LGA first September 2017

No.615 September 2017 www.local.gov.uk

the magazine for local government Interview:

“We need councils to do much more if we are going to be able to build the number and range of homes that we need” John Healey MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing

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Party conferences Vince Cable MP, and plugging the skills gap

Mental health and the economy Thriving in the West Midlands

Think Luton How a council rebranded a town for £500

Countdown to conferences

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xxxx he autumn party xxxxxx are just conferences Lord Porter Chairman weeks away, is and this of the LGA edition of first previews the LGA’s work lobbying on your behalf at these national events (p10).

The Liberal Democrats will be kicking off the conference season in Bournemouth from 16-19 September, and you can hear Leader Vince Cable’s thoughts ahead of that event (p12). We will have previews of the Labour and Conservative events in next month’s first.

Elsewhere in the magazine, you can read about the LGA’s ideas for a locally driven post-Brexit replacement for the £8.4 billion in EU regeneration funding that councils currently receive (p14).

Closer to home, we take a look at West Midlands Combined Authority’s Thrive scheme, which aims to reduce the personal and economic costs of poor mental health (p15); Luton Borough Council Leader Cllr Hazel Simmons explains how they spent just £500 on a successful rebrand of the town (p23); and Doncaster Chief Executive Jo Miller exhorts us all to get on with measuring our gender pay gaps (p27).

Our interview this month is with John Healey, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, who wants councils to be allowed to borrow to build more homes (p21).

Lord Porter is Chairman of the LGA

contents news 4 Children’s services

7 Soft drinks levy

interview

18 John Healey MP,

Type 2 diabetes

5 Grenfell inquiry

Culture hub Care home places

EU procurement Sexual health 6 New build homes

Renters’ despair

Local roads

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Shadow Secretary of State for Housing “The rapidly rising level of homelessness shames us as a country as decent and well-off as ours is”

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Editor Karen Thornton Design & print CPL www.cpl.co.uk Advertising john.wheaton@cpl.co.uk Write to first: Local Government Association Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street London EC1M 5LG 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 (August 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.

23 30 13 features 10 Party conferences 12 Vince Cable MP 13 Tackling congestion 14 EU regeneration

funding 15 Mental wellbeing 16 Leadership Academy September 2017

comment

regulars

23 Rebranding Luton 24 LGA chairman and

8 Letters and sound

group leaders 26 Air pollution

Environmental growth 27 Gender pay gap 28 Self-build homes

bites

29 Parliament – taxi licensing

30 Councillor – protecting the public purse

31 Local by-elections

first contents | 3

Diabetes increase among young

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news ‘Children’s social care at breaking point’ Children’s social care is being pushed to breaking point, with 75 per cent of councils in England overspending on their children’s services budgets by more than half a billion pounds in total, the LGA has warned.

New analysis reveals that in 2015/16, councils surpassed their children’s social care budgets by £605 million to protect children at immediate risk of harm. This has been linked to the unprecedented surge in demand for children’s social care support over recent years. More than 170,000 children were subject to child protection enquiries in 2015/16, compared with 71,800 in 2005/06 – up 140 per cent in just 10 years.

The number of children on protection plans increased by almost 24,000 over the same period, while ongoing cuts to local authority budgets are forcing many areas to make difficult decisions about how to allocate increasingly scarce resources.

The LGA is warning that the pressures facing children’s services are rapidly becoming unsustainable, with a £2 billion funding gap expected by 2020. Unless urgent action is taken to reduce the number of families relying on the children’s social care system for support, this gap will continue to grow.

The Government’s early intervention

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grant has been cut by almost £500 million since 2013, and is projected to drop by a further £183 million by 2020 – a 40 per cent reduction by the end of the decade.

Without this funding, councils have found it increasingly difficult to invest in the early help services that can prevent children entering the social care system.

Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “The fact that the majority of councils are recording high levels of children’s services overspend in their local areas shows the sheer scale of the funding crisis we face in children’s social care.

“Councils have done everything they can to respond, including reducing costs where they can and finding new ways of working.

However, they are at the point where there are very few savings left to find without having a real and lasting impact upon crucial services that many children and families across the country desperately rely on.”

Cllr Watts added: “Services for the care and protection of vulnerable children are now, in many areas, being pushed to breaking point. Government must commit to the life chances of children and young people by acting urgently to address the growing funding gap.”

ore than 600 children and teenagers are being treated for a type of diabetes normally only seen in adults aged over 40 – an increase of 14 per cent in a year, reinforcing the need for urgent action on obesity, the LGA has warned.

It says the continuing rise in cases of Type 2 diabetes in children is “a hugely disturbing trend” and an important reminder of one of the biggest public health challenges the country faces.

Type 2 is largely preventable and is closely linked to lifestyle, such as unhealthy eating or lack of exercise.

While not every case of Type 2 diabetes is a result of being overweight, it is the single greatest risk factor.

According to figures for 2015/16 from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, 621 children and young people under the age of 25 received care for Type 2 diabetes from paediatric diabetes units in England and Wales; 78.5 per cent of them were also obese.

The actual number of young people with Type 2 diabetes is likely to be higher, as these figures only relate to those treated in paediatric practice.

The LGA is calling on the Government at least to reverse the £531 million cuts to councils’ public health budgets – a reduction of nearly 10 per cent over a five-year period.

Councils also say more needs to be done to reach out to black and minority ethnic groups, where there is a disproportionately high number of children and young people with Type 2 diabetes.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Obesity is usually linked with major health conditions later on in life, but already we are seeing the devastating consequences at an early age.

“It is vital that the measures in the Government’s childhood obesity plan improve the health of young people, and can help parents make more informed choices about the eating habits and lifestyles of their children.”

www.local.gov.uk

Funding needed to replace high-rise cladding systems The LGA has reiterated its call for government to meet the cost to councils of removing and replacing cladding systems on their high-rise blocks, following the latest round of fire safety test results.

The fourth and fifth combinations of tower block cladding and insulation have passed the fire safety tests ordered by the Government after the Grenfell Tower fire.

The first three combinations of cladding and insulation tested by the Government failed the fire safety tests. Two more combinations are left to be tested.

Of all the buildings with a combination of cladding and insulation that has failed one of the fire safety tests, the LGA understands 45 are owned by 15 councils. The rest of the buildings affected are owned by housing associations, or private and other landlords.

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “It is important that landlords are now given clear advice on what materials they should be using to replace these systems with.

“We are talking to the councils affected about the costs they now face to remove and replace cladding and insulation systems on their high-rise blocks. With test fails affecting buildings owned by a range of different landlords across the country, it is clear that the current building regulation system has

failed and that councils cannot afford to carry out this work. As a result, we remain firmly of the view that the Government needs to meet the exceptional cost to councils of removing and replacing cladding and insulation on high-rise blocks.”

The LGA has also sought clarity from the Government about the powers available to councils to encourage private landlords to take action on their blocks.

“Councils want to ensure all residents in their local area are safe in their homes, regardless of whether they own the block or not,” said Cllr Blackburn.

“There are concerns that other landlords in some areas are not acting as quickly to inform residents about test fails, and lack the urgency shown by councils to identify their buildings with cladding and insulation systems that have failed tests so far, and take steps to make them safe.”

It has also been announced that the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire will explore the adequacy of building regulations, the tower’s recent refurbishment, the actions of Kensington and Chelsea Council, and the response of local and central government in the aftermath.

The inquiry has now officially begun and will hold its first hearing on 14 September, with an initial report by Easter 2018.

Sexual health services ‘at risk’

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atients could have to wait longer for sexual health services as demand has increased by a quarter in the past five years, while funding has been cut.

In 2016, there were 2,456,779 new attendances at sexual health clinics compared with 1,941,801 in 2012.

The LGA says that government cuts to councils’ public health budgets – which have reduced by £531 million or nearly 10 per cent – have left local authorities struggling to keep up with increased demand for sexual health services. It is good news that more people are taking responsibility for their sexual health, but this is placing a significant strain on councils’ resources. While the number of new diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections fell by 4 per cent in 2016, the LGA is warning that it will be “extremely challenging” to maintain current services, and is calling on government to reverse public health cuts.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:

September 2017

“We are concerned that this increase in demand is creating capacity and resource issues for councils – waiting times may start to increase and patient experience deteriorate. We cannot tackle this by stretching services even thinner. It is good news that diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections are down, but sexual health services are now reaching a tipping point where it will be extremely challenging to maintain this progress.”

‘Simplify EU procurement rules’

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impler rules regulating how councils buy goods and services after Brexit could boost local growth and create jobs, the LGA has said.

A more efficient UK system could include giving councils greater ability to use local suppliers, specify a minimum local living wage for their suppliers’ employees, or specify additional social value so that companies awarded contracts can be asked to employ or train a number of local people.

Councils currently have to follow EU-wide advertising and award procedures when they buy goods and services. The process sometimes sits uneasily with supporting the local economy.

The EU process can also take between three and 18 months – twice as long as typical private sector procurements.

Almost no public contracts are awarded to companies in other EU member states. Only 20 per cent of English councils receive expressions of interest from companies based in other EU countries. Across Europe, only 1.6 per cent of public contracts are awarded to companies in other member states. The LGA says a lightertouch system which simplifies this process and offers more flexibilities to promote local growth, is vital so that councils can procure to shorter timescales and lower high administration costs for businesses, especially small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs).

Councils in England collectively spend £55 billion a year on goods, works and services and will still need to be able to advertise any contract of any size EU-wide –should they wish to – after Brexit.

Cllr Kevin Bentley, Chairman of the LGA’s Brexit Task and Finish Group, said: “The way councils spend money has a huge bearing on local growth and job creation. Regulation of public procurement will clearly continue to be necessary when we leave the EU, to allow councils to continue to demonstrate best value for money and ensure effective and fair competition.

“But introducing more local flexibility and easier procurement rules after Brexit would provide more community benefits and more growth opportunities for SMEs. It would also allow councils to promote local suppliers and local labour and ensure workers earn a decent wage.” l See p14

first news | 5

news in brief Rough sleeping

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he LGA has highlighted the crucial role of councils in tackling homelessness, in response to a report published by charity Crisis, which warned that the number of people forced into homelessness is set to increase to half a million by 2041. Cllr Judith Blake, the LGA’s Housing Spokesperson, said that “for families, rising homelessness is tragic. For councils housing homeless people, it is unsustainable”.

She added: “Homelessness is everyone’s business, and councils need the help of health, employment, and housing partners to deliver ambitions to end it. In particular, councils need to be able to adapt the implementation of some welfare reforms to ensure there are housing options for people on low incomes.”

Local roads investment

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ouncils will be allocated £75 million in funding for projects such as junction improvements, road and bridge repairs, and flood defences, according to a Department for Transport announcement described as “positive” by the LGA. But with councils facing a £12 billion roads repair backlog bill, Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s Transport Spokesman, said: “Councils need long-term and consistent investment, which enables them to plan ahead and invest taxpayers’ money as effectively as possible – similarly to the way agencies such as Highways England operate – if we’re to bring our local roads up to scratch.”

Underage knife sales

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early one in four shops in some areas are breaking the law on underage knife sales, with blades sold to children as young as 13, council trading standards teams have found.

In test purchases in one area, an underage teenager was sold a machete, another was sold a lock knife and a 14-year-old managed to buy a nine-inch serrated knife. It is illegal to sell knives to anyone aged under 18. The LGA is calling on the retail industry to fund underage test purchasing operations and work more closely with councils to help improve compliance levels. Greater fines and tougher sentences are also needed, it says.

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Confidence falters in new-build homes The average new home in England will have to last 2,000 years if the sluggish rate of house building and replacement continues, according to a new LGA report.

With the country not building enough homes for decades, existing homes must house more people and last for much longer.

This now means that we spend nearly as much on the repair and maintenance of existing homes as we do building new ones – £27 billion compared to £35 billion respectively.

However, confidence in new build properties is faltering, with one in 10 new-home buyers dissatisfied with the quality of their property, and one in six saying they would not recommend their house builder to a friend. The age of much of England’s housing stock is also laid bare, with the report showing that most local areas have more homes built from before 1930 than any other period of time.

The LGA is calling on government to help councils build a new generation of highquality, genuinely affordable homes,

supported by good infrastructure and services. It also wants developers to ensure new homes are of high quality and stand the test of time.

A “national renaissance” in council house building must be central to solving our housing shortage and improving quality, and for delivering the mix of different homes that meet the growing and changing need of communities. For this to happen, councils need to be able to borrow to build and to keep 100 per cent of the receipts of any home they sell to reinvest in new and existing housing.

Cllr Judith Blake, the LGA’s Housing Spokesperson, said that “families are having to spend more on rent or mortgages every month, and deserve a decent home that is affordable. But, as costs are rising, so is dissatisfaction with the standards of new homes.”

She added: “Councils need to be able to ensure quality through the planning system, and to encourage high standards in rented and owned properties across the board.”

Private renters ‘despair of ownership’

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early two-thirds of private renters on the lowest incomes in England expect never to buy their own property because they won’t be able to afford one, LGA analysis has revealed, as councils warn of growing ‘home-owning hopelessness’.

The latest figures from the English Housing Survey showed a noticeable increase in the number of private renters who said that affordability was stopping them from owning their own home – up from 56 per cent in 2008/9 to 70 per cent in 2015/16.

The research also revealed that, in comparison to just 1 per cent of owneroccupiers, one in five private renters are dissatisfied with their tenure.

Many renters also appear to be locked out of the housing market – with the average

home buyer expected to pay 7.6 times their annual wages for a home of their own. For private renters, 35 per cent of their income is spent on housing costs, compared with just 18 per cent for those who own their home.

The LGA warned that councils need additional freedom, flexibility, and funding access, if they are to resume their historic role as a major affordable homes builder, including houses for social and affordable rents.

Cllr Martin Tett, LGA Housing Spokesman, said it was “worrying that so many people renting a home feel a sense of home-owning hopelessness”.

“All types of homes – including those for affordable and social rent – have to be built to solve this shortage, boost affordability and increase home ownership,” he added. www.local.gov.uk

news in brief Drug-related deaths

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Soft drinks levy plugging school funding gap The LGA has raised concerns that money expected to be raised from the soft drinks levy is being used to plug a black hole in education funding.

In February, the previous Government announced that the £415 million levy would be invested in facilities to support sports, after-school activities and promoting healthy eating, as part of a healthy pupils capital programme.

But in July, the Department for Education announced that £315 million from this will now be diverted to addressing school funding shortages, leaving just £100 million to fund the original intentions of the levy.

Councils have sought clarity from government, and warned that taking money away from healthy initiatives will be a setback for tackling obesity, and could derail the previous Government’s childhood obesity plan.This follows cuts to councils’ public health budgets, which have reduced by £531 million over five years.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the

LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “It is vital that the soft drinks levy, which marked a significant step in the fight against obesity, is protected. Government needs to find genuinely new money to meets its new school funding commitments. It is perverse and counterproductive to simply shift this money around, particularly at the expense of children’s health.

“We were supportive of the announcement of a soft drinks levy. But we now have grave concerns that the Government is hijacking this money to plug funding shortages elsewhere. It calls into question the original purpose of the levy.

“The Government needs to be clear about what this now means for the levy, and for reducing the worrying levels of child obesity in this country.

“Schemes that encourage physical activity, healthy eating and improve children’s mental and physical health, which the levy would have been used to pay for, cannot be seen as nice to do but fundamentally non-essential.”

Good practice on culture

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he LGA and Arts Council England, have launched their first ever online resource to help local authorities develop innovative ways to invest in culture, even on a tight budget.

‘The Culture Hub: good practice in cultural services’ highlights innovative case studies from local authorities across the country which have found creative ways to invest in arts and culture.

Projects include the team at Culture Liverpool, which employed a commercial and marketing team to build connections across the city and generate income, and raised more than £6 million in cash and in-kind support over four years.

In Peterborough, the city’s library service has adjusted its model through a pioneering use of technology and was able to reduce costs by more than 20 per cent, while increasing public access to the service by 50 per cent.

And in North Kesteven, the community came together to support the design and refurbishment of two leisure centres that led to a 162 per cent increase in participation.

Cllr Ian Stephens, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board said: “Councils continue to take a lead in developing innovative ways to provide excellent cultural services. The case studies demonstrate how hard councils are working with their partners to come up with different ways to deliver services, whether through direct work, commissioning services or trust models.”

The Culture Hub will be continually updated, to provide on-going support to those planning cultural services within councils, and to build a database of experience and learning that helps improve practice across the board.

You can visit the culture hub at www.local.gov.uk/topics/culture-tourismleisure-and-sport/good-practice-culture

September 2017

ine in 10 councils are now providing takehome naloxone, to tackle overdoses and opiate-related deaths in their areas, according to an LGA survey. This comes as figures show a record number of drug-related deaths in England and Wales – 3,744 in 2016. The LGA’s ‘Preventing drug-related deaths’ (see www. local.gov.uk/preventing-drug-related-deaths) details how councils are tackling the issue.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “While latest estimates suggest there are about 200,000 people getting help, we must focus our efforts on reaching out to the 100,000 who are not.”

Care home places

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n extra 71,000 care home places will be needed by 2025 according to a study by Newcastle University’s Institute for Ageing published in The Lancet. Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “While it is great news that life expectancy is increasing, the Lancet study confirms our warnings that this will heap even more pressures on social care and the demand for services, which are already under huge strain. It is absolutely critical that the Government brings forward its consultation for social care announced in the Queen’s Speech, and that it works with local government leaders in delivering a long-term sustainable solution for social care.”

Experiences of care

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new study by Healthwatch England has found a huge variation in the views and experiences of those who live, visit and work in care homes. It has urged homes to be more open to using feedback from residents, relatives and staff to help deliver improvements. The LGA says the study is a reminder of the stark reality of the funding crisis facing adult social care. Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “While it is clear that in some places, there is work to be done and areas for improvement, it is encouraging to note that most people have said the care they receive is good.”

first news | 7

letters

sound bites Cllr Liam Walker (Con, Oxfordshire) “A useful morning in Minster Lovell at my Cllr pop up street stall. Great support for my Better Buses campaign.” www.twitter.com/_Liam_Walker_

Council career opportunities

Free shop for entrepreneurs

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ive apprentices and three graduate trainees have recently started work with Carmarthenshire County Council on fixed-term contracts of up to two years, as part of our Work Ready programme.

Now in its seventh year, Work Ready aims to help local people gain valuable work experience, develop workplace skills, work towards recognised vocational and professional qualifications, and gain an insight into careers within local government.

Since the programme was launched, the council has recruited 50 apprentices and 21 graduates, and several have moved onto permanent employment with the authority itself.

A career in local government can be extremely varied and rewarding and, over the coming weeks, there will be more apprenticeships and graduate posts on offer, working within departments across the whole council, from business administration and finance to housing, leisure and education.

We believe that by developing apprenticeship and graduate opportunities, people can learn and grow through these routes to play a key role in the delivery of high-quality services and contribute to Carmarthenshire’s future.

Cllr Mair Stephens (Ind), Executive Board Member for Human Resources, Efficiencies and Collaboration, Carmarthenshire County Council

ur entrepreneurial residents are being invited to enter an exciting competition to win a shop for a year in the centre of Droitwich Spa – with the rent and rates all taken care of, as part of a package of support, thanks to shopping centre owner, Salmon Harvester.

The package – worth more than £25,000 – includes free business mentoring arranged

by Worcestershire Business Central, media promotion, a year’s membership of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, and marketing support on St Andrew’s Square Shopping Centre’s website.

It is the perfect opportunity for an entrepreneur to get their foot on the retail ladder, test the market and showcase their retail offer.

Supporting entrepreneurs and those wishing to make new investments in our district is so important, and this could be a great break for one lucky person. It is such a fantastic opportunity for someone to make a real go of a retail business idea right in the heart of Droitwich Spa. Our thanks go to Salmon Harvester for working with us on this innovative opportunity and for making this possible. I think it will be great to see many different ideas on how retail can engage consumers in this day and age.

If you are interested in finding out more, please visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/business Cllr Richard Morris (Con), Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Housing, Wychavon District Council

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

Letters may be edited and published online

8 | first letters

Cllr Richard Mills (Con, Hillingdon) “Great street surgery this weekend in Harlington Road. Lots of residents came to visit along with @MPSUxbridge #brunel #uxbridge #hillingdon.” www.twitter.com/CllrRMills Cllr John Pierce (Lab, Tower Hamlets) “Great to visit @SalfordCouncil to see neighbourhood management in action, tackling ASB and improving neighbourhoods. Our pilot starts soon.” www.twitter.com/jpfxpierce Cllr Dave Hanratty (Lab, Liverpool) “I’m honoured to be re-elected as Chair of the North West Fire & Rescue Forum for the 4th year, working alongside dedicated public servants.” www.twitter.com/Dave_Hanratty Cllr John Potter (Lib Dem, Lancashire) ”At the Royal Lancashire Show - passing rain shower has meant we are in the cooking tent.

Lots of excellent Lancs produce on show.” www.twitter.com/johnpotterLD Cllr Sarah Bevan (Ind, Bath and North East Somerset Council) “Celebrating with residents the good news that The Green in #Peasedown now has government protection! Will ALWAYS be for community use!” www.twitter.com/SarahFBevan

Do you have a blog or a Twitter account we should be following?

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

www.local.gov.uk

We’ve saved £60,000 by not replacing machines Jacquie Joseph, Parking & Business Support Services Manager, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council

Parking Solutions to suit you From the Parkmobile worldwide group Act now. See www.ctt.co.uk/save

features

The LGA at the party conferences The LGA will be working to ensure the voice of local government is heard in debates on housing, schools, ageing, the economy and the skills gap

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he autumn party conferences are among some of the most high-profile events in the political calendar, as the political parties look to build momentum and gain media attention.

This year is set to be no different, with the conferences coming only months after a snap General Election that has transformed national politics.

The conferences give an opportunity to make the case that councils, as leaders of their communities, can offer certainty and continuity. The LGA will be working on behalf of local government to strengthen our voice in the major policy debates, including on housing, schools, ageing, and the economy.

The conferences also provide a platform to demonstrate the ways in which councils have once again shown resilience, innovation and flexibility over the past year to deliver excellent services.

Our councillors, including our chairman and group leaders, will be speaking at debates, round tables and receptions, as well as meeting stakeholders, to raise the profile of local government. We will be hosting our own debates at the conferences, including discussions on addressing the skills gap, where senior national and local politicians will be joined by the Learning and Work Institute, an expert voice on creating a better skilled workforce.

The challenge of ensuring local economies are served by highly skilled residents is one all councils are grappling with. Our debates will share ideas on how councils, working with businesses, colleges and other partners, can meet that challenge.

The Liberal Democrats meet in

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Bournemouth, where the new leadership will be keen to put forward some exciting policies. As a former Business Secretary, new Leader Vince Cable MP will want to show his party can work with local government to improve our economic performance.

At the Labour Party conference in Brighton, Jeremy Corbyn MP and the shadow frontbench team will set out their vision for our public services. Now with a strengthened position in Parliament, Labour will look to use its metro mayors and councillors to develop its skills policy.

In Manchester, the Conservative Party gathers as Prime Minister Theresa May MP and her team look to build momentum ahead of the Budget. In this context, we will be looking to engage with ministers, MPs and stakeholders on the measures councils would like in order to help deliver economic growth at a local level.

Councillors from the LGA’s Independent Group will also be speaking up for local government at the UKIP, Green and Plaid Cymru conferences. These take place respectively in Torquay from 29-30 September, in Harrogate from 7-10 October, and in Caernarfon from 20-21 October.

Following the national party conferences, our Independent Group then holds its signature event on 24 November in London, giving another chance for politicians and stakeholders to discuss the policy challenges facing our nation.

Conferences will be followed by an important parliamentary session in the autumn as Westminster turns its attention to legislation, including the EU Repeal Bill and the announcement of the Budget. It will be important that the LGA and local government has helped shape the debates across the conference season to ensure we are influencing the thinking of MPs and Peers, as key national decisions are made.

The LGA is pleased to be working with Prospect Magazine as media partner for the party conferences. This will help to promote our debates to influential decision-makers and commentators. A full list of our speakers and debates across the conferences will be available in short guides which you can read on our website at www.local.gov.uk/parliament/party-conferences

www.local.gov.uk

What’s on at the party conferences – LGA event listings Liberal Democrats

Labour

Bournemouth

• T he LGA evening reception Sunday 17 September, 7.00-9.00 pm Hardy Suite, Hermitage Hotel Speakers include: Vince Cable MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats; Cllr Howard Sykes, LGA Liberal Democrat Group Leader • The LGA debate Mind the gap: how we can tackle the skills gap Monday 18 September, 12.30-2.30 pm Hardy Suite, Hermitage Hotel

Brighton • T he LGA evening reception Sunday 24 September, 8.30-11.00 pm Cambridge Room, Hilton Metropole Speakers include: Senior Labour MPs; Cllr Lib Peck, LGA Deputy Chair (invited) • The LGA debate Mind the gap: how we can tackle the skills gap Monday 25 September, 1.00-2.30 pm Buckingham Room, Hilton Metropole

Speakers include: Wera Hobhouse MP, Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary (invited); Prospect Magazine (Chair); Tony Wilson, Learning and Work Institute; Cllr Howard Sykes, LGA Liberal Democrat Group Leader

Speakers include: Gordon Marsden MP, Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Further Education and Skills (invited); Prospect Magazine (Chair); Tony Wilson, Learning and Work Institute; Cllr Nick Forbes, LGA Labour Group Leader

Conservatives Manchester

• T he LGA evening reception Monday 2 October, 9.30-11.00 pm Trafford Room, Midland Hotel Speakers include: Sajid Javid MP, Communities and Local Government Secretary; Cllr David Simmonds, LGA Conservative Group Leader; Lord Porter, LGA Chairman • The LGA debate Mind the gap: how we can tackle the skills gap Monday 2 October, 7.30-9.00 pm Exchange 10, Manchester Central Speakers include: Anne Milton MP, Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills (invited); Stephen Evans, Learning and Work Institute; Cllr David Simmonds, LGA Conservative Group Leader; Prospect Magazine (Chair)

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September 2017

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18/08/2017 14:49

Championing local government Vince Cable MP is Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Continuing cuts threaten the services that underpin strong communities, warns Lib Dem Leader Vince Cable ahead of the party’s annual autumn conference in Bournemouth

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or most of my political life, the situation for local government has always been one of stretched resources. But there is no doubt that the current climate is one of the toughest periods local government has ever faced.

Persistent cuts to public services, soon to be made worse by the impact of Brexit, have already had a harsh and painful impact on councils which have been forced to strip down services and staff to stay within evershrinking budgets.

As a liberal, I am naturally in favour of decisions being made at the closest possible level to the community. But what we have seen from the Conservatives is more and more power taken back centrally and a starving of finances locally. Without the resources to maintain the services that support strong communities, engagement will diminish and inequality will grow.

It is a while since I was a councillor in Glasgow, but my belief in the value of local government and the impact it makes on people’s lives has never left me. Now, as Leader of the Liberal Democrats, following Tim Farron – himself a great believer in community politics – I will strive for the voice of local government to be fully represented in political debate.

The terrible disaster at Grenfell Tower has exposed many things, among them the need for strong, local, community leadership.

Many lessons need to be learnt from this awful, seemingly preventable tragedy, to stop it ever being repeated, including improving regulations around building materials and electrical safety. But most important is the need to rebuild trust in local political leadership.

The tragedy cruelly exposed the inequality that exists in Britain, with many people left behind feeling powerless, neglected and excluded. The role local government can play in truly listening to people and empowering them to influence decisions that affect their lives cannot be overestimated.

But extreme cuts to public services,

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“Council tax payers cannot be left to fix the crisis in social care alone” especially in local government, will prevent this from happening and exacerbate inequalities to an alarming level. As councils are forced to cut spending on anything that is not a statutory requirement, many of the things that make a real difference to people’s life chances and improve social inclusion – youth clubs, community events, meals on wheels – will disappear.

Over-shadowing all of these funding pressures is the crisis in social care. The Government’s lack of any meaningful commitment to addressing the huge funding gap, despite councillors of all political persuasions, including Conservatives, crying out for action, is a total neglect of its responsibilities. Council tax payers cannot be left to fix this crisis alone.

There must also be a serious effort to tackle the housing crisis through public capital investment. Councils must be given greater freedom to borrow to build for social housing, shared or private ownership. At present it is absurd that councils can borrow to invest in commercial property in other parts of the country, but not to increase housing supply for their own residents.

Above all, there must be genuine devolution in local decision-making.

While there has been halting and limited devolution to big cities like the Manchester and Birmingham combined authorities, overall local government remains firmly in the grip of Whitehall. That process must go into reverse.

The hung Parliament represents challenges, but can also be an opportunity to push for the changes that local government desperately needs. With Brexit threatening the public purse and the workforce in crucial sectors like the NHS, social care and construction, this is needed now more than ever. I am ambitious for our country and will do all I can to make it succeed. www.local.gov.uk

Councils can help reduce traffic congestion and the resulting air pollution that is contributing to thousands of premature deaths – but they need more powers and resources

In a jam

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Cllr Martin Tett is Chairman of the LGA’s Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board

or many, traffic is an inconvenience, though some might also describe it as a consequence of economic success. Indeed, it’s a sign that a lot of people have jobs to go to.

However, if left unchecked it can have a significant impact on our towns, cities and communities, and act as a drag on local growth. The Department for Transport predicts up to 55 per cent growth in traffic levels by 2040, with levels of congestion expected to be up to 85 per cent worse in the same period.If traffic isn’t managed effectively, congestion on our streets can lead to stalled growth and productivity and – worse still – toxic air and reduced quality of life. The cost will continue to rise if we do nothing, with congestion costing the economy an estimated £307 billion between 2013 and 2030. Delays on our strategic roads equate to 4.9 days wasted per person each year.

The environmental impact comes from vehicles in a traffic jam emitting four times as much pollution as free-flowing traffic, which in turn contributes towards the estimated

September 2017

40,000 premature deaths a year from air pollution. These impacts are avoidable, and we all – local authorities, central government, individuals and businesses – can help.

Councils, as local traffic authorities, have a statutory duty to manage their networks with the aim of ‘securing the expeditious movement of traffic’, and are already leading the way with innovative approaches to tackling congestion and curbing the predicted levels of growth.

Examples featured in the LGA’s new report – ‘A country in a jam: tackling congestion in our towns and cities’ – range from prioritisation of bus services (see also first 609) and promoting cycling to better management of road works and a workplace parking levy. I would like to thank all the local authorities – Nottingham, Brighton, Reading, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Kent – that shared their congestionbusting innovations with us. I hope that councils all around the country find the case studies of value.

However, it is clear from the statistics that we need to do much more. Unfortunately, councils are constrained by a lack of both resources and powers to act.

Councils use existing measures to the best of their ability and how local circumstances dictate. However, they need greater powers to introduce proven measures that will help us curb further congestion. We cannot solve the problem with just punitive measures.

We need positive, practical and attractive alternatives to car journeys, with public transport, walking and cycling playing an important role. This will help road users as well as those who have to live with the consequences of congestion.

The Government has announced it will introduce legislation on electric and autonomous vehicles. It is not clear how this will impact on the transport networks of the future, but the LGA will be monitoring the legislation and supporting any measures that help councils tackle air pollution. What is clear is that we have a pressing problem on our roads now, which requires more immediate solutions We need the Government to work with all councils to make sure the examples we have highlighted in this report become the norm across the country, and the predicted economic and human costs of congestion are avoided.

‘A country in a jam: tackling congestion in our towns and cities’ is available on the LGA’s website at www.local.gov.uk/publications. See also p26

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Sharing prosperity The LGA has launched a discussion paper on how £8.4 billion of EU funding should be replaced after Brexit

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ince the EU referendum, one of the biggest concerns for councils has been the future of vital EU regeneration funding.

Councils have used EU funds to help new businesses start up, create thousands of jobs, roll out broadband and build roads and bridges.

The LGA has repeatedly called for a government commitment to replace this funding. In a new report, ‘Beyond Brexit: the future of funding currently sourced from the EU’, it says local areas across the UK had been set to receive £8.4 billion between 2014 and 2020.

In its General Election manifesto, the Government pledged to create a UK Shared Prosperity Fund to replace the money local areas currently receive from the EU, and ‘Beyond Brexit’ discusses how alternative, locally driven successor schemes might work.

Cllr Kevin Bentley, Chairman of the LGA’s Brexit Task and Finish Group, said: “Securing a government commitment around this vital regeneration funding has been an important step. To further its devolution commitments, we want to work with government to help develop a fully funded and locally driven successor scheme with local government in areas of all types.

“With national funding for regeneration increasingly being depleted, all local areas have become increasingly reliant on EU money and are desperate to get on with creating jobs, building infrastructure and boosting growth.”

The LGA’s basic principles for replacing EU regeneration funding include that it is at least equivalent in value to the current

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European Structural Funds investment scheme, is integrated with other funding streams, distributed over a stable period (currently seven years), and is accountable to local people and places.

‘Beyond Brexit’ sets out three options: no change; an innovative flexi-fund; and a ‘fully integrated’ scheme.

‘No change’ avoids the risks of hiatus or withdrawal, but locks current programme inflexibilities into the new arrangements. There would be a higher risk of funding programme fragmentation – with structural money flowing back to the UK allocated to individual Whitehall departments and distributed on a ringfenced basis, thus leaving less flexibility for local targeted funding. Local areas would also have less ability to adapt to unknown post-Brexit scenarios.

A more ‘innovative’ successor scheme would involve integrating all former EU funding into a flexible single ‘pot’, devolved to all functional economic areas. This would be a big step forward, with no reduction in overall value, a non-silo approach, less ringfencing, and links to the devolution agenda and the Government’s industrial strategy.

Local areas would also have greater ability to adapt to unknown post-Brexit scenarios.

A ‘fully integrated’ option would build on the ‘innovative’ model by enabling the

“We want to work with government to help develop a fully funded and locally driven successor scheme” greatest flexibility for local areas to seek, bid and incorporate EU funding streams beyond structural funds; and incorporate and consolidate the full quantum of national funding on supporting growth and regeneration – which is currently spread across 70 funding streams, managed by 22 government departments and agencies.

Council leaders want to work with government to avoid defaulting to a Whitehall-controlled approach and creating a like-for-like replacement of the current EU programme, which is often bogged down in government bureaucracy and delay. Brexit offers an historic opportunity to give local areas greater say over how to target a new and simplified regional aid fund at projects that will benefit local people and economies and that best support infrastructure, environment, enterprise and social cohesion.

‘Beyond Brexit: the future of funding currently sourced from the EU’ is available at www.local.gov.uk/brexit. We want to know what you think of the options it outlines. Please submit your views on the proposals to brexit@local.gov.uk by 5 September

www.local.gov.uk

Thriving at work A regional approach to mental health is hoping to save billions of pounds and improve the lives of thousands of residents Sarah Norman is Chief Executive of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council and Lead Officer for the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Health Commission

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hrive West Midlands is an ambitious, region-wide project by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to tackle the problem of poor mental health by devising a comprehensive approach to addressing causes and finding collective solutions.

Nationally, mental health is a classic example of the whole system failing. Not only does it impact on the lives of sufferers and their families but it is a massive drain on public sector resources. The cost of failing someone in the current system costs the West Midlands region £12.5 billion a year, a cost borne by local government, the NHS, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the criminal justice system, communities and – most importantly – the individual.

This is one place where a joined-up approach can help us to save lives and money, and the WMCA really felt this was an example of where a job could be done better locally.

We skipped the traditional report and dry recommendations and, with the help of professional colleagues and a citizens’ jury, developed an action plan with concrete outcomes. A total of 140 organisations from across the public and voluntary sector have signed up to Thrive and we are serious about making a difference. We are piloting a range of projects which, if successful, the Government is looking to roll out nationally.

Currently, 70,000 people are economically inactive in the West Midlands because of mental health problems, and the costs of this are £2.2 billion a year. The DWP has already committed £8.4 million to our workplace wellbeing programme, specifically to trial individual placement support that will help people stay in or get back to work. We’re looking at supporting 6,000 individuals over

“Key to addressing mental health is removing the stigma and getting people talking in an informed and empathetic way”

three years. If we can offer evidence that it works, this will go national.

We know that smaller businesses find it more difficult to offer suitable support to their employees. We’re looking to address this with a wellbeing premium – a tax incentive for employers demonstrating their commitment to staff wellbeing. This is at the advanced design stage and we will be piloting it with 100 small and medium-sized businesses by the end of the year.

We also have a ‘zero suicide ambition’.

Deaths from cancer, heart disease and other illnesses have decreased over the last 40 years but deaths from suicide haven’t. Why? We need to challenge the idea that suicide can’t be prevented. It’s about learning from every single case and identifying all the factors that allowed this to happen.

I’m not just talking about support services, which are key, but each incremental element that leads to or provides a means for suicide. I mean working with engineers to look at the design of bridges; talking to colleagues in transport about access to railway tracks; working with doctors and chemists about identifying risks from overdoses from prescribed medication; and training staff in A&E in identifying suicide risks. There are things we can do, right now, to bring those figures down.

Key to addressing mental health is removing the stigma around it and getting people talking in an informed and empathetic way, whether they’re employers, family members or friends. We’re going to train up 500,000 people across the West Midlands region – that’s one in eight – in mental health first aid. You wouldn’t dream of a workplace without a physical first aider, so why ignore mental health first aid?

Thrive is about challenging outcomes that have traditionally been seen as inevitable and unsolvable. We believe we can make a difference to our communities and – ultimately – find solutions that can work nationally.

For more information about West Midlands Thrive, please visit www.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/ mental-health-commission

September 2017

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Facing page: Graduates of the LGA’s Leadership Academy show off their certificates

Local leadership The LGA’s Leadership Academy could help you tackle the challenges facing your local communities

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ocal politicians face multiple challenges and opportunities, from reducing budgets and re-shaping services to diverse community problems and complex political alliances. Developing the skills for effective local leadership is vital to ensure councillors can rise to these challenges and make the most of the opportunities to benefit their communities – which is where the LGA’s Leadership Academy comes in.

Now in its 18th year, the Leadership Academy is the LGA’s flagship development programme for councillors already in leadership positions or who aspire to become local leaders.

Among the scheme’s 2,800 graduates, from 338 local authorities across England and Wales, are LGA Chairman Lord Porter and some of his predecessors, the new leader of the Welsh LGA (see right), and scores of council leaders and deputies.

One of the key benefits of the programme identified by participants (see right) is the opportunity to learn from their peers from across the country and the political spectrum, with many cohorts keeping in touch long after they have completed their courses.

They leave with a better understanding of their own leadership, and a ‘leadership toolbox’ of effective techniques and strategies for different situations.

The programme is grounded in the challenges and opportunities provided by the current local government context, drawing on leading-edge thinking and sharing best practice. It builds on participants’ own experiences and the

challenges relevant to their councils, provides time for reflection and selfevaluation, and encourages bold and ambitious leadership.

Participants undertake three, two-day residential modules over three months: leading through relationships; innovation and change; and communities and place. Upon completion, they receive a certificate from the Institute of Leadership and Management, which accredits the Leadership Academy programme.

The English programmes are delivered by a team from AHA Consultancy and the New Leadership Foundation, while in Wales the scheme is part-funded by the Welsh Government’s Academi Wales and delivered

by Learning for Leadership Cymru and the Welsh LGA. The programme is aimed at councillors in leadership positions, including leaders and deputies, leaders of political groups, portfolio and shadow portfolio holders, and scrutiny and committee chairs.

Current graduates include five Lords, 29 MPs, more than half of the LGA’s board members, 118 council leaders and 96 deputy council leaders.

“The programme builds on participants’ own experiences and encourages bold and ambitious leadership”

To find out if the LGA’s Leadership Academy could help you address the challenges facing local government and make the most of new opportunities in your local area, please email grace.collins@local.gov.uk or visit www.local.gov.uk/our-support/ highlighting-political-leadership/leadership-academy

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Cllr Kelham Cooke (Con) Deputy Leader, South Kesteven District Council

“I was newly appointed to the cabinet in May 2015, and the Leadership Academy provided me with great insight to the work of cabinet members and into my own leadership style. It was also a fantastic opportunity to learn best practice from fellow members from across the country and different political parties.

“The course tutors have excellent knowledge and I thoroughly enjoyed the course. We were Group 154 and we all continue to stay in touch and share best practice with our WhatsApp group.

“Since attending the course, I put myself forward at our group AGM and have now become the Deputy Leader of the Council.”

Cllr Laura Miller (Con) Housing Portfolio Holder at Purbeck District Council, and a member of the LGA’s Improvement and Innovation Board

“Taking part in the Leadership Academy programme had a hugely positive impact on me. I regularly use the tools and skills that we learnt on the course but, for me, it went much further than that.

“The cross-party relationships that I built have lasted; we are all still in touch. The constructive criticism that comes from your peers is invaluable. Talking to other members in authorities across the country reassured me that I’m not alone in the issues I face, and fellow members inspired me to try new solutions I hadn’t considered before.”

www.local.gov.uk

Cllr Keith Aspden (Lib Dem) Deputy Leader of City of York Council and a member of the LGA’s Fire Services Management Committee

Cllr Debbie Wilcox (Lab) Leader of Newport City Council, Leader of the Welsh LGA, and a member of the LGA’s City Regions Board

“After spending a lifetime in the classroom as a high school teacher and attending a variety of professional development courses throughout my career, it was most refreshing to find that specific training was available to me in my role as a local councillor.

“The LGA Leadership Academy, run over three separate weekends, was a revelation. It allowed for a wide review of what it means to be an effective councillor and an evaluation and analysis of leadership roles. It was also an excellent opportunity to network with other colleagues across Wales.

“What I didn’t expect was that four months later I’d be elected to become the first woman Leader of Newport City Council and a year after that to become the first woman to lead the Welsh LGA. I’d call that the most successful course I’ve ever done!”

September 2017

“I very much enjoyed my time on the LGA Leadership Academy and would certainly recommend it to councillors – both new members and those already in leadership positions.

“Often, we rightly focus on the issues that we are facing in our own local authorities but don’t make time available to meet councillors from other areas to reflect on what we are achieving nationally.

“I appreciated spending time with colleagues from different parties and different parts of the country to discuss the various challenges facing local government.”

Cllr Julian German (Ind) Deputy Leader of Cornwall Council

“I can guarantee that the Leadership Academy will provide you with learning that you will put into practice. The mixture of colleagues and experts provides valuable insights and allows you to form relationships that can last for years.”

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble (Lab) Deputy Mayor of Hackney Council and a member of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board

“The LGA Leadership Academy programme is ideal for local government leaders, or councillors wanting to explore leadership.

“As a new cabinet member at the time I took the course, the programme has assisted my own political journey as the content has helped me to reaffirm both my political principles and the vision I had for my local community, and how best to convey them to others.

“Sessions are delivered over three weekends, allowing time for you to properly reflect and implement the practices you learn. The programme helped me to explore in more depth the nuance of political leadership and devise a toolkit to help me work through different situations – skills I still use now as the Deputy Mayor of Hackney.”

first feature | 17

interview Affordable housing crisis Councils need to be enabled to build more homes, according to John Healey MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing

Chris Sharp

© chris sharp

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ohn Healey is under no illusion about the impact the housing crisis is having on the younger generation.

He says his son, in his final year at university, and his friends, “have largely written off the chance of being able to buy their own home for now”.

While the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing’s comment is delivered with affection, he well knows the seriousness of the broken housing market, not least in his south Yorkshire constituency of Wentworth and Dearne.

As well as people struggling with rising rents and living in sub-standard properties let by repair-shy landlords, he says young first-time buyers aren’t simply finding homes outright unaffordable – they also can’t raise the deposit for a mortgage because of unreliable incomes caused by short-term work contracts or irregular hours.

The growing demand for, and lack of, new affordable council housing for people on ordinary incomes looking to start a family and build their lives – “people for whom councils in the past have been able to provide homes alongside those in most need” – is not just a London-based problem, he says.

“For too long in the policy world, people have tended to talk about housing and the housing crisis as a problem for London rather than a problem for all parts of the country.

Whether you’re in Rotherham, or rural www.local.gov.uk

Devon, or north Islington, you’ll find many of the same problems – to different degrees – are evident in the shortage of affordable housing, both to rent and to buy.”

Labour launched its own mini-manifesto for solving the housing crisis in the dying days of the General Election campaign, and it forms the basis for its ongoing work in this area. ‘Labour’s new deal on housing’ calls for at least a million new homes to be built over the current Parliament. Proposals include waiving stamp duty for first-time buyers and giving them ‘first dibs’ on new homes in their local areas; new consumer rights for renters; and lifting the housing revenue account borrowing cap so councils can start “a new era of council house building”.

Mr Healey says: “We can’t get away from the fact that we need councils to do much more if we are going to be able to build the number and range of homes that we need.

There’s only one year since the Second World War where we built more than 200,000 new homes in this country without councils building at least a third of them, and that was in 1988.”

On the subject of increasing homelessness, Mr Healey, unsurprisingly, lays the blame on the Government’s doorstep.

“The rapidly rising level of homelessness… shames us as a country as decent and well-off as ours is and, I’m sad to say, is a direct result of many central government policies since 2010,” September 2017

which he says includes cuts to housing benefit support, to the Supporting People Programme that Labour introduced, soaring private rents and – above all – the loss of affordable homes.

“We’ve got 140,000 fewer council homes in the country since 2010; the level of new affordable house building last year fell to a 24-year low,” he cites, saying Labour invested in 40,000 new homes for social rent in 2009/10, but less than 1,000 were started last year.

“It’s a huge difference, which is why we have this building problem. The housing crisis is not entirely, but largely, a housing affordability crisis. You simply can’t deal with that for the long term unless you build a much higher number of affordable homes, both to rent and to buy.”

What isn’t helping councils is the housing borrowing cap. Before the 2010 General Election, Mr Healey said he helped to enable the full localisation of the housing revenue account (HRA).

“The promise and the premise was that councils would be free to make all decisions relating to housing in their area over a 30-year plan, so the cap is indefensible in principle, completely contradictory to the terms of that devolution of the HRA... If this had been done in a commercial world, I think there would be legal action because it is in effect a breach not just of faith but a breach of the commercial terms of the settlement

between local government and national government.”

The borrowing cap is particularly unfair as local government has a much better track record on borrowing than central government, adds Mr Healey.

“It has a level of total indebtedness which is below 5 per cent, compared with central government at 80 per cent, and there is no reason to believe that councils would not use the borrowing headroom within their HRA to make good, long-term investments in housing that their areas need.”

“There’s only one year since the Second World War where we built more than 200,000 new homes in this country without councils building at least a third of them”

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© chris sharp

Overall, he accuses the Government of having a “huge gap where any government’s domestic policy programme should be” and “no new ideas to deal with the housing crisis”, but says Labour would give Prime Minister Theresa May a majority to implement his party’s housing manifesto.

The Grenfell Tower fire reinforces these points, he says, noting: “When Theresa May says Grenfell Tower must lead us

“The housing crisis is largely a housing affordability crisis. You simply can’t deal with that unless you build a much higher number of affordable homes, both to rent and to buy”

20 | first interview

to do more on social housing, it’s clear that a deep rethink is required of the Government’s responsibilities, policy and ideology on housing.”

Speaking before the Government announced a review of building regulations in response to the tragedy, Mr Healey warns that the current system of building control and checks is “a system in collapse”.

“It’s increasingly clear – not just from Grenfell but from previous tower block fires – that the system of building control and checks we now have is failing and must be overhauled,” he says.

“The problems are reinforced by a lack of independent capacity from councils. For instance, I have been told of one northern metropolitan council that in 2010 had eight building control officers; it now has one.”

With Brexit dominating the political agenda, Mr Healey believes the process of leaving the EU is diverting too much of the Government’s focus away from other issues, including the housing crisis.

But he believes the biggest impact of Brexit will be on the capacity of the construction sector to respond to an increased dependence on EU migrant labour.

In a stark warning to the house building industry, he says: “You know what’s coming; you need to raise your game a great deal more to make sure that, for your own business interests, never mind the interests of the country, you’re able to recruit, retain and train a lot more Brits for the jobs that we’re going to need in housebuilding and construction post-Brexit – because the easy

supply from elsewhere in the EU will no longer be available to you.”

Mr Healey was appointed to his current role when Jeremy Corbyn was first elected Labour Leader, but previously worked in the Treasury for five years and was a local government minister in the year before the 2010 General Election. Asked about the progress of devolution, he feels that “popular knowledge and support is a missing piece of the devolution drive at present, partly because the devolution deals have largely been done round the table in Whitehall”.

“The big challenge for the mayors of the combined authorities is to prove that the limited devolution powers they’ve been given so far can start to work and then for local demands to set the terms of the next stage of devolution – rather than it being a question of what central government and the Treasury has, in the past, been ready to offer.”

Despite being critical of certain Government policies, Mr Healey remains positive while his party is not in power.

“Opposition is frustrating at times but you have to see it also in the longer term,” he says. “It’s about trying to shape the debate, win the arguments, and for us the challenge is both to be a strong opposition and a convincing alternative to the Government.

“That’s what I’m trying to do in housing; to challenge and scrutinise on behalf of the public the Government’s policies but also become the source of fresh ideas and fresh thinking that help give people a belief that this is a country that can deal with the housing crisis.” www.local.gov.uk

“It’s increasingly clear – not just from Grenfell but from previous tower block fires – that the system of building control and checks we now have is failing and must be overhauled”

September 2017

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Know your patch

Have you ever wondered what proportion of your residents are employed or how many local schoolchildren are obese?

How does that compare to other places?

LG Inform gives you and your council easy access to up-to-date published data about your local area and the performance of your council and fire and rescue service.

Whether you’re interested in scrutiny, a particular service area, or simply need an overview, it can help you review and compare performance with other authorities and assess whether your council is meeting your residents’ needs.

In addition, we now offer LG Inform Plus to complement LG Inform. This subscription service gives users the power to drill down from authority wide information to much smaller areas.

The service offers more detailed performance and contextual data helping you to make the right decisions about the services you provide to your residents.

It provides direct support, online tools and a data feed to use in your corporate systems and external apps. www.local.gov.uk/lginformplus

To view LG Inform and register visit: www.lginform.local.gov.uk

comment Effective place branding Cllr Hazel Simmons (Lab) is Leader of Luton Borough Council

In July, at the LGA annual conference’s Innovation Zone, I had the pleasure of showcasing how we rebranded Luton with only £500.

Our Deputy Leader, Cllr Sian Timoney, and Chief Executive, Trevor Holden, and I were on hand to show our old and new marketing material, demonstrating the improvement in quality, how the brand links directly to positive transformation of the town and how it was developed completely in-house.

We were keen to show how we achieved cross-party, political support and how the brand – Think Luton – demonstrates a positive shift in perceptions. We created a video, featuring staff and residents talking positively about Luton and the brand, and how they feel motivated and inspired to work and live in the town because of the positive transformation going on.

There is a good story to tell about Luton. We have lots of positive selling points such as excellent transport links, the fifth busiest airport in the UK, and great schools.

But we also knew we needed to combat negative perceptions in order to achieve our investment ambitions. The story needed to be realistic or people wouldn’t join us on our journey. We also had to make sure that we worked with our partners and departments across the council to create a single story, with clear messages, that everyone could relate to and promote.

Partners and developers as passionate as us came on board, which in turn strengthened our reputation and this is key to us attracting more businesses and job opportunities for our residents. It is also key in helping us to meet our housing demand, and deliver improvement and growth across the borough.

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We launched Think Luton and its key messages about the town – ‘proud’, ‘vibrant’, ‘ambitious’, ‘innovative’ – at the same time as our Luton Investment Framework, the council’s 20-year transformation strategy for the borough, to show that the brand was created to encourage real investment.

Since the launch, there has been continued investment in Luton’s Cultural Quarter, new businesses have arrived and work has started on regenerating areas. Major developers have also submitted plans for mixed-used development schemes across the town, and a new transport link connecting Luton Airport Parkway Station to the airport terminal.

We are really proud of how we developed a powerful place brand that people wanted to buy into. We created a narrative, combined with high-quality marketing materials, and we involved communities, which in turn has helped strengthen civic pride and enthusiasm for supporting the town.

When words like ‘dirty’, ‘unsafe’, and ‘uninspiring’, which had come up in our 2014 perception surveys, were replaced by ‘proud’, vibrant’, ‘ambitious’ and ‘innovative’ in the latest survey, we realised the people of Luton were

“We not only have a strong narrative but also a fascinating history, heritage and diversity” noticing the difference and we were on track with our aims.

We know we are being ambitious, but we believe we not only have a strong narrative but also a fascinating history, heritage and diversity.

That is why we were keen to have an element of this at our Innovation Zone session, and the representatives from the St Kitts, Nevis and Friends Carnival Group (pictured) are a great example of what Luton is about.

Proud of what we have achieved, we wanted to use the session to talk to other councils about what we had done to get where we are, and hear their stories too. We were happy to cause some positive disruption in the process!

For more on how Think Luton has attracted investment through effective place branding, please visit www.local.gov.uk/luton-borough-council-think-luton-attracting-investmentthrough-effective-place-branding

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group leaders’ comments Sporting stars of the future

“The successes of our athletes and other sports stars are likely to lead to increased numbers of visitors to leisure centres, sports pitches and swimming pools”

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ugust is a time when there are fewer council meetings than usual, allowing us to spend more time with friends and families and to focus on activities beyond politics.

While not quite rivalling the excitement of the Olympic Games in Rio last year, when Team GB came second in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with a string of gold, silver and bronze medals, many of us are currently enjoying another exciting summer of sport.

At the time of writing, the Athletics World Championships are being held in London, with Mo Farah already taking gold in the 10,000 metres, and hopes are high for successes from other British athletes.

Meanwhile, the strong performance of the English women’s football team, who reached the semi-finals of the European Championships in Holland, has raised the profile of the sport and no doubt inspired many girls to get involved for the first time.

The successes of our athletes and women footballers, as well as other sports stars who have excelled, such as Johanna Konta – the first British woman to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon since 1978 – are likely to lead to increased numbers of visitors to leisure centres, sports pitches and swimming pools as people are enthused to try new sports and get active.

The challenge, of course, is ensuring

Cllr David Simmonds CBE is Leader of the LGA’s Conservative Group

that this enthusiasm is sustained over the coming years.

As such, I am delighted that the LGA has been working closely with Sport England on the delivery of its strategy ‘Towards an active nation 2016-2021’, helping to ensure that councils are central to its plans to promote exercise and activity.

The work that councils do in terms of encouraging people to get involved with sport – both competitively and for leisure – is of a lower profile than many of their responsibilities, but we should never forget its importance in terms of promoting health and fitness and bringing forward our sporting stars of the future.

chairman’s comment

Certainty and continuity

Lord Porter is Chairman of the LGA

Y

ou know the summer is almost over when we start talking about the autumn party conferences, which kick off on 16 September with the Liberal Democrats in Bournemouth.

As ever, LGA councillors and staff will be attending these national events to raise the issues that matter most to our members – including the economy, schools, the impact of an ageing population, and housing.

Funding will also no doubt raise its head, given we are already working on our submission to the first Autumn Budget.

With a hung Parliament, there is a chance for us to influence proposed legislation in a number of ways, including

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by lobbying on private members’ bills (see p29) and working with leading and backbench politicians from all parties. The conferences give us the opportunity to start some of those discussions and further raise the issues that matter to councils.

They are also a chance to raise the profile of local government and all that we are doing.

We will be making the case that councils can provide certainty and continuity in these turbulent political times, while central government is focused on Brexit negotiations.

We will also be highlighting how councils continue to deliver for their local residents, showing resilience, innovation and flexibility in the face of continuing financial pressures and rising demand for services such as children’s and adults’ services, housing and skills.

Each year, we host a debate at the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat conferences on a key topic.

This year, we are focusing on addressing the skills gap, and how we create a better skilled workforce to help fuel local economic growth. The debates will allow us to showcase our ‘Work Local’ proposal for ‘one stop’ local employment and skills services (see first 614).

The LGA’s political group leaders and I look forward to meeting you at the LGA’s popular local government receptions.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid MP and Lib Dem Leader Vince Cable MP will be attending their conference receptions, and we expect Jeremy Corbyn MP to make his usual appearance at the Labour event.

“The party conferences are a chance to raise the profile of local government and all that we do” www.local.gov.uk

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

Cllr Howard Sykes MBE is Leader of the LGA’s Liberal Democrat Group

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

Crisis in children’s services

Health and care: a continuing challenge

The talent and skills of elected members

“Children’s services are being pushed to breaking point”

“Cross-party working is essential to solving the funding crisis in health and social care”

“It is our local councillors who are there serving their communities with sound purpose”

A

W

T

he summer has given us time to think about the challenges and fights with the Government that lie ahead.

Over the past year, within the LGA and nationally, the LGA Labour Group has fought to keep its values and voices heard. As a crossparty organisation, the LGA has kept adult social care at the top of the Government’s agenda – forcing a pledge of new money and shining a spotlight on the scale of the crisis. But we’ve been clear that it is far from over.

Now, we are shining a light on the crisis in children’s services. The LGA has found that due to government cuts, councils have overspent by £605 million to protect children at immediate risk of harm.

Children’s protection is something that councils take seriously but government cuts to the early intervention grant of nearly £500 million since 2013 have severely restricted protection work.

Once again we find ourselves with a Downing Street-made crisis which councils are expected to manage.

Services for the care and protection of vulnerable children are now in many areas being pushed to breaking point. This is an unacceptable situation in one of our most important areas of work. This Government cannot ignore the scale of the crisis their cuts have created.

LGA Labour will fight to ensure that local government is at the heart of new solutions and will continue to force the Government to step up.

key challenge for all of us is how we can fund our health and social care services.

Even allowing for the council tax social care precept rise next year, there will still be a £2.1 to £2.3 billion social care deficit by 2020/21.

As a Liberal Democrat, I am proud that my party has pledged to find billions more for our social care, public health and health services.

But it is not just about money.

The Government should start trusting local government and communities to find long-term solutions that work – which includes encouraging individuals to take more responsibility for their own health.

We need to recognise that a properly funded social care system, better integrated with primary, community and public health, can help to ease the pressures on the NHS. Properly funded public health (starting with reversing the £530 million government cuts since the 2015 General Election) will allow local government to focus on prevention and early intervention and address the causes of ill-health.

I strongly believe that cross-party working is essential to solving the funding crisis in health and social care. If national government cannot do this then I believe local government must take the lead.

Our councillors and our councils must become the agents for change without which our much loved health service will inevitably crumble.

hile reviewing the applications for board positions from our group members, I was struck by what a strong team of talented people we are working with.

The popularity of big party leaders may wax and wane but it is our local councillors who are there serving their communities with good cheer and sound purpose. Thank you.

The new team of Independent Group representatives on LGA boards and other structures start in September, supported by your contributions to our group think tanks and monthly development sessions. We are also holding more regional meetings this year, along with supporting members at all of the Independent party conferences and holding our own LGA Independent Group conference on 24 November.

Skilled and well-informed, it is our members who are most connected to their communities and shape policy and legislation to match what is really needed.

In the months ahead, we will continue to work carefully on making buildings safer and improving the way we approach such problems following the Grenfell disaster. We are also contributing to the Brexit negotiations to get the best deal for local government and will continue to put pressure on government to see through its fairer funding promises.

We’ll do this by continuing to work across groups and parties to find the best solutions and represent a strong voice for local government and our residents.

For our local government guide to the party conferences, please visit www.local.gov.uk/parliament/party-conferences

September 2017

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Councils can lead on tackling pollution Cllr Ralph Bagge (Con) is Leader of South Bucks District Council

The Government’s recent air quality plan rightly highlighted the vital role councils can play in improving air quality.

My district of South Bucks includes the M4, M40 and M25 motorways and Beaconsfield Services, the busiest motorway stop in the UK. Our council has long accepted that the motorways cause pollution and an air quality management area (AQMA) was established in 2004.

As Deputy Chair of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) committee that developed recent guidance on air quality (see

below), we reviewed evidence that showed high traffic volumes cause serious pollution in places where buildings and other structures create a ‘container’ effect with poor ventilation.

A study we considered showed that solid noise barriers beside motorways increase pollution levels up to several hundred metres away. Without barriers, the levels are low just a few metres away from the traffic.

The evidence our committee reviewed for NICE was also clear that diesel vehicles are major polluters, so there is a strong justification for keeping them away from places where those at risk (children, older people and those with breathing difficulties) are found; hence NICE’s recommendation of ‘no idle zones’ outside schools, care homes and hospitals.

We are taking further action in South Bucks.

Responding to the recent ‘Dieselgate’ scandal, we began monitoring residential areas well away from the motorways. We are seeing significantly higher pollution on our residential roads, especially near

NICE has published guidance for councils and others on how to improve air quality and help prevent a range of health conditions. ‘Air pollution: outdoor air quality and health’ is available at www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng70

“There is a strong justification for keeping diesel vehicles away from places where those at risk – children, older people and those with breathing difficulties – are found” primary schools, with high traffic volumes that are stop/start in nature, so we are building our case to support a clean air zone – another recommendation of the NICE guidance.

As leaders, we need to recognise the chance we have to improve air quality – and health – through considering the pollution created by the vehicles that we and our contractors operate; measuring air quality in congestion hot spots; taking steps to reduce pollution; encouraging the take-up of ultra-low emission vehicles; and by providing electric vehicle charging points.

Environmental growth strategy Cllr Julian German (Ind) is Deputy Leader of Cornwall Council

Ambitions around environmental sustainability have focused on attempts to protect what natural resources we have left following centuries of depletion – but this is not enough.

Trying to mitigate harm is not reversing declines in the quality of our natural habitats or the numbers of local plant and animal species. This, in turn, harms the long-term quality of life for people.

We need to reverse the trend, to create a sound environmental foundation for the future that can support an increasingly complex and numerous human population, while also adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Cornwall Council, in conjunction with the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership, has responded with an ambitious

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“We need to create a sound environmental foundation for the future that can support an increasingly complex human population” plan for the environment. Our Environmental Growth Strategy 2015-2065 aims to ensure that all activities in Cornwall account for the importance of the environment but also help to reverse the declines that are being seen in the county.

Environmental growth calls for an increase in the function of our natural systems – so we are focusing on increasing both the quality and quantity of our natural capital, and involving residents and local partners.

Our Grow Nature Toolkit provides lots of information and advice on how people can make a difference – from avoiding single-use plastic items such as bottles, bags,

cups and cutlery, to creating wildlife-friendly gardens or putting a potted plant on their desk at work.

In addition, a bold and ambitious look is being taken at all the ways our public services can realise the opportunities offered by the environment, but also mitigate threats to it.

We will be seeking to ensure new development delivers environmental as well as social and economic gains, and our integrated health and care services are looking at how the environment can be an active contributor to residents’ health and wellbeing.

Environmental partners are increasing their ambitions and businesses are also encouraged to consider environmental growth – with the potential for reward through the Cornwall Sustainability Awards, now in their 15th year.

Please visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/ environmentalgrowth to view the county’s environmental growth strategy, and www.cornwall.gov.uk/environmentand-planning/grow-nature for the toolkit

www.local.gov.uk

Gender pay gap reporting Jo Miller is Chief Executive of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

In July, Doncaster became the first local authority to publish its gender pay gap information, way ahead of the March 2018 deadline.

Our overall proportionate position is 0.44 per cent, which shows that across all grades, there is no significant gender pay gap.

Diversity, equality of opportunity and choice for all employees is important to us and we are working to empower people throughout the council to realise their ambitions and aspirations. Continuous learning and development opportunities are accessible to all.

We’ve taken the initiative to introduce the foundation living wage, and we’re proud of the flexible working practices and hours we offer. We strive to offer flexible working to enable our staff to balance work and personal life, but still provide a quality service to our residents. It’s the small steps like this that have encouraged more women to make their career in the public sector and have supported many in returning to work.

We are also the only council in the UK to have a female elected mayor and chief executive combination – Mayor Ros Jones September 2017

and I. We deliberately and unashamedly encourage other women to maximise their talents and skills, to break down barriers and seize the opportunities that come their way.

Another key priority for us is to support and shape our community and ensure economic growth, which, in turn, will provide a higher quality and quantity of employment opportunities. A further corporate priority is to support educational attainment, through work experience opportunities and highquality apprenticeships.

We are already achieving this in the rail sector. It is moving fast, with billions of pounds being invested to bring infrastructure in the UK and overseas up to the standards expected in the 21st century. We know where the sector is heading and how diversity can help address the skills shortage gap.

Doncaster is embarking on an exciting new chapter in its rail story with the opening of the National College for High Speed Rail in September, which will help redefine what it means to be employed in the rail industry.

Together with the efforts of Women in Rail, we want to ensure women are fully aware of all the opportunities that the sector could offer them. After all, we know a diverse workforce is a stronger workforce.

As well as producing the mandatory gender pay gap analysis, we have delved deeper, completing additional analysis to present fully the organisational context.

We have also outlined how we ensure Doncaster Council has pay equality, irrespective of grade or working hours.

We have included this in an additional explanatory narrative that we have made available on both our website and that of the Government Equalities Office.

Our advice to other local authorities is not to leave looking at their gender pay gap information to the last minute.

The snapshot data will not change, and it took a significant amount of work to get to the correct pool of staff. Doncaster – like other local authorities – had to identify our employees’ additional allowances, remove staff whose pay is affected by maternity, paternity or sickness absence and standardise pay to hourly rates. This all took more time than expected, so please take this into account.

Ultimately, until all organisations have published their data in accordance with the new publication requirements there will be no reliable comparison. We therefore look forward to other councils showcasing their information.

Thousands of employers, including councils, are now required to publish their first gender pay gap figures by March 2018. You can find out more about the requirements at www.gov.uk/guidance/gender-pay-gap-reporting-overview

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Supporting custom and self-build housing Mario Wolf is Director of the Right to Build Task Force

Millions of us regularly watch Grand Designs or similar TV programmes. In fact, more than half of us want to build our own home at some stage, and about a million people are actively looking for land for their project in the UK. We seem to be a nation of wannabe selfbuilders. Most, however, won’t realise their dream. Many simply can’t find land.

Only about 13,000 homes (8 per cent) are custom or self-built each year – much lower than in other countries, where the average is about 50 per cent.

The Government’s Housing White Paper says we can boost home building by supporting smaller builders and people who want to custom or self-build. Legislation on ‘Right to Build’ places a duty on councils to keep a register of people who want a building plot and have regard to this when carrying out their functions. Unless exempt, they must also give enough development permissions for serviced plots to meet the demand on the register.

In October 2016, about 18,000 people were listed on council registers, with more registering daily. South Cambridgeshire, for example, has more than 650 registrations and Cherwell around 2,500.

To meet this demand, some councils have launched initiatives through local and neighbourhood plans, new garden villages, working with developers or by releasing land.

But most are unsure how best to respond.

So, the National Custom and Self Build Association has created the Right to Build Task Force with funding from the charity Nationwide Foundation. It has government endorsement and is supported by partners including the LGA. A group of political ambassadors, led

by Richard Bacon MP, is also ready to engage

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with councillors, and an online toolkit is available.

The Right to Build Task Force is receiving many enquiries, and to manage them, it is focusing on larger-scale initiatives that plan to deliver quickly, or are innovative; the emphasis is on affordable and community-led housing.

For a small, discounted fee, projects are allocated an expert with specialist custom and self-build housing knowledge.

Support ranges from marketing council registers and advice with housing and planning strategies, to guidance on site or area-specific proposals. Best practice is being shared through regional events and case studies, starting with an Expo in Aylesbury on 18 September.

A key area of interest is how custom and self-build housing can support affordable housing, for example by enabling ‘self-finish’ shared-ownership housing or where plots are restricted to discount market sale in perpetuity.

Shropshire’s Single Site Exceptions Policy, for

example, has been delivering 25 to 30 affordable custom and self-build homes each year this way. Community land trusts can also help, like at Broadhempston, Devon, where a trust recently completed six shared-ownership homes.

Innovative and preventative adult social care projects like ‘New Ground’ in London (pictured), designed for and run by a group of older women, can help build market and social-rent housing for retirement households.

New-style custom-build developers can also help build better quality housing faster.

Near St Helens, a leading UK ‘kit’ home provider recently enabled 18 serviced plots on a brownfield site that sold in weeks.

Custom and self-build housing offers significant opportunities for councils to improve housing affordability, boost house design quality and give local communities more housing choice. The challenge is to harness these opportunities – and the Right to Build Task Force is there to help you work out how best to do this.

Mario Wolf is Director of the Right to Build Task Force on secondment from the Department for Communities and Local Government. He has also built his own home. The views expressed are personal. If your council would like support from the task force or if you want to attend any of its events, please email taskforce@nacsba.org.uk

www.local.gov.uk

parliament The value of private members’ bills With the start of the new parliamentary session comes the opportunity for MPs to enter the private members’ bill ballot.

This ballot is important as it gives MPs the opportunity to propose their own legislation and can lead to significant new laws making it onto the statute book – as demonstrated last year when LGA VicePresident Bob Blackman MP (Con, Harrow East) successfully led the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 into law.

We can expect this session’s bills to be particularly influential, given the Government has no working majority in the Commons. This means it will be more difficult for government to oppose these bills if they benefit from cross-party support.

At the start of the parliamentary session, the names of 20 MPs are drawn in a ballot and each is given the opportunity to propose a new law of their choice. MPs stand a greater chance of success the higher up the ballot they are, as they receive priority for debate on the Fridays when Parliament is sitting.

Since 1997, we have seen 377 ballot bills introduced in the Commons. Of these, 92 gained Royal Assent and became law.

Around one in four are successful. The Lords can also put forward private members’ bills (PMBs), but their chance of success is much lower. In the past, the LGA has helped shape a range of PMBs including the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

In this year’s ballot, it was positive to see Daniel Zeichner MP (Lab, Cambridge) decide that his PMB will focus on the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles.

The bill seeks to address issues with crossborder licensing, a crucial issue that the LGA has and will continue to raise with parliamentarians on behalf of our member councils. The bill is expected to be debated in February 2018, and we will work to influence these proposals and make the case for updated taxi licensing legislation to help councils protect their communities.

Taxi licensing was also the subject of a

recent parliamentary debate on the future of the taxi trade, led by LGA Vice-President Wes Streeting MP (Labour, Ilford North). During the debate, Mr Streeting said he agreed with the LGA and the Law Commission that there needed to be a taxi and private hire licensing reform bill.

He recommended the Government should consider introducing a national code of conduct with basic minimum standards for drivers in all parts of the country to adhere to.

Elsewhere in the debate, former Shadow Transport Minister Mr Zeichner highlighted the LGA’s ‘Taxi and PHV licensing – councillor›s handbook (England and Wales)’, which he said helped to advise local government on taxi licensing issues.

He said he hoped to see a substantial piece of legislation introduced on taxi licensing, which was why he was presenting his PMB to help tackle some of the issues on cross-border hiring and passenger safety.

Transport Minister John Hayes MP (Con, South Holland and The Deepings) agreed the Government had an important role to play taxi licensing, because of its responsibility for the legislative framework within which licensing authorities set their own standards and requirements.

With the Government bringing forward fewer bills of its own, the LGA will look to PMBs and parliamentary debates as crucial platforms for making the case for positive changes that help councils continue to be leaders of place in their local areas.

To find out more about the LGA’s parliamentary work, please visit www.local.gov.uk/parliament. You can download a free copy of the LGA’s taxi-licensing handbook for councillors at www.local.gov.uk/taxi-and-phvlicensing-councillors-handbookengland-and-wales

September 2017

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councillor Protecting the public purse Every organisation, whether large or small, is at risk from fraud and councils are no exception to this.

All councils have a duty to protect the public purse, and this involves limiting exposure to fraud and corruption, and reducing risk through effective prevention and detection.

Every local authority is under threat from fraudsters. It could be single person council tax discount fraud reducing council revenue or a cyberattack causing a major data loss, with the potential for reputational damage and fines from the information commissioner.

The LGA, in partnership with various organisations, has produced resources that can assist you, as an elected member, in helping to protect the assets of your authority, and is a co-signatory of the Government’s ‘Fighting fraud and corruption locally: the local government counter fraud and corruption strategy 2016-2019’. The strategy says many local authorities have demonstrated that they can tackle fraud innovatively and can collaborate effectively to meet the challenges, with many identifying fraud reduction as a source of sizeable savings.

Fraud is estimated to cost UK councils around £2.1 billion per year, with key areas at

significant risk including housing tenancies, procurement, payroll and council tax. Fraud leaves councils with less to spend on services for residents and costs taxpayers’ money.

Developed with the sector and aimed at elected members and officers alike, the strategy sets out a cost-effective way to reduce fraud with the emphasis on prevention, the recovery of stolen money, and greater use of technology and collaboration.

It recommends that each local authority should perform its own risk assessment and fraud resilience check, as each authority’s risk profile will be different. It then focuses on preventing fraud – often the most efficient way to make savings – but emphasises the need for a robust enforcement response to pursue fraudsters and deter others.

The LGA’s e-learning module and

For further advice and help within your individual council, you should consult your council’s policy on fraud and bribery, and approach your monitoring officer or chief financial officer. ‘Fighting fraud and corruption locally: the local government counter fraud and corruption strategy 2016-2019’ is available at www. gov.uk/government/publications/fighting-fraud-and-corruption-locally-2016to-2019. The LGA’s e-learning module on bribery and fraud prevention can be accessed through the LGA councillor e-learning portal, https://lms.learningnexus.co.uk/LGA/.

If you need to register to use this or other modules, please email elearning@local.gov.uk The accompanying workbook can be accessed at www.local.gov.uk/councillor-workbook-bribery-and-fraud-prevention

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accompanying councillor workbook on bribery and fraud prevention, developed in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance, helps you work through some of the issues raised in the strategy, including undertaking risk assessments and checks. It also outlines what makes effective prevention, including: • a robust programme of anti-fraud and corruption awareness training for councillors, senior managers and all staff • standards of conduct and policies that are well communicated, including officer and councillor codes of conduct, and policies on financial regulations and procurement, whistleblowing, and gifts and hospitality.

The workbook sets out ways in which you, as a councillor, may be involved in helping prevent fraud, for example by reporting suspicious activity in your ward that might indicate council homes are being sub-let or council tax evaded; by scrutinising risk registers; or in the oversight and scrutiny of budgets.

More generally, it says, you can support the principles of good governance by supporting an anti-fraud culture across the council, including whistleblowing, and supporting the publicising of successful prosecutions by your council to act as a deterrent – perhaps by supplying quotes to the press, if appropriate. www.local.gov.uk

local by-elections Charnwood, Loughborough Shelthorpe LAB HELD 0.3% over Con Turnout 21.8%

elections No quick fix for Lib Dems

Knowsley, St Michaels LAB HELD 79.6% over Lib Dem

Turnout 12.2%

Manchester, Fallowfield LAB HELD 67.5% over Green Turnout 10.1%

Turnout 26.2%

North Dorset, Blandford Central CON GAIN FROM IND 0.4% over Lab Turnout 25% two camps was of no benefit to the Liberal Democrats on General Election day.

They made a modest gain in seats as they went from eight to 12 MPs, but their vote share dropped again to a level that neither the party nor its predecessors had seen since 1970.

It has been the General Election, rather than the earlier more optimistic picture, that has framed the Liberal Democrats’ recent results. Since 8 June they have competed in 27 local by-elections, losing one seat and recording an average 2 per cent increase in share of the vote.

That is not a trajectory that promises a rapid recovery from their current rather parlous position in local government. They have their lowest number of councillors since 1982 – fewer than one in 10 of all those elected in Britain – and control of just eight of more than 400 councils.

In May next year they will defend a little over 400 seats from 2014. In 2010, they had more than 700 councillors elected in the same wards and local authorities. A tally somewhere between 500 and 600 seats in 2018 would mark modest progress but, in truth, it took some 15 years for the party to reach 5,000 councillors after 1982.

Even in an era of unprecedented electoral volatility, it will be all too clear to Leader Vince Cable MP and his colleagues that there is no quick fix for the party that once seemed defined by its appeal to local voters.

For more information on these and other recent by-election results, please visit www.local.gov.uk/first

September 2017

Turnout 43%

King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, St Margaret’s with St Nicholas CON GAIN FROM LAB 6.1% over Lab Turnout 19.2%

Merton, St Helier LAB HELD 58.5% over Con

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

When the Liberal Democrats gather in Bournemouth in September for their conference, they will rue the hand that this year’s electoral events have dealt them.

Until Prime Minister Theresa May MP fired the starting pistol for the General Election on 18 April, they had been enjoying the kind of revival that must have awoken memories of pre-coalition days.

In 37 local by-election contests from the beginning of the year until then, they had registered nine net gains and an average 15 percentage point increase in share of the vote. A number of these victories occurred in seats they had not even contested at the previous round of local elections, and swings to the party in excess of 20 per cent were common.

Although they may not quite have positioned themselves as the preferred party of ‘Remain’ voters, it did seem as if they had resurrected their previous role as a repository for those who wanted to cast a ballot for ‘neither of the above’.

The May local elections in England and Wales were less productive, though. Although the Liberal Democrat share of the national equivalent vote rose to a relatively healthy 18 per cent from 14 per cent four years earlier, they actually lost seats thanks to a surge in Conservative support.

The local elections, of course, proved the high point of Conservative fortunes, but the subsequent polarisation of the electorate into

Eden, Alston Moor LAB GAIN FROM CON 21.1% over Con

Rutland, Ketton CON HELD 37.6% over Lib Dem Rutland, Whissendine IND GAIN FROM LIB DEM 28.1% over Con

Turnout 28.5%

Turnout 36%

Sevenoaks, Penshurst, Fordcombe & Chiddingstone CON HELD 24.8% over Lib Dem Turnout 37.3% Shepway, New Romney CON HELD 2.7% over Lab Turnout 27.2% Staffordshire Moorlands, Leek East LAB GAIN FROM CON 16% over Con Turnout 28.6% Stockton-on-Tees, Billingham North LAB HELD 1.8% over Con Turnout 25.1% Swale, Milton Regis LAB GAIN FROM UKIP 29.9% over Con

Turnout 23.4%

Thanet, Margate Central LAB GAIN FROM UKIP 33.5% over Con Turnout 21.3% West Lindsey, Scotter & Blyton CON HELD 8.8% over Lib Dem Turnout 25.7% Worthing, Marine LAB GAIN FROM CON 8.5% over Con

Turnout 32.2%

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#ncasc17

GOLD SPONSOR

Share good practice, network with colleagues and progress issues of national policy for children and adult services at this year’s NCAS Conference.

With a mix of of ministerial addresses, plenaries, sub-plenaries and workshops, this conference is vital to elected members, directors of children’s and adult services, directors of public health, senior managers, policy makers as well as organisations with responsibilities for children and adults in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors. Alongside the conference will be an exhibition of suppliers and providers of relevant services as well as a lively Speakers’ Corner.

Speakers include: Emma Bennett, Director of Children’s Services, City of Wolverhampton Council Niall Dickson, Chief Executive, NHS Confederation Alastair Gibbons, Executive Director for Children’s Services, Birmingham City Council

John O’Brien, Secretary to the Inquiry, IICSA Lisa Pascoe, Deputy Director, Social Care, Ofsted Helen Riley, Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Families and Communities, Staffordshire County Council

Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive, Carers UK

Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive, Public Health England

Jeremy Hughes CBE, Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s Society

Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Inspector, Adult Social Care, Care Quality Commission

Clive Jones, Director of Children’s and Adult Services, Telford & Wrekin Council

Margaret Willcox, President, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS)

Alison Michalska, President, Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS)

Book your place at www.local.gov.uk/events