the people of Southend before the public consultation begins, and would appreciate any insight from other members who have taken similar action. You can email me at cllrdavies@southend.gov.uk Cllr Lawrence Davies (Ind), Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

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ast year around 5,800 recently bereaved West Sussex residents used the free Tell Us Once service to notify multiple government and council agencies about a recorded death from a single point of contact.

Our residents also have access to a more unique service via our coroner’s team. When the cause of death is unknown, it is referred to our coroner but this can take a bit longer to process. In the past this meant that when a death was ‘registered’ it was too late to use the Tell Us Once service.

But with around 3,000 deaths referred to the coroner each year, the team decided to take matters into their own hands and register the deceased’s details onto the Tell Us Once website so families could use it straightaway.

We are one of the few local authorities that offer this special service and it has already made a difference. It can help make a stressful situation that little bit easier.

Tell Us Once notifies organisations including HMRC and DVLA, but also individual county council services including libraries, adult social services, Blue Badge services and concessionary travel. This has meant 9,500 fewer times that

Cllr Jude Deakin (Lib Dem, Chelmsford) “On my way to #BruceGrove #Chelmsford street party #JoCox #MoreInCommon #GreatGetTogether.” www.twitter.com/judedeakin Cllr Alex Scroggie (Lab, Gedling) “So very proud to have voted for the new visitors’ centre. Honouring Gedling past, with a future that everybody can enjoy.” www.twitter.com/alexscroggie Do you have a blog or a Twitter account we should be following?

Let us know. Email first@local.gov.uk

residents have had to contact individual county council departments.

I’m pleased to see so many people in West Sussex continuing to use the service nearly two years after it was first launched here. We want to relieve our residents’ minds of worry at a sensitive time when their thoughts should be with loved ones.

Cllr Debbie Kennard (Con), Cabinet Member for Stronger, Safer Communities, West Sussex County Council

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

Letters may be edited and published online

www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 12:20

features Greater Mancunians The Manchester concert bombing and subsequent attacks have highlighted the critical role of public services

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t’s still very hard to comprehend what happened here in Manchester on Monday 22 May – the day our great city, our young people and their families, became the target of an evil and despicable act of terror.

While we are a city that mourns, we are also a city of solidarity, strength and defiance. These are values that have shone brightly in the immediate aftermath, bringing unity and hope in our time of darkness. From people opening their doors to strangers, to offers of help flooding social media, to the thousands queuing to donate blood, and the millions of pounds donated in just a few hours – Greater Mancunians have sent a message that we stand together.

The role of our public services has, of course, been critical. Our emergency services have been exceptional and we are extremely grateful for their response and the dedication of every public servant following the attack. Emergency services and public bodies robustly plan, prepare and train for atrocities such as this, while hoping that plan will never be needed.

In Manchester, that plan quickly and effectively came into play, both locally and nationally.

However, you can never truly prepare for the human cost and personal impact of an incident like this. Each and every person from across all our public services, whether as first responders, those involved in the investigation,

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Cllr Sir Richard Leese is Leader of Manchester City Council and Andy Burnham is Mayor of Greater Manchester Combined Authority

supporting those affected or leading our resilience and recovery, has shown professionalism, compassion and support for one another. Working in partnership is a phrase often used in the public sector – sometimes without a clear meaning – but, in the aftermath of the attack, public services have pulled together with our communities and voluntary sector.

Together, they have brought a new meaning to partnership working. It’s an approach that has brought reassurance, strength and unity with support from the Greater Manchester family and beyond.

As mayor of the city region and leader of the city council, we have worked together to promote consistent messages of reassurance, defiance and community cohesion. We have both

been overwhelmed by the messages of goodwill from people of all ages and backgrounds. The outpouring of solidarity and support from across the globe has meant so much during these dark and challenging times.

Manchester has shown its strength of spirit. This is what we have held on to – and must continue to hold on to – as we begin to recover and continue to bring our communities together. Once again, that’s where local authorities and the partnerships we have forged over the years come to the fore. Together, we’ve put the needs of the families affected first and foremost, while working with communities to combat hatred and promote cohesion.

We will not allow terrorists and extremists to divide, instil fear or turn communities against one another. The strong bonds that weave throughout our great city, and across Greater Manchester, will not be broken and will grow stronger still. We will continue to stand together.

“In the aftermath of the attack, public services have pulled together with our communities and voluntary sector, and brought a new meaning to partnership working” first features | 7

23/06/2017 13:40

Growing places The LGA will be setting out its vision for building the public services of the future at its annual conference in Birmingham this month

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e are in an unprecedented time for our nation. The coming years will bring some of the biggest changes seen in a generation.

The new Government faces a changed and changing world: the negotiations for Britain’s exit from the European Union; increasing economic challenges and opportunities with the rest of the world; calls for self-funding local services; the growing need for more community cohesion; and an ageing population facing greater care and health needs.

Central government has a vital job to do in ensuring the whole nation benefits from our exit from the European Union. But it is often too distant from local communities to be able to respond to local needs, ambitions and concerns.

As the most trusted part of the public sector, local government at its best provides the strong and ambitious leadership that ensures local places are safe and thriving.

Its cross-party nature also makes it best placed to prioritise people and communities, putting party politics aside.

Councils are at the heart of their local areas. They play a unique leadership role in promoting social mobility, fairness and community cohesion. As place leaders, they are the only agency able to ensure that everyone, wherever they live, has access to the opportunities they deserve and the public services they need.

Only local government really understands its residents and has the local democratic mandate to deliver on all of these

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services. All parts – combined authorities, counties, districts, London boroughs, metropolitans and unitaries – are ambitious; only by working with us will the new Government be able to deal with all of the key issues that will matter most to the people of this country.

The Government has a unique opportunity, once and for all, to recognise that local and national can and must be equal partners that will deliver more than the sum of their parts.

At a point in our nation’s history when the weight of responsibility on the shoulders of central government will be huge, local government will take responsibility to ensure the nation remains fit and well, economically buoyant and continues to thrive. We will

ensure that communities remain resilient and will support the Government’s ambitions for us to take our place in the world.

This is not possible without urgent reform. For the past quarter of a century successive UK governments have attempted, in one form or another, some devolution of political power and control. However, their approach has consistently been characterised by an over-reliance on the machinery of Whitehall.

The recent devolution agenda, while welcome, represents more policy continuity than dynamic change. In an age of devolved powers, we need to define the role of central government and its departments clearly and to reconsider what needs to be done by central government, rather than simply focusing on what powers can be handed to local government. It is clear what is essential to the state – defence, national security, trade negotiations and diplomacy – but all other responsibilities should rest at the most local levels, to promote the most efficient provision of services.

Further devolution and decentralisation is key to improving the wellbeing of our communities and variation is an essential part of getting the best outcomes for them. We need to re-set the old debate about postcode lotteries to focus on how we tailor local solutions to the needs of local communities.

While devolution is already having a positive impact on residents’ lives in some areas, the Government must keep up the

ANDREW BAKER/LGA

LGA annual conference 2017

www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 12:22

This is an edited version of the LGA’s annual conference paper, ‘Growing places: building local public services for the future’, which will be launched in Birmingham on 4 July and available thereafter on our website at www.local.gov.uk

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ANDREW BAKER/LGA

momentum by providing the fiscal levers and flexibility to fundamentally change the way that local government is funded. Devolved powers must also come with devolved fiscal autonomy. Local areas cannot be passed more responsibilities without the appropriate funding, plus the ability to raise and keep more of the money they generate locally.

If local authorities are given freedom and control over their own finances, and the responsibility for growing their local economies, they will be able to take on increasing and enhanced leadership roles for their area. This will ensure there is a local workforce that is skilled for the jobs available to them, representative of the community it serves and with the right type of homes for them in the areas where they want to live.

Ensuring access to services to meet key needs, like homes and jobs, will mean different things in different places. To get the best value for every local pound, local government and health, fire and police authorities must come together to provide a place-based approach to public services, where better data sharing will be critical. This approach will only work if it puts the needs of residents firmly at its core.

There is now a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape and remodel the future of our nation and the future of our public services. We must all – Government, all parts of local government, residents, businesses and other public sector partners – seize this opportunity to think differently about how we serve our residents, how we empower communities and how we ensure that local plans deliver for local people.

Government in all its forms must not be fettered by a lack of ambition.

By doing this we can ensure our residents and their families have access to the best possible opportunities to achieve a healthy, independent and prosperous life.

Local government will bring certainty in an uncertain time.

See you in Birmingham…

The LGA’s annual conference kicks off in Birmingham on 4 July, with a host of speakers from across local and national government, other public services, business and the third sector addressing more than 1,300 delegates.

It’s not too late to book your place, at www.local.gov.uk/conference, where you can also download our conference app. If you’re not able to make it to Birmingham, you can follow events on Twitter using #LGAconf17 or on the LGA website.

In addition to councillors, elected mayors and chief executives from across local government, this year’s conference and fringe speakers also include: • Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (pictured) • Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England • Leanne Wood AM, Leader of Plaid Cymru • Jesse Norman MP, Transport Minister • Ann Widdicombe DSG, Writer and Broadcaster • Andy Street CBE, Mayor of West Midlands Combined Authority • Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Economist of the CBI • Paul Twocock, Director of Campaigns, Policy and Research at Stonewall • Dame Helen Ghosh, Director-General of the National Trust • Alex Fox OBE, Chief Executive of Shared Lives • Valentine Mulholland, Head of Policy at the National Association of Head Teachers • Stella Duffy, Author and Co-Director of Fun Palaces • Casey Bailey, Teacher, Poet and Rapper • Rob Shaw, Interim Chief Executive of NHS Digital • Charlie Parker, Chief Executive of Westminster Council • Joanne Roney OBE, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council • Anita Anand, Broadcaster • Nazir Afzal OBE, Former Chief Prosecutor and Former Chief Executive, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners • Melanie Leech, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation • Terrie Alafat CBE, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing • Tony Pidgley CBE, Chairman of Berkeley Group plc • Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, Chief Executive of Turning Point

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Adult social care

LGA annual conference 2017

Back to the future The LGA’s 20th anniversary is a good time to reflect on past achievements and plan ahead for the future

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n 1997, the LGA was formed in the wellfounded belief that local government is a more powerful advocate for its communities and a stronger partner for government when it speaks with one national voice.

Throughout the last two decades, we have lobbied successive governments, championed council successes, helped drive improvement, shared best practice and supported local authorities through the good times and the bad.

And despite the political and social turbulence of the past 20 years – from the global financial crisis to Brexit – councils and the LGA have continued to champion and defend local communities. Milestones like this are a good time to reflect on past achievements; some of these are featured

here (see right), along with comments from our chairmen, past and present.

But anniversaries are also a good time to look ahead. With Brexit set to dominate the new Government’s agenda, the future must be about finding local solutions to local problems and empowering those who know best what needs to be done. It is councils, as leaders of place, that must be given the power to ensure everyone in our communities has the opportunities they deserve.

So it will be even more important that councils’ voices are heard and that we continue to speak as one. The LGA’s success is rooted in our cross-party membership and in councils’ commitment to do the best for the people they represent and support, and we will continue to work together to bring positive change to our local communities.

“The future must be about finding local solutions to local problems”

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Throughout its history, the LGA has consistently championed the importance of adult social care and the need for sustainable funding allied to meaningful reform.

We’ve given written and oral evidence to numerous parliamentary inquiries; published a range of reports, think pieces and analysis; led high-profile national media work that’s landed on the front page of newspapers and filled the airwaves; and responded to a host of government consultations.

Clearly, there is more to be done. But without doubt, adult social care is on the public, political and media radar like never before.

This has helped us secure wins along the way, not least muchneeded additional funding.

Fire and rescue

Fire and rescue authorities have been at the forefront of investment in fire prevention, protection and early intervention approaches, and in identifying those most at risk.

Campaigns to educate the public about fire risks, such as smoking, along with home fire risk checks, have made a substantial difference.

Between 2004 and 2008 fire and rescue services fitted 2.5 million free smoke alarms in homes.

Combined with regulations, these measures mean that 89 per cent of people have a working smoke alarm compared with 8 per cent in 1987.

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Housing

Until 2012, government operated a system of control over council housing rents called the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy System. Rents were pooled nationally then redistributed through a complex formula, giving government – rather than councils – control over financial decisions. Following lobbying from the LGA, this system was abolished and control of rental income was handed back to stock-owning councils.

Councils have since had local control of rental income, allowing them to plan for long-term investment in the quality of homes and with many taking the opportunity to repair and improve their housing stock after years of underinvestment.

Others have started to build new homes, although restrictions still apply through a central government cap on borrowing and annual rent reductions.

Children’s services and schools

In the March 2016 Budget, the Government announced that all 18,000 council-maintained schools would be forced to become academies by 2022. This would have seen the end of the council role in maintaining and improving local schools and the transfer of large tracts of council-owned school land to Whitehall.

The LGA responded with a high-profile campaign opposing both forced academisation and the transfer of significant powers to civil servants. We lobbied MPs, highlighting the £400 million cost to councils, and published research showing the excellent academic record of council-maintained schools. The plans were dropped seven months later.

We have also worked with parliamentarians and government to overturn legislation that would have significantly weakened local authority powers in relation to the care of vulnerable children, ensuring decisions remained with local councils who know them best. For example, in 2013, we saw off proposals to remove all local authorities from adopter recruitment and assessment. In 2016, we challenged provisions allowing the Secretary of State to relax or amend children’s social care legislation in a local authority in intervention without local consultation or consent.

View from the top The LGA has been led by seven chairmen over the last 20 years, and five will be attending the organisation’s annual conference in Birmingham from 4-6 July.

To book your place, visit www.local.gov.uk/conference Lord Jeremy Beecham (Lab, Newcastle), 1997-2004

“The LGA under differing leadership has succeeded in engaging government and influencing public debate much more effectively than before.”

Baroness Margaret Eaton (Con, Bradford), 2008-2011

“I’m proud that we led the way on the localist thinking that now dominates political discourse, we took on the Icelandic banks and won, and we have enhanced the reputation of councils by visibly and tirelessly celebrating their work on behalf of local residents.”

Sir Merrick Cockell (Con, Kensington and Chelsea), 2011-2014

“The golden thread that continues is a confidence that we are stronger together, how acting collectively we can achieve so much more and that we are not the delivery agents of national government. Rather, we are local government with equal stress on both words.”

Cllr David Sparks (Lab, Dudley), 2014-2015

Funding and financial governance

In October 2008, four Icelandic banks crashed, putting at risk over a billion pounds deposited by more than 100 English, Scottish and Welsh councils. The LGA coordinated recovery efforts by bringing together the affected authorities, commissioning joint legal representation in the UK and Iceland, and providing intensive support to efforts to recover the deposits over several years. Almost all the money was returned to councils.

The LGA has continuously argued the case for more financial autonomy for local authorities. With few exceptions, grant ring-fences – and the associated costs of reporting and administration – are now a thing of the past. Councils no longer have to seek government approval to borrow for capital projects (except housing), as long as they can support the cost of doing so.

And, since April 2013, half of business rates income has been kept collectively

by English local government, reducing dependence on government grants and providing a new way to increase the funding available to deliver local services.

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“The most significant achievement of the LGA to me has been the creation of a really effective lobbying machine. Before, local government was split between different bodies representing separate sectional interests. We rarely spoke with one voice and were rarely on the news. Now the LGA is not just on the news, but frequently determines that news.”

Lord Porter (Con, South Holland), 2015-present

“It’s important that the whole sector sticks together. Your mum, your dad, your grandad, they’re in a better position now than they would have been if we hadn’t kept everyone together.”

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23/06/2017 12:23

LGA Annual Conference ENGIE Learning Zone Birmingham ICC | 4-6 July 2017 Stand A31

ENGIE is a leading energy and services group employing 20,000 people in the UK across three main activities: Regeneration, Services and Energy.

Please join us at Stand A31 for a series of bite size sessions focused on how you can deliver sustainable growth for your communities on Tuesday 4 July and Wednesday 5 July. Each session will be 20 minutes with an opportunity for Q&A and light refreshments available on the stand.

Throughout the exhibition, you can also discover the future of the connected home with ENGIE’s virtual reality experience in between the learning zone sessions.

10:00 Reducing cost and improving efficiencies in customer services Martin Ruane, Programme Director, ENGIE

14:00 Solutions for improving air quality through green mobility in cities and communities Robin Heap, Commercial Manager, ENGIE

10:45 An integrated model for property and energy: The management of demand and supply Colin Macpherson, Business Development Director, ENGIE Gordon Sheret, Managing Director, ENGIE

11:30 Residential Energy Solutions: Costeffective, sustainable solutions for residential communities Simon Kendrew, Head of Sales and Marketing Home Energy, ENGIE

12:15 Energy management: Identifying energy and cost-saving opportunities Gareth Sutcliffe, Sales Manager, ENGIE

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15:00 Delivering Local Authority financial and economic growth through regeneration and placemaking Ben Denton, Strategy & Business Development Director, Keepmoat Regeneration

16:00 District Energy: Powering cities and communities with low carbon sustainable energy (including a tour of the district energy centre at the ICC) Sam Clarke, Head of Energy Partnerships, Midlands, Urban Energy, ENGIE

REGISTER TODAY: citiesengie.eventbrite.com

23/06/2017 12:24

ANDREW BAKER/LGA

LGA annual conference 2017

Creative and positive disruption The LGA’s Innovation Zone remains one of the most popular parts of its annual conference, showcasing how councils are doing things differently to improve the lives of local residents

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he theme of this year’s Innovation Zone, at the LGA’s annual conference in Birmingham from 4-6 July, is ‘disruption’ – doing things differently – from questioning the status quo, removing barriers and exploring limitless possibilities to taking bold steps to achieve better results.

Sponsored by Newton Europe, and now in its fifth year, the zone will host another vibrant, creative space and programme to showcase and discuss innovative ideas and ways of improving a range of council services and residents’ lives.

Among the highlights, Cllr Richard Blunt,

Leader of North West Leicestershire District Council, will talk about their 10-year journey transforming the design quality of new homes. The authority is now recognised as one of the leading authorities for the quality of its new housing developments.

Stella Duffy, Co-Director of Fun Palaces, which campaigns for culture and for community to be at the heart of it, will be providing a hands-on taster of how they support local communities to create and curate their own local events, using culture, arts, science, technology, digital, crafts, and sport as catalysts for community engagement.

Liverpool City Council’s pilot work

with the LGA and the Cabinet Office Behavioural Insight Team on tackling obesity – by encouraging the purchase of lower sugar drinks and highlighting the amount of sugar in branded drinks and breakfast cereals – will be presented by Sue Cumming, Head of Behavioural Insight and Change at the council.

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service is working with Hull Clinical Commissioning Group, and others, to advance community safety and wellbeing through integration.

Station Manager Matthew Sutcliffe will be discussing how they are building a fire station and integrated care centre on the same site, to integrate their workforces further and promote their ‘safe and well’ agenda.

Paul Thomas, Executive Manager Development and Growth at South Kesteven District Council, will talk about its unique approach to strategy development, which aims to turn problems into opportunities; better understand who needs to be involved, when and why; ensure projects are properly resourced and supported; and deliver early results.

Visitors to the Innovation Zone can also join Caroline Adlem, Head of Traded Development at Essex County Council, for an interactive, engaging card game developed to help stimulate challenging conversations about where the public sector could, or should, be investing.

And Jim Taylor, Chief Executive of Salford City Council, will be talking about the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s review of children’s services – a high priority following devolution. They are looking at innovative proposals to respond to complex safeguarding, edge of care, early help and early years work, and an approach to Greater Manchester-wide quality assurance.

Finally, senior members of the Mayor of Boston’s New Urban Mechanics team will be showcasing how they are making civic life more meaningful for more people, by piloting experiments that aim to improve the quality of life for Boston’s residents – from encouraging safer driving to engaging people in urban housing.

To view the full programme for the zone, please visit www.local.gov.uk/conference and click on ‘Innovation Zone’. The LGA also has a collection of more than 1,000 case studies of council good practice and innovation, available at www.local.gov.uk/case-studies. You can put forward your own council’s innovations for inclusion, by emailing webmaster@local.gov.uk

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23/06/2017 12:24

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT EVENT OF THE YEAR

LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition 2018 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, BIRMINGHAM 3-5 JULY 2018 @LGAComms | #LGAconf18 www.local.gov.uk/conference Sponsorship opportunities available, please contact: amanda.spicer@local.gov.uk

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09/06/2017 10:27 www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 12:24

From suffrage to citizenship The centenary of ‘Votes for Women’ offers an opportunity to highlight women who used their new political voice to improve their local communities

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he 1918 Representation of the People Act ensured more women could vote in local elections and stand as candidates; enabled women to stand for Parliament; and granted those over 30 the right to vote in parliamentary elections.

When local elections resumed after the Great War, women candidates appeared in many towns and cities. The November 1919 elections saw 243 women candidates in London alone, with 128 elected.

But nearly 100 years later, women’s participation in public life still needs to grow. Recent research published by the Fawcett Society (see first 612) includes some frustrating statistics: for example, the proportion of women councillors remains stagnant at around a third in England and fewer in Wales.

So while the anniversary of ‘Votes for Women’ will be celebrated in many ways next year, our aim is to inspire a new wave of women to stand for election.

A new era started for women in 1918, not just because legislation opened doors, but because rebuilding the nation increased the State’s interest in domestic life.

Women had been co-opted onto local

committees to feed the nation during the war.

Over the next decade they led campaigns for sensible housing design in their new council estates, demanded birth control clinics, opened nursery schools and joined infant welfare committees.

By the late 1940s, women made up around a quarter of all magistrates. Outside the unitary-style county boroughs, a small number made their way onto county councils.

Some were already established as poor law guardians, parish councillors or co-opted onto education committees.

These local community activists didn’t suddenly appear in 1918. A significant number of them joined local campaigns for ‘Votes for Women’ and then made use of the new opportunities they helped to create. Some were militant suffragettes, others worked peacefully to persuade their neighbours that women were entitled to a parliamentary vote and then set up local groups to encourage women’s participation in citizenship.

So who were they? Why do they remain hidden from our history? Can you name the local women pioneers in your town?

In 1907, the Women’s Local Government Society campaigned to ensure some women could stand as council candidates

Cllr Lesley Clarke OBE is Chairman of the Women’s Local Government Society

everywhere in 1907. The revived crossparty group has joined forces with the LGA, the National Association of Civic Officers and others to ensure celebrations of the 1918 suffrage legislation recognise local citizenship as well as the representation of women in Parliament.

That is why we are asking all councils to appoint a champion to help lead local celebrations and activity. Our ‘Suffrage to Citizenship’ project – which counts LGA Chairman Lord Porter as one of its patrons – aims to engage with councils, communities, and schools to identify and celebrate the lives of ordinary people who did extraordinary things to win the vote for women; and who then went on to use their new political voice to improve things in their communities.

These include women like Hannah Mitchell, born on an isolated Derbyshire farm and with little schooling, who toured northern towns lobbying for the women’s vote, and who then joined Manchester council, where public wash-houses for local communities were a proud achievement. Others include Phoebe Cusden, from Reading, founder of the Nursery Schools Association, and Liberal Margaret Tabor, co-opted onto Essex County Council’s education committee, then elected.

We want to collect brief biographies of 100 pioneers by October this year, and there will be a London-based celebration in 2018.

But it is the leadership councils can give to celebrate pioneers locally that is really important, uncovering history to help us inspire the next generation of local activists to bring about equal gender representation.

See www.suffrage-pioneers.net for more information. Councillor champions willing to lead local projects should contact wlgs2018@ gmail.com. You can meet the project team at Stand D4 at the LGA’s annual conference from 4-6 July in Birmingham. And you can join the discussion at the WLGS’s AGM at 1pm on Wednesday 5 July at the Library of Birmingham

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23/06/2017 12:24

interview Making localism work Brexit provides an opportunity for UK councils to establish the principle with central government that things are best done locally, says Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS)

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orway has twice rejected joining the European Union, most recently – and closely – in a referendum in 1994.

But it is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), giving it access to the EU’s single market in exchange for free movement of goods, people, services and capital. Norway participates in around three-quarters of the EU’s activities and a third of Norwegian legislation has been amended as a result of the EEA agreement. Furthermore, Norway has participation rights (except voting rights) in several EU programmes.

EU directives “do have an impact on the local and regional level”, says Gunn Marit Helgesen, President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS).

“It is very important to have access to the European market, to European projects and European money, we do have a lot of programmes with member states and I think it is very important to take part in European operations,” she says.

“For us it is important, even though we are not a member, to link and connect with Europe as much as we can.”

But for her, the key issue is maintaining and defending the localist principles on which both central and local government in Norway largely agree. Brexit, she feels, provides an opportunity for local government in the UK to fight for and establish the same principles.

“In the UK, you are in a new position (as a result of Brexit), and you have to discuss how to share responsibility and power between local, regional and national levels.

You need to be very strong and try to tell central government, ‘if you want equality and new services, you need to put more powers and the responsibility at local level because that’s the best way of doing it’.”

The LGA has been lobbying for greater devolution of powers and responsibilities to local government for years, and Norway has the same discussions about centralisation and decentralisation, says Ms Helgesen.

“We are very much agreed about the principles: all municipalities have the same responsibilities, the same powers – we call it the generalist principle; and the subsidiarity principle – that we should take the decisions as close as possible to the citizens.

“We have formal consultations three or four times a year, or more, with the government to discuss all the issues that are related to the municipalities and counties. We discuss the economy and what is needed to give the best services for our citizens.

“These consultations are very important because then we can also monitor, and inform the government that ‘you are talking about decentralisation, you are talking about power at the local level but what www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 12:25

“For us it is important, even though we are not a member, to link and connect with Europe as much as we can�

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you have done in the parliament or in the government is the opposite’.

“Even though we have government and politicians that would like to take even more decisions on behalf of the local level, we have this monitoring and therefore this ability to argue, ‘this is not in the citizens’ interest if you continue like this’.”

She adds: “Overall, we (central and local government) do agree upon the principles.

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But even then we need to remind them that this is the best way of solving problems or getting the best solutions. I think this trust between national and local level in Norway is perhaps unique – it’s why we are pretty successful at this level, because we have this trust and we all want the best services for our citizens.

“So my best advice for local government in the UK is that you have to fight for these common principles and then central government has to give trust and responsibility to the local and regional level.”

That trust between national and local government in Norway is being put to the test, with proposals to reduce the number of councils due to come into effect by 2020.

Norway has 19 regions or counties, and 428 municipalities serving a population of just over five million. There are also big differences in the population size of the municipalities, which range from 215 in the smallest to around 700,000 in the capital Oslo – but all have the same responsibilities and services to deliver. If an individual council is unable to deliver these services alone, it works with other municipalities.

The parliament has now decided to reduce the 19 regions to 11, and the number of municipalities to 354, “in order to make them stronger and more sustainable for the future”, says Ms Helgesen.

Her organisation and its member councils have been closely involved in the process, and all municipalities have been able to choose which other municipalities they want to group with –

as few as 10 have been forced together rather than voluntarily.

“It has been a very strong, local process with some directives from the government,” she adds.

Asked what the KS’s priorities are, Ms Helgesen responds “everything, almost”.

“We have a part in every sector in Norway. The municipalities have responsibility for healthcare, the elderly, kindergarten, the school system, the roads… so we do discuss everything with the government, from the economic framework to the law to directives coming from central government, to the health system, reforms in the health system, if we need to increase the maintenance of the roads, education at every level…”

Other responsibilities include public health, children’s services (where there are some concerns about the quality of provision in some areas), and economic and business development.

As in the UK, the impact of an ageing population on services is a key concern.

However, social care is free, and paid for via the tax system, not insurance schemes, with services provided locally by councils.

“Central government pays the municipalities to deliver these services, but we discuss actually if we have enough people to provide services, because as we live longer we need more help so we can live a normal life,” says Ms Helgesen.

“We also discuss technology a lot – how to improve and use technology to secure and gain good services.”

In Norway, the state collects all taxes – local, regional and national – and redistributes it back to the municipalities to pay for local services. Funding is distributed based on population and needs, using criteria such as the number of residents, how many children are in school and the number of elderly people, for example.

Effectively, councils don’t raise any of their own income, but receive a third of the national budget. And, as with service issues, the KS discusses funding and the real costs of delivering services regularly with government.

Do the KS’s members feel they receive sufficient funding to deliver all their responsibilities well?

“I think the answer is yes and no,” says Ms Helgesen.

“Some people say we never get enough, there are huge responsibilities; but I think we have a fair discussion and a fair distribution of funding.” www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 12:25

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23/06/2017 12:25

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Join us at LGA Conference at stand A6 to take a virtual reality tour through our UK supply chain and find out how we invest and work in your community.

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Delivering Home Ownership Through Rent to Buy Rentplus is the leading provider of affordable rent-to-buy housing on new developments to support aspirant renting households who dream of owning their home by helping them to rent, save and buy a Rentplus home with a 10% gifted deposit.

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www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 12:25

comment The challenge of social care Steve Thomas CBE is Chief Executive of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)

Emerging from the fallout of the general and local elections, elected members in Wales find themselves having to get to grips with piecing together an unenviable puzzle: how to provide important, highquality public services, with rapidly shrinking budgets, within a political and administrative landscape in near-complete constitutional flux?

Local government is a devolved matter in Wales and, as outlined in recently published wide-ranging proposals for reform, the Welsh Government is keen for local government as a whole to work together to help solve the puzzle.

Councillors in Wales are no strangers to regional working; education consortia, safeguarding boards and joint economic development arrangements are just some examples of how local authorities have sought to benefit from a degree of coordination and a wider perspective in relevant matters.

But there remain significant questions about what such prospective mandatory obligations might mean for local accountability and democracy. How will the various regional footprints be coordinated and managed? What functions will such joint service models have?

And who will ultimately carry the can for policy decisions agreed on a regional level?

Though Welsh local government is broadly supportive of the general move to a more regional way of working, the WLGA will

continue to make the case strongly to the Welsh Government for funding, statutory duties, and scrutiny and accountability to remain with the 22 local authorities at a local level. The WLGA is, and always has been, unequivocal in its commitment to maintain clear local accountability and local democracy, and this guiding principle will inform the WLGA’s response in discussions on any constitutional changes to local government.

But while those discussions are looking to the future, there are serious challenges in the here and now that require urgent solutions.

Not least of these challenges is social care.

A radical approach to health and social care integration is needed in Wales, and local government must be at the heart of this. Our councils hold many levers for improving community wellbeing. To wield them effectively we must break down barriers and invest new monies in preventative services.

Now is the time to invest. Rapid demographic change, rising demand and significantly reduced budgets are all placing our health and social care services under significant pressure.

The Health Foundation, an independent charity, has recently estimated that social care costs in Wales will double over the next 15 years, yet authorities have seen budgets reduced to their 2004 levels.

Mention the phrase, ‘more investment in preventative services’, and everyone signs up in theory but, in practice, we are witnessing the inexorable decline of community centres, public toilets, leisure facilities, libraries and the infrastructure of community support.

Reversing this trend makes sense in terms of the wellbeing of our communities and taking pressure off NHS budgets. Despite huge cuts, local councils are well placed to deliver Wales’ social care and public health services.

With significant investment from Welsh Government, the local government sector could provide innovative responses to the challenges in delivering social care.

These are exceptionally testing times for public services in Wales. It now falls to councillors to work together with politicians at all levels to piece the puzzle together and to make sense of a distinctly different picture of local government in the future.

For more on the WLGA, please visit www.wlga.gov.uk

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23/06/2017 12:26

group leaders’ comments Making local government heard nationally

“It is clear that there are people who want to harm us but clearer still is the outpouring of unity and resilience”

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n behalf of the LGA’s Labour Group, I express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the horrific fire at Grenfell Tower.

It is a tragedy on an unimaginable scale and, in the coming weeks and months, serious answers must be had as to how something of this scale could happen in 2017 and why residents’ concerns about the safety of the building were not listened to sooner.

Our thoughts are also with those affected by the atrocities that took place in Manchester, London Bridge and Finsbury Park. It is clear that there are people who want to do us harm but clearer still is the outpouring of unity and

resilience that people around the country have shown during these testing times.

Labour councils will continue to work with the Government, city mayors and our emergency services in the months ahead.

These events have overshadowed the outcome of a snap General Election that saw a weakened Conservative Government return to power – the result taking most of us by surprise.

Our communities have spoken, they have shown that this Government cannot take them for granted and that they will vote on the issues that matter to them.

I offer my congratulations to the many

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

newly elected Labour MPs, many of whom have a local government background. They will no doubt support the tireless work that Labour councils and councillors continue to do and we look forward to working with them on the issues that matter.

Over the past eight weeks, we have seen the volatility of politics play out. To most of us, these last few weeks have felt like a lifetime and the results were very different from the local elections that took place not long before. I look forward to working with you all to make sure the voice of local government continues to be heard on a national scale.

chairman’s comment

Partners in public service

Lord Porter is Chairman of the LGA

J

ust after last month’s first went to press, 22 people, including children, were killed in the bomb attack at a pop concert in Manchester. Since then, we have seen further fatal attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market, and at Finsbury Park in London.

On behalf of local government, I want to express my condolences to everyone affected by these awful events.

I also want to pay tribute to the immense bravery of all the emergency services, and to the hard work of councils in supporting their local communities – work that will continue long after the police investigations into these acts of terrorism have ended.

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The courage and resolve of our fire and rescue and other emergency services were further tested in the horror of the Grenfell Tower fire, and all our thoughts remain with the victims and their families, following this dreadful disaster.

It is at times like these that we are reminded of the true value of both public service and our public servants, and the importance of us all working together in partnership.

It may not feel right at this sombre time, but it is also important that we continue the political processes that underpin our democracy and our shared values.

That means responding to a surprise General Election result, the new Government’s Queen’s Speech and the Brexit negotiations, and making the most of the opportunities to

discuss these and other issues affecting local government and local people at the LGA’s annual conference in Birmingham (4-6 July).

There is no doubt that recent events will throw a shadow over conference proceedings – and so they should. But I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Birmingham.

Please take the time to read our recently published report, ‘LGA in Parliament 2016/17’ (see www.local. gov.uk/parliament), which sets out our work on improving legislation over the last parliamentary session. The next session looks set to prove just as challenging, and we will continue to need to speak with one voice to protect local services.

“All our thoughts remain with the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, following this dreadful disaster” www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 12:26

Democrat Group

Cllr Ron Woodley is Independent Group Deputy Chair on the LGA’s Improvement and Innovation Board

Cllr Colin Noble is Acting LGA Deputy Chairman

Mayor Baroness Dorothy Thornhill is Deputy Leader of the LGA’s Liberal Democrat Group

Positive appointments in election reshuffle

Keeping the focus on funding and social care

Opportunities in hung Parliament

“We have worked closely with Sajid, particularly in relation to social care funding”

“Our role is to ensure the needs of local communities are not lost”

F

T

“A hung Parliament gives us the chance to raise key issues of concern to local government”

ollowing the post-election reshuffle, the LGA’s Conservative Group is delighted that Sajid Javid has been reappointed as the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

We have worked closely with Sajid on a range of issues over the past year, particularly in relation to the funding of social care, culminating in the announcement in the Budget of an extra £2 billion in funding for social care over the next three years.

Over the past year, we also worked closely with Gavin Barwell in relation to the Housing White Paper, which contained many welcome proposals.

While we were sorry that Gavin lost his seat at the General Election, we were delighted that he was almost immediately appointed as the Prime Minister’s new Chief of Staff.

It is very encouraging that someone with a background in local government, and with whom we have a strong and established relationship, has been appointed to such an important position. We look forward to continuing to work with Gavin in his new role.

We welcome Alok Sharma as the new Housing Minister, congratulate Marcus Jones and Lord Bourne on their reappointments, welcome Jake Berry as the new Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and wish Andrew Percy all the best following his departure.

We look forward to working closely with Sajid and his ministerial team over the coming year.

he General Election was called to ‘increase stability’ yet resulted in a weakened Conservative government propped up by the DUP. The impact of this is still unclear but we know Brexit will be the overriding priority and, with such a small majority, other policy changes will be fewer. With so many critical factors to address, it is a shame that party politics cannot be put aside and consensus brought to the fore, in the way Independents have worked for years.

Our role as LGA members is critical to ensure the needs of local communities are not lost. While ministers focus elsewhere, we can offer the leadership needed to see through the changes required and must maintain pressure on government commitments around funding, housing and social care.

It’s useful, then, that the LGA’s annual conference is taking place soon (4-6 July), giving members a timely opportunity to come together and directly influence ministers.

Along with the main conference and Innovation Zone, there will be memberonly group events. Our AGM and plenary on housing will allow us to debate key issues; a workshop on social media will equip us to engage residents; while key speeches from Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood and former Independent MP Martin Bell will profile the unique role group members play in effecting change.

I look forward to seeing you there and discussing our priorities for the year ahead.

W

e live in an age of electoral unpredictability. When Theresa May called this election very few people thought there would be a hung Parliament!

For the Liberal Democrats, it was a night of mixed fortunes. We gained four seats compared with 2015, and came very close to winning more. My commiserations to those excellent candidates who didn’t make it this time round.

The new Commons team includes MPs we worked with in the 2010-2015 Parliament, such as Vince Cable, Jo Swinson, Ed Davey and Stephen Lloyd, who has an excellent track record in working with his local Liberal Democrat council in Eastbourne.

They are joined by new MPs including Wera Hobhouse in Bath, and Jamie Stone, both former councillors, alongside those who have been successfully returned to the Commons, including Norman Lamb.

A hung Parliament gives us as Liberal Democrats the chance to raise key issues of concern to local government.

This includes the adult social care funding gap, forecast by the LGA to reach £2.3 billion by the end of the decade. Social housing for rent and affordable housing is a key area of concern. In addition, the Government must also revisit what it plans to do on schools funding. No school should lose out.

Let’s work together in local government to make the most of these new opportunities.

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

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23/06/2017 12:26

Raising productivity – a job for councils As an economist, I was naturally disappointed by how little the economy featured in political debate before the General Election. At a time of poor wage growth and rising inflation, it’s vital that it returns to the top of the agenda.

Nationally, the UK government must create stability and prioritise people, trade and jobs in the EU negotiations.

And, in the absence of clarity on the future for devolution, local authority leaders and elected mayors can still play their part by partnering businesses in their area to pursue

“Productivity helps people out of poverty and pays for public services”

Rain Newton-Smith is the CBI’s Chief Economist

productivity – enhancing measures on skills, infrastructure and innovation.

Let’s not forget why productivity matters.

It helps people out of poverty, pays for public services and is the only sustainable route to higher wages, and therefore better living standards.

Anecdotally, we know that parts of the country perform better than others – and we see that reflected in house prices, jobs and wages. In fact, the most productive area of the UK is now almost three times that of the least.

But nine out of ten UK cities perform below the

European average, and more than half are in the continent’s bottom 25 per cent.

Businesses can provide some of the answers. CBI research has identified four main drivers of productivity. Unsurprisingly, those with the greatest impact are education and skills, local transport links, better management practices and firms that export also playing a role.

The CBI has produced regional growth score cards – interactive maps – to help local policymakers from Cornwall to Caithness to identify productivity improvements.

To check how your area compares with others across the UK visit www.cbi.org.uk/ insight-and-analysis/regional-growthscorecards/ By working in partnership at both national and local level, business and political leaders can help ensure prosperity is shared more equally across all nations and regions of the UK.

Parks: a public benefit Dame Helen Ghosh is Director-General of the National Trust

Parks matter to people.

When Octavia Hill and her colleagues founded the National Trust in 1895, they were driven primarily by a deep-seated belief in the importance of preserving green spaces, “open air sitting rooms” as Octavia put it, for the urban masses.

While the trust subsequently expanded its activities in response to the conservation needs of the time – whether threats to country houses, coastline or industrial archaeology – we have never forgotten our origins.

Our strategy, ‘Playing our part’, sets out what

we think are the biggest challenges the nation faces in the 21st century, and the future of local parks and their associated heritage is unquestionably one of them.

Every councillor knows that communities love their local parks and heritage. These places are essential infrastructure for the health, resilience and economic success of our towns and cities.

Last year, we developed, with Vivid Economics, the first set of natural capital accounts for a green space portfolio in a major city. The accounts showed that every £1 spent on their urban parks generated around £36 of

“Every councillor knows that communities love their local parks”

public benefit. That’s an incredible return on investment.

But we’ve entered a new era of public sector austerity and we recognise the challenges local authorities are facing. With ‘non-essential’ services like parks and heritage bearing the brunt of cuts, innovative solutions are needed and we believe the trust can play a part in finding these.

The trust is working with partners from local authorities, national agencies, charities and communities to identify how they could make a transformational change to the way local parks and associated heritage are funded and managed.

We’re already seeing positive results and we’ll continue to share our learning, but it needs collective drive and ambition to take this forward. We share the same goal and now is the time for the voluntary, public and private sectors to work together to find new solutions that bring out the best in every place.

Rain Newton-Smith and Dame Helen Ghosh are speaking at the LGA’s annual conference in Birmingham from 4-6 July, on different perspectives on the future of local government. See www.local.gov.uk/conference for more information.

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www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 13:39

Canal connections Richard Parry is Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust

As we welcome the LGA’s annual conference to Birmingham – Britain’s unofficial ‘canal capital’ – it’s timely to reflect on the role of our waterways today, and on their value to local government’s core business and to local communities’ wellbeing.

The transformation of docks, canals and river navigations over recent decades is a powerful symbol of the renaissance taking place in post-industrial towns and cities across Britain.

Once seen as a national disgrace, our waterways are now a national treasure. They’re among the most sought-after places to live, work, relax and invest for urban and rural communities across the UK. The Canal & River Trust was created five years ago as guardian of 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales. Our vision is for living waterways that transform places and enrich lives. To achieve this, we want to release our canals’ and rivers’ potential as catalysts again – especially in those areas that need it most.

We’re proud to play our part as a partner

and enabler, working with local authorities of all types across the country, on regeneration, public realm, connectivity, health, environment, heritage and the local and visitor economy, as well as engagement in shaping and delivering strategic plans. Examples are many and varied.

In Birmingham, we’re working with the city council to realise the potential of waterways to connect communities, workplaces and amenities, and improve health and wellbeing, with £14 million being invested in raising the quality of 54 kilometres of towpath.

Around Bath, the Waterspace project, led

by Bath and North East Somerset Council and winner of a Royal Town Planning Institute Award for Planning Excellence, will encourage waterway spaces’ development across the area.

In North East Wales, we’re working with local authorities and other partners to optimise the potential of the unique Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site, with joint master planning for the future under way.

In Nottingham, we’re part of the strategic group delivering the Nottingham Heritage strategy, with investment in the fabric, engagement with communities, and our waterway and built heritage now becoming

“Once seen as a national disgrace, our waterways are now a national treasure”

part of the conversation with developers master planning major city centre sites.

In Leicester, a partnership with the city council and the Environment Agency is applying £7.5 million to developing waterside access and environmental improvements to the Grand Union Canal and River Soar corridor, improving amenities, and turning people towards – rather than away from – the water.

The South West Worcestershire Arts Ring Partnership is delivering arts pieces, including floating bandstands and a social history project, across Worcestershire’s waterways. Partners include Worcestershire County Council, Wychavon District Council, Worcester City Council and the Arts Council.

We’ve examples, large and small, practical and strategic, of joint delivery with local authorities across the country. There’s huge potential to do more together, when partnership is pivotal to securing scarce funds and public support, to improve access, health, places and connectivity. We want to increase community engagement with waterways, to build pride in, and ownership of, these precious spaces. We seek to connect rivers and canals – and all the heritage, leisure, environmental and economic assets they represent – with the communities around them.

Two centuries ago, our waterways transformed Britain, connecting towns and cities, carrying goods, ideas and people to new places, and opening the interior of the country to the world. Today, they’re still connecting people and places; and they’re helping create healthier and stronger communities and places, through excellent partnership working on shared goals.

The LGA’s annual conference takes place in Birmingham from 4-6 July, see www.local. gov.uk/conference for more information. The Canal & River Trust (www.canalrivertrust.org. uk) will have a boat moored at conference, and is holding a fringe reception and discussion panel on 4 July

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23/06/2017 12:27

Stop cutting and start growing success Cllr Simon Blackburn (Lab) is Executive Leader of Blackpool Council

Since becoming council leader in 2011, I haven’t known a year so far where we have not been faced with making multi-million pound cuts to our vital services, or raising council tax bills for families who can only just afford them as it is.

As virtually all of you will know, that is a horrible position to be in. Sitting in front of a spreadsheet essentially deciding which families’ lives will be made harder is not something any of us came into local government for.

Over the last six years, families in Blackpool have suffered from the largest cuts per head in the country and where possible we have tried – and succeeded – in protecting them from the worst of it. While we don’t yet know how the new Government will approach austerity and local government funding, it is still vitally important that we are able to raise enough money ourselves to stand on our own two feet. If the last seven years have taught us anything, it is that central government funding is not reliable.

The only way we can be self-sustaining

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is by being bold. In my latest budget, I announced a £100 million Blackpool loan fund, which will be available to private businesses locally, to help them expand and take on more employees. The businesses will pay back the loans with interest, helping our budgetary position, while jobs will be created, helping the town as a whole.

By making these loans available in Blackpool, we are investing in our local businesses and our own people. As a council, we have the ability to borrow money at a lower interest rate than most others, which can then be lent out to support our companies to build, grow and hire.

Each of the loans will be rigorously assessed, with businesses double-checked to ensure that the principal and interest can be repaid. But our approach from the outset is that by investing and believing in our area’s firms, we can create growth in our local economy, getting more people back into work and making Blackpool a more economically prosperous town.

The fund is just part of our new strategy to attract economic investment in the town,

as the revaluation of business rates has also made Blackpool a big winner. By tying together our cheap business rates and the new loan fund, alongside our new, state-ofthe-art conference centre – which is being developed as I write – and a vastly improved hotel accommodation sector, the incentive for big business to relocate to the resort is huge, which is extremely good news for local entrepreneurs, local job seekers and, in turn, for the council.

Taking this approach is bold, but it is also extremely exciting. Blackpool’s reputation was built on bold thinking and our plan to foster growth is something that will become one of the biggest economic drivers this town has seen in decades. We are not the only council to have taken such a step – but those still considering the idea should act quickly, before lobbying from more profitorientated traditional lenders and parts of the private sector persuade Westminster or Whitehall to close off this particular avenue of economic self-sufficiency, despite its demonstrable benefits.

This is the Blackpool approach; there are many others, but all aim to create growth in our local economies, which will help the local people we represent to access better jobs, while also putting the finances of our towns and cities in better health for whatever challenges the future holds for us.

“We have the ability to borrow money at a lower interest rate, which can then be lent out to support our companies to build, grow and hire”

www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 12:27

Scrutinising rural health Cllr Jim Clark (Con) is Chairman of North Yorkshire County Council’s Scrutiny of Health Committee and Kerry Booth is Assistant Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network

Imagine the scene. You are 41 weeks pregnant, in labour and need to get to your nearest consultant-led maternity unit urgently. You live in London and jump into your car for the speedy 60-mile journey… to Cambridge, as there are no local facilities that can help you.

For those living in rural England, this kind of experience could soon be reality if, for example, specialised maternity services are centralised.

The NHS is starting to creak, and something has to be done to ensure it can continue.

But what must not get lost in debates about sustainable transformation partnerships (STPs) and GP opening hours is that wherever you choose to live in this country, you deserve fair access to healthcare. And fair access to health care requires professionals available to deliver services.

This is why the Rural Services Network, and some of our member councils, have been working together to scrutinise health issues in rural areas, including recruitment issues.

Smaller GP surgeries, such as those you tend to find in rural areas, are less resilient to changes in staffing. Areas have reported that recruitment can take longer than before, with smaller pools

of candidates to draw on. A 2015 British Medical Association survey highlighted that a third of GPs planned to retire in the next five years, which could leave rural surgeries at risk of not having enough staff to open the doors.

One answer is to merge surgeries to make them more resilient, but this can result in longer journeys to access healthcare. Just over half (56 per cent) of rural households are counted as having ‘reasonable access’ to a GP surgery by public transport or walking, implying that the other 44 per cent do not. Poor public transport links

“Wherever you choose to live in this country, you deserve fair access to healthcare” may mean that people choose not to attend the surgery for routine issues because of the effort involved in physically attending, which may result in conditions being left untreated or worsening.

Rural areas also have a larger and increasing percentage of residents aged 65-plus, putting increased pressure on health services. Member council concerns have increased around the difficulties of securing

care packages for very isolated rural residents to enable their discharge from hospital; the qualitative implications of cost cutting in care homes; and the expectation that the voluntary sector will do more and more despite their own grants being slashed.

Significant travel times for health professionals, from care workers to GPs making home visits in rural areas, also have a negative impact on health budgets.

For local authorities trying to carry out health scrutiny, the current landscape can prove difficult to navigate effectively. Some rural councils are contributing to several STPs operating in their area, and are concerned that funding is being drawn out of their areas to be centralised in more urban centres.

The future may well be the delivery of specialist services in larger urban centres, but this cannot be at the expense of community services – which are proven to save money, enable people to live in their own homes for longer and to reduce the burden on A&E, hospitals and GPs. The challenge remains one of meeting the health needs of people living in rural and sparsely populated areas through new ways of working that utilise a broad base of community health and social care services and providers.

At the Rural Services Network we ask that all healthcare decision-makers – whether they be social services departments, GP surgeries, or clinical commissioning groups – consider their rural populations to ensure that fair access to healthcare remains a reality for all.

The Rural Services Network (www.rsnonline.org.uk), an LGA special interest group, is the national champion for rural services, ensuring that people in rural areas have a strong voice

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23/06/2017 12:27

parliament The Queen’s Speech

Brexit dominates the Government’s proposed legislative programme for the next two years, with eight of the 27 bills listed. But it was what was missing from the Queen’s Speech that will most concern local government.

The Local Government Finance Bill – setting the framework for localisation of business rates – was not reintroduced; there was no mention of the urgent challenges facing social care services for children and young people; and few details on plans for reforming adult social care.

However, the Government restated its commitment to delivering the reforms it proposed in its Housing White Paper (see first 609), and said it will publish a Green Paper on children’s and young people’s mental health and work towards a new Mental Health Act. LGA Chairman Lord Porter said: “It is hugely concerning that the Government

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has not reintroduced the Local Government Finance Bill in the Queen’s Speech.

“Councils are facing an overall £5.8 billion funding gap by 2020. The Government needs to commit to using its existing powers to keep working with local government to continue these vital reforms.

“Local government collectively must keep every penny it raises locally in taxation to spend on local services, to help secure the long-term financial sustainability of councils and ease the pressure facing the public services our communities rely on.”

Funding pressures in children’s services make up £2 billion of the total £5.8 billion funding gap facing councils, and are becoming unsustainable, the LGA has warned.

Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “Councils were hoping for measures to be announced to address the funding gap facing children’s social care.

“Councils are committed to providing the best possible support to vulnerable children and their families, but local authority budgets continue to shrink while demand for children’s social care services has more than doubled.”

On adult social care, the Government pledged to work with all partners to bring forward proposals for public consultation on improving the system and putting it on a more secure financial footing.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Councils, the NHS, charities and care providers are united on the need for the Government to take urgent action to secure a sustainable funding solution for adult social care, both now and in future years.

“While this is difficult territory, local government stands ready and waiting to work with government to deliver a long-term sustainable solution.” www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 12:28

Education •

The Government will continue to work to ensure that every child has the opportunity to attend a good school and that all schools are fairly funded.

The LGA says: “We are disappointed that the Queen’s Speech did not give any detail about how much additional funding will be committed to education, or how the Government’s school funding reforms will be implemented. A national formula to ensure fairness between schools in different areas is welcome, but an element of local flexibility must be retained. Schools should be given greater certainty, with three-year budgets, to help them plan for the spending pressures they face.”

Industrial strategy •

New Institutes of Technology to proceed; these will be key to the development of the skills required by local, national and regional industry.

The LGA says: “Councils look forward to working with the Government on the development of a modern industrial strategy that ensures all parts of the country share in economic success. However, current national skills and employment systems are too fragmented and removed from the needs of local residents and businesses, and £10.5 billion of funding on skills and employment should be devolved.”

Brexit •

Repeal Bill repeals the European Communities Act, ends the authority of European Union law in the UK, replicates common UK frameworks created by EU law, and maintains the scope of devolved decision-making powers.

• Seven other Brexit bills include measures on customs, trade and immigration.

The LGA says: “Local government must play a central role in deciding whether to keep, amend or scrap EU laws that impact on council services. Brexit must lead to new legislative freedoms and flexibilities for councils, so that local communities and businesses benefit. Nationally, 7 per cent of adult social care staff are from other EU nations. There is already a major skills shortage, so we need a reformed and devolved skills and employment system to give people the skills to take up these and other key jobs.”

You can get a taste of some of the other bills affecting local government here (see below/right). For the LGA’s full briefing on the Queen’s Speech, please visit www.local.gov.uk/parliament/briefingsand-responses

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Mental health •

The Government will work towards a new Mental Health Act. • The Government will publish a Green Paper on children’s and young people’s mental health.

The LGA says: “Future money for mental health must explicitly include investment directed towards supporting the work councils do.

Councils deliver a range of mental health services, such as providing a home and support for people who have received treatment so they can move out of hospital, or helping people get active, stop smoking and cut down on drinking. We need to overhaul children’s mental health services so that children get access to the right treatment at an early stage.”

Grenfell Tower Inquiry •

A public judge-led inquiry will ascertain the causes of the Grenfell Tower fire and ensure that the appropriate lessons are learnt.

• A new strategy for resilience in major disasters will be developed.

The LGA says: “Following this terrible tragedy, councils want to be able to reassure their residents that they are safe, and that the fire prevention and fire safety measures they have in place are the right ones. They are keen to understand the lessons from the fire at Grenfell Towers, so it is important that any interim findings from the investigation and inquiry process are shared as soon as possible. We will work with the Government to ensure sufficient resources are made available to ensure that residents’ homes are safe.”

Housing •

The Government will deliver Housing White Paper reforms, including freeing up more land for new homes and speeding up building rates.

The LGA says: “Delivering 1.5 million new homes by 2022 cannot happen without local government. Lifting the housing borrowing cap and removing social housing from the public sector debt, allowing councils to keep 100 per cent of Right to Buy receipts, reversing the 1 per cent reduction in social rent, and providing rent certainty going forward will allow councils to play a much greater role in increasing housing supply.”

Devolution

• The Queen’s Speech contained no new measures to support further devolution.

The LGA says: “At a time when the capacity of national government is likely to be severely constrained, we will continue to make the case for the devolution of greater powers and funding to deliver the inclusive economic growth and public services vital for communities and businesses to thrive. We look forward to bringing forward ambitious proposals for further devolution and ensuring all communities are able to benefit from devolution.”

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councillor The LGA’s improvement offer Being elected as a councillor is only the beginning.

At a time of immense financial pressure and increasing public expectations, councils face their greatest challenge yet to reshape services in a way that meets local need and is cost-effective. They are constantly developing new and innovative approaches to service delivery. New councillors are in a unique position to be able to look with fresh eyes at how their council does things, and the LGA is here to help.

Each council is responsible for its own performance and improvement. Our role at the LGA is to provide the tools and support to help councils improve, and to maintain an overview of performance so we can offer specific support to councils facing particular challenges. Based on what we know from experience works best, our key support offer to councils includes: • leadership training and development • peer challenge • performance comparison with others • our Productivity programme.

The LGA’s improvement support is being refreshed all the time in response to feedback from councils. Recently, a finance support

offer was developed, which includes a financial peer challenge, financial health check and a budget challenge, and we also offer bespoke support for council communications.

A peer challenge allows councils to review and transform their services and deal with performance issues. Delivered by experienced local government officers and councillors, it is a voluntary process tailored to the needs of an individual council.

Every council is entitled to a free corporate or financial peer challenge every four to five years. County and unitary councils may also qualify for a subsidised or fully funded children’s safeguarding peer challenge or diagnostic.

A corporate peer challenge focuses on priority setting, leadership, governance, financial management and capacity. The process includes: • a challenge team, which includes experienced councillors and officers • a pre-visit, four days on site, end-of-week feedback and a final report • a challenge shaped to focus on the council’s own priorities • a follow-up visit by the challenge team one or two years later.

For more information about the sector-led approach to local government improvement, visit www.local.gov.uk/our-support/ our-improvement-offer/what-sector-ledimprovement.

Councils are constantly finding new and innovative ways of delivering services and improving the lives of people in their local communities. The LGA collates examples of these initiatives within the searchable case studies section of its website at www.local. gov.uk/case-studies.

The Productivity programme includes a range of initiatives designed to help councils reshape their services and increase efficiency. Programme activities include: • transforming services either to make them more efficient and less wasteful or to find more effective ways of delivering services • smarter sourcing through commissioning and buying services, goods and works that contribute to local outcomes more effectively and cheaply • generating a greater proportion of funding locally, by commercialising the council’s existing skills, assets or commodities, or investing to grow the local economy to generate wealth.

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, with resources ranging from e-learning modules to selfguided workbooks and training events.

Topics covered range from chairing skills to scrutiny.

You can find out more at www.local. gov.uk/our-support/highlighting-politicalleadership/councillors-guide-2017.

To sign up for access to the councillor e-learning modules, please email elearning@local.gov.uk.

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www.local.gov.uk

23/06/2017 12:28

elections Local votes on General Election day The UK has one of the largest gaps in the rate of electoral participation for different levels of government of any modern liberal democracy.

Although more than twothirds turn out to vote at General Elections, the selection of local councillors sees the rate fall to less than half that. So, when council by-elections occur on the same day as a General Election then the pattern of voting is bound to be affected on some occasions.

One of the most sensational of Labour’s victories was its success in winning the

“In our ‘first past the post’ voting system, sometimes every vote counts” Canterbury parliamentary constituency for the first time since 1918. An increase in turnout among younger electors was critical, and that feature also assisted Labour’s effort in leap-frogging three other parties to seize control of the city council’s Westgate ward, where turnout was 10 points higher than in May 2015.

Peterborough was another parliamentary seat to fall Labour’s way with the winning margin just 607 votes. In May, the Conservatives lost overall council control, following the sitting mayor’s resignation. Now, just a month later, the party has lost East ward with another awkward by-election defence still pending.

The result in Ashford’s Victoria ward also captures the general trend in local voting in July 2017

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

miniature. Created in 2003, the ward returned two Liberal Democrats for the first eight years.

Then, during the Coalition Government, the party’s grip slipped, and by 2011 the Conservatives won one of the available seats.

At the 2015 General Election, with the Liberal Democrats in freefall, the ward again split but now along the Conservative/Labour axis. This time, on General Election day, Labour once again triumphed. But, with a 47-vote margin of victory, the higher turnout was critical to its success.

Labour’s fourth by-election gain from the Conservatives demonstrates the fine line between success and failure in our ‘first-pastthe-post’ voting system and how, sometimes, every vote counts. Turnout more than doubled in Welwyn Hatfield’s Hatfield Villages ward, and, after more than 3,000 votes were counted, Labour’s margin of victory was just seven.

Mid Sussex’s Hassocks ward might be described as a ‘super-marginal’, with the Liberal Democrats regularly splitting the Conservative slate of candidates until 2015. Although the Liberal Democrats hardly threatened two years ago, it now appears it is business as usual with the ward again showing divided loyalties.

UKIP’s disappearance has been rapid and, when a vacancy arose in one of its few remaining seats in Torridge’s Hartland and Bradworthy ward, it came as no surprise when the party failed to defend. The ward now reverts to its former history of selecting an Independent alongside a Liberal Democrat.

Perhaps we are now entering another period when Independents might flourish

local by-elections Ashford, Victoria LAB GAIN FROM CON 12.6% over Con

Turnout 56.6%

Bromsgrove, Alvechurch Village IND GAIN FROM CON 17.7% over Con Turnout 77.9% Canterbury, Westgate LAB GAIN FROM CON 19.3% over Lib Dem

Turnout 68%

Mid Sussex, Hassocks ONE CON HELD ONE LIB DEM GAIN FROM CON 0.9% over Lib Dem Turnout 79.3% Peterborough, East LAB GAIN FROM CON 21.3% over Con

Turnout 53%

Torridge, Hartland & Bradworthy LIB DEM GAIN FROM UKIP 14.9% over Green Turnout 69.6% Welwyn Hatfield, Hatfield Villages LAB GAIN FROM CON 0.2% over Con Turnout 66% Only recent by-elections in which a ward changed hands are shown here. For a spreadsheet with detailed data on these and other recent byelections, please visit www.local.gov. uk/first

in local government. Kate Van der Plank was successful while standing as an Independent in Alvechurch Village, Bromsgrove, and committed herself to becoming “a visible, active and accessible councillor”. Certainly, local electors heard her local campaign message above the noise of the General Election as she captured more than half the votes cast.

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Counterfeit electrical goods are being sold in our communities.

It needs to be stopped.

Join us during LGA Conference at Stand C15 to help us tackle the problem and support our campaign

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