News and views from the Local Government Association “This year won’t be just another election year. It will be the year which defines our future and the fate of residents’ services.” Cllr David Sparks, LGA Chair, p12
P12 Campaign launch
Future Funding: the LGA makes the case for no further cuts and for social care to be fully-funded P8-9 Skills and employment Councils succeed where national schemes fail
P10 The big switch Helping communities save on energy bills
Fortnightly Issue 580 17 January 2015
P11 Magna Carta Get involved in commemorations
EDITORIAL
No more cuts This month, the LGA has launched our ‘Future Funding’ campaign to protect local government services. We are making the case for no further cuts and for social care to be fully funded by central government. The campaign coincides with an LGA report on the impact of a shortfall in government funding for council tax support. Local authorities are already dealing with £20 billion of cuts, and we are calling on government to fully fund council tax support to the same level as under council tax benefit. Also this week we warned that schools face breaking point as the cost of creating school places for 900,000 extra pupils will take its toll. Government must fully-fund this and give councils back the powers to open new schools. Devolved control of local finances is central to our overarching “100 Days” campaign. Whoever forms the next government has a costed “must do” list for its first days in office to invest in our county’s future. Councils must be free to drive growth locally and bring business taxation in to the 21st century. Local authorities are working together innovatively and stoically to make efficiencies where our communities are least likely to see an impact on services. The 48 councils investing in our Municipal Bonds Agency also stands testament. Last month’s finance settlement confirmed that local services will continue to face a huge financial challenge. Financial predictions show that in some places, some services are likely to suffer considerably. This year marks the start of a five-year era that will define the future of local government and the fate of the services we provide for our communities. With all that we have achieved, together we can make the most convincing case to get a better deal for the whole of local government. Cllr David Sparks is Chair of the LGA Editor Dawn Chamarette Design Liberata Design Advertising Amanda Cowen Write to first, Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ T (editorial) 020 7664 3294 T (advertising) 020 7664 3157 email first@local.gov.uk Photography Photofusion and Ingimage unless otherwise stated Print BGP Ltd, Bicester Circulation 18,400 (July 2014) To unsubscribe email first@oscar-research.co.uk The inclusion of an advert or insert in first does not imply endorsement by the LGA of any product or service. Contributors’ views are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the LGA.
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FIRST NEWS
Schools face brink over places cost
The £12 billion cost of creating school places for the 900,000 extra pupils expected at England’s schools over the next decade could push schools to breaking point, the LGA is warning. Thursday was the deadline for parents to apply for primary school places for 2015, when about 370,000 four-year-olds will start school. The LGA is concerned the crunch on school places could reach a tipping point when there is no more space or money to extend schools. It is asking Government to fully-fund the cost of school places and to give councils back the powers to open new schools. The LGA has published plans to ensure every child gets a place at a good, local school. These form part of the “Investing in our nation’s future” campaign, which sets out what the next government needs to do in its first 100 days by devolving power to local areas. Cllr David Simmonds, Chairman of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “Mums and dads rightly expect their children to be able
to get a school place and councils and schools are doing all they can to provide this. “But we fear a tipping point could soon emerge when councils and schools can no longer afford the massive costs for the creation of places, nor find the space necessary for new classes. “We are calling on the Government to commit to funding the creation of school places and hand councils the powers to open new schools, for both primary and secondary-age pupils, before time runs out. “The scale of this crisis is too much for council taxpayers to pay for alone. Additionally, much of the decision making about new school places rests in the hands of the Government, whose funding for school places came late. As a consequence, councils are carrying a billion pounds worth of costs which puts pressure on other school services.” Government has committed £7.35 billion to create extra places, while local authorities created 90,000 places in 2012/13.
Inside this issue 05 Policy
Licensing: feesetting
06 Letters
Candidates’ calibre
07 Opinion
Affordable housing
08 Back to work Council job schemes
10 Feature
Saving on energy bills
12 Feature
Campaign: Future Funding
14 Parliament
Extraordinary year ahead
Social care cuts ‘false economy’ The LGA has reiterated its warning that the health and social care system is chronically underfunded and the importance of social care services in alleviating the pressures on the health service. It came after reports last week of growing pressures on NHS accident and emergency services and the impact that severe cuts to social care funding could be having on the issue. Social care services support the elderly and vulnerable people to maintain their independence, live in their own community and stay out of hospital longer, which is why, said the LGA, investing extra money in the NHS while forcing councils to cut their social care budgets is a false economy. The LGA has been warning that the situation is set to get worse over the next two years unless adult social care is put on a sustainable footing, having a knock-on effect on vital NHS services. Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing
Board, said: “The combined pressures of insufficient funding, growing demand, escalating costs and a 40 per cent cut to local government budgets across this parliament mean that despite councils’ best efforts they are having to make tough decisions about the care services they can provide, potentially leaving the most vulnerable members of our communities at risk of losing essential care. “It’s not enough to keep papering over the cracks. Government needs to invest money in protecting a system which will be there to look after people in the future and not just in the immediate term. This will only be achieved through a determined effort from councils, the health service and government working together. “We need a care system that is fit for the 21st century and it must be a shared ambition between councils and their health partners. If social care continues to be inadequately funded, this will tip some services into failure.
Councils link up for road to growth
News in brief Slice of alcohol tax would help tackle health and social issues
The LGA is calling for the Government to divert a fifth of the annual duty on alcohol to councils so they can save the public sector billions of pounds and improve people’s lives. This £2 billion is less than a tenth of the £21 billion annual national “bill” for the harm caused by excessive drinking; covering healthcare, crime and lost work productivity. The proposal is featured in a new LGA report, “Tackling the causes and Effects of Alcohol Misuse,” and is part of LGA’s 100 Days campaign which sets out the devolved powers that the next government needs to carry out after May’s general election.
Summit to help prevent child sexual exploitation
The action required to ensure children are better protected from sexual exploitation will be discussed by local government leaders at a summit on Tuesday. The event will also provide a chance to take stock of issues highlighted over the past few months and review progress in tackling some of these historic weaknesses. Speakers include Kris Hopkins MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Cllr David Simmonds, Chairman of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board. For more details on the summit or to book a place, visit www.local.gov.uk/events.
Agreement with betting shops
The home to Jaguar Land Rover’s new engine manufacturing centre, among others, has been developed in partnership between Wolverhampton City Council, South Staffordshire Council and Staffordshire County Council. The city and county have invested more than £40 million in infrastructure, including the new motorway junction linking the “i54” site to the M54. Major businesses now up and running on site showcase British engineering, science and advanced manufacturing. Pictured are council leaders Cllr Roger Lawrence, Cllr Brian Edwards and Cllr Philip Atkins.
The LGA and Association of British Bookmakers have signed a joint-agreement to help tackle local concerns around betting shops and ensure a more constructive working relationship. It is an opportunity to ensure councils are confident that their concerns are listened to and acted on. It also aims to reassure the industry that councils recognise their right to be on the high streets. The framework builds on earlier examples of joint working between councils and the industry, for example in Medway and Ealing.
FIRST NEWS
3
The LGA and Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) 11 February 2015, London
With the transfer of public health to local government, the LGA’s national annual flagship conference on public health offers a valuable opportunity to analyse the implications. The event highlights work being
undertaken by councils and public health teams with their partners and communities, and looks at how to build on best practice to identify and tackle the challenges and opportunities of this new landscape.
For more information or to book your place, see www.local.gov.uk/events
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FIRST ADS
05/01/2015 14:38
firstpolicy Planning Flood risk management In response to the LGA’s lobbying and concerns regarding the financial implications of proposals to deliver sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) on new development, the government has announced that it plans to amends its approach. This will include one consenting regime through the planning process and a removal of the requirement for local authorities to adopt and maintain SuDS. It is envisaged that the new arrangements will take effect from April 2015. The LGA also wrote to Liz Truss MP (Environment Secretary) earlier this month to press for clarity on the resources available to councils to prepare for and deliver the new arrangements. Housing conference
Affordable housing event
The LGA’s annual housing conference takes place this year on 17 February in London. It will look at the challenges for councils, tenants and landlords as well as the opportunities for investment offered through self-financing and innovative council led partnerships. Attending this conference will give you practical information on affordable housing finance, and an opportunity to hear from councils who are building new homes either directly or in partnership. Those attending will hear from national experts on affordable housing and gain an understanding of the challenges and options for solving them. Workshop sessions will focus on the broader context for affordable housing including supporting tenants through welfare reform and the role of councillors in improving quality and outcomes for tenants. To book your place visit www.local.gov.uk/events
Social care Preparing for the Care Act Through the Joint Programme Office, the LGA is supporting councils to prepare for the implementation of the Care Act in 2015 and 2016. As part of this, the latest stocktake was sent to Directors of Adult Social Care Services on 13 January with councils invited to respond by 3 February. Previous results have revealed that councils are making good progress, with 97 per cent confident that they will be in a strong position to deliver the reforms in 2015, albeit with a number of critical challenges. The latest survey builds on key areas identified
in stocktake two, with some additional questions relating to changes in 2016. Please encourage your council to complete this survey to inform its preparations as well as local and regional support discussions. See details at www.local.gov.uk/caresupport-reform
Licensing Fee-setting The LGA used its annual Licensing Conference this week to call for the Government to finally allow councils to set their own licensing fees. Estimates suggest that, since 2005, local authorities are diverting at least
£1.5 million a month to pay for processing applications, holding consultations and hearings and investigating and taking action on licensing breaches because of nationally-set fees. This everrising bill now stands at around £169.5 million – enough to fill three million potholes and provide 28 million meals on wheels. Cllr Tony Page, LGA Licensing Spokesman, said: “At a time when every penny is needed to protect essential services, it is unacceptable for councils to keep being forced to spend millions each year to subsidise the drinks industry.”
Communities Libraries task force William Sieghart has published his report on the future of England’s Public Libraries, jointly commissioned by the Departments for Culture, Media and Sport and Communities and Local Government. The report recognises that libraries are a locally-led service with much existing innovation. It recommended setting up a local government-led task force that will report to the LGA and government ministers. Paul Blantern, Chief Executive of Northamptonshire County Council, will chair the task force. See www.gov.uk/government/ publications.
Focus groups Safeguarding children Focus groups take place in February on effectiveness of arrangements for local safeguarding children boards. For dates, venues and details see the children and young people section of the programmes menu at www. local.gov.uk.
FIRST POLICY
5
sound bites Cllr Martyn Rawlinson (Lab, Preston) “@khopkinsmp says if you want devolution, get a plan, get on a train and come and get it #localgov @LGANews” www.twitter.com/martynrolly Cllr Donna Jones (Con, Portsmouth) “Busy1st day back, meetings about budget schools building programme employment issues looking at sickness & police & crime alliance mtg tomoz” www.twitter.com/DonnaPCC Cllr Ralph Berry (Lab, Bradford) “Speaking to Look North tonight on school places crisis, lack of capital and need to plan and build schools where we need them.” www.twitter.com/CllrRalphBerry Cllr Mathew Hulbert (Lib Dem, Hinckley & Bosworth) “Birmingham is a beautiful, diverse, industrious city at the heart of our nation. Fox News really are beyond a joke! #Birmingham” www.twitter.com/HulbertMathew Cllr Carl Thomson (Con, Surrey) “Great news for #Woking as #Surrey allocated an additional, much needed £87m for pothole repairs by @ transportgovuk. http://bit.ly/1xSzskZ” www.twitter.com/CllrCarlThomson Do you have a blog or a Twitter account we should be following? Let us know. Email first@local.gov.uk
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FIRST COMMENT
letters
Candidates’ calibre is paramount With regards to “Candidates under the spotlight” (first 579), in Wigan we had an independent Community Action Group; in year one they got two councillors and in year two they increased to five. Year three was an “all out” election and, with Wigan having 75 seats, they rushed around thinking they had to get 75 candidates. They took anyone in just to try and fill seats. They gained 18 seats in year three but had some people who, in hindsight, they would not have chosen. After a number of years it all fell apart. With UKIP’s flash of popularity it is easy for people to try and jump on their band wagon. Paper candidates
are another area of concern, or at least they should be. My question would be: is it best to try and get the right calibre of candidates and increase at a slower pace or is it best to ride the wave and try and get as many in as soon as possible? If the Community Action Party vetted their candidates they might have only got 12 candidates in but it would have been a stronger team. Just trying to fill seats, even with paper candidates, takes resources, time and energy away from getting the best for the best candidates. Cllr Gareth Fairhurst (Ind) Wigan Council
OPINION
Just one downside to being a councillor
I was intrigued to read “Candidates under the spotlight” (first 579). For nearly two years I have been a serving county, district and town councillor in Banbury. I am up for re-election at district council level on 7 May 2015. I have always enjoyed canvassing constituents on the doorstep. Being a councillor who holds a job down on a building site, I have found helping my constituents at every level of the council thoroughly rewarding and I have no regrets of being a councillor. The only downside seems to be the perpetual austerity cuts that face local government. Oxfordshire County Council alone faces millions of pounds more in cuts and I feel that we may see closure of some children’s centres, which are vital for parents, in the near future. The end of councillors’ community budgets looks certain, as does massive cuts to adult social care. Cllr Mark Cherry (Lab) Oxfordshire County Council
Commissioning outcomes
In her article titled “Commissioning academy” (first, 579), Cllr Shirley Flint wrote that councils could work “with the private sector in one service area, and a mutual in another; or a charity here…” This reminded me of conversations I had with managers in the probation service over three years ago when they mentioned “outcomes” – and look what has happened: two companies are to be put in charge of more than half of probation services in England and Wales. Professor Noam Chomsky seems to sum things up: “That’s the standard technique of privatisation: defund, make sure things don’t work, people get angry, you hand it over to private capital.”
North East moving swiftly
It was a very interesting Opinion article by Cllr Stephen Brady Labour Leader of Hull City Council (“North East must act now,” first 579). I’d like to reassure everyone the North East councils are moving swiftly on the combined authority front. The sub region Tees Valley authorities of Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland are going through the consultation process with the five council cabinets agreeing with the combined authority concept. However, once again, we up north got short changed via the latest round of central government cuts, with Middlesbrough taking the biggest hit on the grants and council tax front in the North East – a cut of 5.6 per cent a (£8.9 million). Redcar and Cleveland will lose £5.2 million (3.7 per cent). We look south with envy as their spending powers go up. Tewkesbury get the biggest increase of 3.2 per cent and Surrey a whopping £27 million or 3.1 per cent increase. I’m always cynical when governments profess they want to devolve powers to the regions, however I will keep the combined authority glass half full and look to the Government of the day to top it up and deliver more power to the regions via the combined authority vehicle. Cllr George Robert Dunning (Lab) On behalf of the Tees Valley authorities: Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, and Redcar and Cleveland
Affordable homes will tackle poverty After decades of failing to build enough homes, those in power have a responsibility to act now to build more genuinely affordable homes. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s recent report with Herriot-Watt University into the housing market in 2040 spelt out the scale of the problem and how failing to act will store up trouble. We found that if nothing is done, tenants will be twice as likely to be living in poverty than homeowners; private rents could rise by 90 per cent (twice as fast as incomes); nearly six million private renters will be living in poverty, while social housing will fall to house just one in 10 people - 2.5 million fewer than today. A continuing decline in home ownership and social renting, together with a lack of new homes, will result in more people living in expensive and insecure private rented homes. These high costs are bad for families, the economy and government, not least with the housing benefit forecast to increase by £20 billion. Social housing needs more attention. Social housing has a continuing essential role, supplying stable housing for people on low incomes. To be credible, national housing policy must set out more clearly what is expected of this crucial asset base, and what it can expect in return. This is where we look to local government. The devolution debate provides an opening to address the housing crisis and rising poverty by commanding powers which will make a difference to housing supply. A key test of devolution must be its ability to tackle poverty: housing costs are vital to this challenge and local authorities hold the key. We need a strategy that builds the homes we need in the right places and avoids locking low income households out of truly affordable homes. This is about much more than the frustrated aspirations for home ownership from Generation Rent: the reality facing many people is a life below the poverty line because of the extortionate cost of keeping a roof over their head. Addressing the rising cost of housing is crucial to tackling high levels of poverty. That is a responsibility for us all to address.
Cllr Neil Laurenson (Green) Worcester City Council What do you think? You can comment on these letters online at www.local.gov.uk/first-letters or submit your own letter for publication by emailing first@local.gov.uk. Letters may be edited and published online
Julia Unwin is Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
FIRST COMMENT
7
National job schemes are failing our most vulnerable unemployed residents. Council schemes have proved more successful. LGA Chair, Cllr David Sparks says it is time for government to devolve all funding for skills training and employment services to local authorities.
The skills for the job Unemployment is falling, but the headlines are hiding the plight of our most vulnerable residents who are slipping through the cracks. Too many are being let down by the 28 national job schemes – spread across 10 different Whitehall departments at a cost of more than £13 billion – which are unable to identify or help them because they have not signed on at their local Jobcentre Plus.
Latest employment figures released in December show that the number of unemployed people not claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance has passed one million for the first time. This alarmingly means many of the hardest to reach jobseekers, such as young people or those with complex needs, are not receiving any government help into work with national schemes too focused on getting people off benefits rather than helping them into a job. This challenge is growing rapidly, with a 28 per cent increase in the proportion of unemployed people not claiming benefits in the last 18 months. It also comes as the number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work for more than two years has quadrupled in the past decade and reached 90,000, up from 21,000 in 2005.
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FIRST FEATURE
A report published this week by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), commissioned by the LGA, explores in detail how a sample of councils across the country have provided a safety net for their most vulnerable and hardest to reach residents. Using their local knowledge, expertise and connections with local organisations and services, they are able to target their hardest to reach residents. Working with employers, charities and voluntary groups, schools, colleges and housing associations, local schemes have provided one-to-one mentoring, training, work placements and apprenticeships. Specialist advice and guidance also supported people’s wider needs such as housing and childcare, critical to helping people get a job and keep it. The schemes have had success with helping some of the hardest to reach residents into work, such as lone parents, ex-offenders and disabled people which has contributed to reductions in the number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET), re-offending rates, and in the use of health and social services which helps save millions of pounds from the public purse. These successful schemes act as a vital safety net for people but are under real threat with local government funding cut by 40 per cent during the life of this Parliament and pressure on vital services continuing to grow.
The LGA will continue to warn that councils cannot afford to continue resolving the failings of these national schemes in their communities without the appropriate funding. The only real solution is for the next government to commit to devolving all nationally-run, education, skills and employment schemes to local areas so councils can join-up services to support their most vulnerable residents.
For information on the LGA’s Hidden Talents campaign visit www.local. gov.uk/hidden-talents. Find out more about the LGA’s proposals for skills and jobs in the 100 Days campaign at www.local.gov.uk/100days
Cllr David Sparks is Chair of the LGA
Already working CASE STUDIES BRADFORD
The “Get Bradford Working” scheme saw Bradford Council invest over £10 million in employment and skills initiatives. This includes £1.4 million for the Routes into Work commissioned fund to target unemployed people, such as those with ill health and disabilities who account for more than a third of the city’s workless. It saw 35 per cent of those taking part finding work, with 62 per cent of these still in sustained work when surveyed after three months.
NORTH TYNESIDE
An Outreach Team, set up by North Tyneside Council in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, tackled deprived areas by providing specialist advisers to help long-term unemployed people. A quarter of those given advice were helped into work.
SURREY
Targeting young NEETs aged 16 to 19, Surrey Council invested £750,000 into a “Ready for Work” scheme to increase the takeup and availability of apprenticeship and work opportunities. It halved the number of NEETs in the county, which now has one of the lowest levels in England.
GATESHEAD
A locally-led Work Programme saw Gateshead Council provide mandatory support for unemployed residents to bring in income to be reinvested in council services. It saw 42 per cent of 18 to-24-year-olds in work, significantly better than the 28 per cent achieved by the national Work Programme.
HARINGEY
Advice, guidance, work placements and training were given to jobless residents from the first day of their unemployment. Haringey Council’s scheme focused on lone parents and disabled people, with a quarter of those helped being found work.
SOUTHAMPTON
Offenders from custody and probation were targeted with skills training and placements by Southampton City Council as part of its “Offender Skills and Employment Scheme”. It saw a 62 per cent reduction in re-offending rates and is estimated to have saved the Treasury £24 million.
BURY
The “Backing Young Bury” scheme, run by Bury Council, targeted long-term unemployed 18 to-24-year-olds. It worked with 38 young people with 32 progressing to jobs and training. In total, the council has offered 160 apprenticeship opportunities since 2010.
LIVERPOOL
Liverpool Council’s “Streets Ahead Plus” scheme targeted lone parents in the city. It engaged 80 lone parents, with 15 entering employment.
CORNWALL
Cornwall Works Hub has supported and given advice to 10,000 people to reduce worklessness and raise employment rates in the county.
FIRST FEATURE
9
Councils are helping households reduce their energy bills by signing up for a scheme supported by the LGA which gives communities the buying power to switch to cheaper suppliers, without the hassle.
THE
BIG SWITCH
IS ON
More than 150 local authorities have saved their residents money by signing up for a group buying scheme that reduces domestic energy bills.
Councils have signed up to the LGA’s collective switching contract framework for a quick and easy procurement process that enables them to help residents find a cheaper supplier by harnessing the mass buying power of communities. The framework, links councils with switching provider iChoosr for a quick and easy procurement process – see www.local.gov.uk for the framework. Ultimately, it enables residents to sign up to a no-obligation expression of interest in the scheme. Energy suppliers bid downwards to offer a lower price to consumers in auctions which take place three times a year. Councils receive £5.50 for each electricity or gas switch and £11 for each dual fuel switch. Additionally, iChoosr offers training and advice to councils to enable frontline staff to respond to queries from residents about collective switching. The framework also offers an offline service for residents without access to the internet. The last auction negotiated energy prices for residents that were £35 cheaper than the existing market leading price and 98 per cent of people registered could have saved money on their energy bills.
For more information about how your council can sign up to collective switching contact joanne.straw@local.gov.uk
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FIRST FEATURE
Tackling fuel poverty The main causes of fuel poverty are homes not being energy efficient and people struggling to pay their bills on low incomes. Obviously, a collective energy switch will not improve the energy efficiency of homes, but it can help to reduce people’s fuel bills. Councils taking a lead on the switch give residents the reassurance of a trusted brand – something very important to vulnerable customers, including the elderly. It provides an element of “hand-holding” which is not available to people using other switching or comparison services. And there is also support available for people who do not have access to, or cannot use the internet. Three rounds of the Lincolnshire Energy Switch have taken place so far; the fourth round is currently ongoing, with residents having until 2 February to sign up. In the first three rounds nearly 8,000 householders registered for the Lincolnshire Energy Switch, with 1,674 actually switching. Best of all collectively these households are estimated to make savings of £316,852: this is money staying in householders pockets rather than paid out to fuel suppliers. The Lincolnshire Energy Switch also funds a telephone line which allows offline customers to register: the cost of running this is paid for by the “referral fee” so the scheme is cost neutral to councils. Other councils weighing up the pros and cons of participating in the iChoosr collective switching scheme should view this as another tool that can help fuel poor households.
Cllr Owen Bierley is Chair of the West Lindsey District Council’s Prosperous Communities Committee
This year local, national and international communities will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta.
Magna Carta:
celebrating and educating Get involved and share your plans The sealing of Magna Carta will be commemorated around the country this year. Regarded as the founding document of our political system, the 800-year-old charter’s democracy theme resonates with the LGA’s 100 Days campaign for devolution of funds and spending powers to local authorities. If your council is commemorating Magna Carta’s anniversary or would like support in organising an event, visit the LGA’s online resource at: www.lga.local. gov.uk/magna-carta The website section brings together news about events, funding opportunities and case studies. Councils are asked to share their plans by emailing cts@local. gov.uk The LGA represents councils on the Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Committee. More news is at www. magnacarta800th.com
Some key events Here is a flavour of some of the events planned: In Surrey, the County Council is leading the arrangements for the hosting the international 800th anniversary event for Magna Carta on 15 June 2015 at Runnymede Meadows, with the Queen in attendance. This marks the day and place where Magna Carta was sealed. The council is financing a significant new art commission to mark the occasion. Hew Locke’s work will comprise 12 permanently sited chairs in the historic meadow at Runnymede, intricately worked in bronze. There is a comprehensive
programme of local events and a commissioned work to be performed at the Royal Albert Hall. There are plans to improve the visitor experience and the landscape, and create a culturally branded destination for the area. Lincolnshire County Council have spent ten years preparing for the anniversary. Lincoln Castle was visited by King John, and has undergone a £22 million regeneration. A contemporary vault will be opened for the 1215 Magna Carta which is owned by Lincoln Cathedral. A new wall walk circuit, interpretation of its Victorian “separate system” prison and improved visitor facilities complete the restoration. A spectacular river pageant will be the highlight of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s celebrations. A flotilla of boats of all shapes and sizes will make its way downstream from Bisham Abbey to Wraysbury on 13 and 14 June. It is being organised by Runnymede Borough Council and Thames Alive, which helped organise the Queen’s Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. There is also a packed calendar of community events. Elsewhere, six routes across the country make up the Magna Carta Tourism Trails. They are an opportunity to attract even more visitors to some of our most beautiful and historic towns, cities and villages, which played a pivotal role in the momentous events of 121315 and beyond. Details are at www. magnaccartatrails.com For 14 June, Parliament and The National Trust are promoting LiberTeas. Councils and community groups are encouraged to host local tea parties,
picnics, debates, or any kind of event that enables them to reflect, debate or celebrate the rights that we enjoy today or to commemorate those who worked to gain those rights. For an events toolkit, promotional material and to register an event go to www.liberteas.co.uk. The launch of Parliament in the Making, takes place on 20 January. The UK-wide programme of events and activities, also marks the 750th anniversary of the Montfort Parliament, the first time representatives from towns and shires came to Westminster at the same time to discuss issues of national concern, as opposed to agreeing taxation. See www. parliament.uk/2015. From 13 March to 1 September the British Library is holding a once-in-alifetime exhibition which brings together the Library’s two original Magna Carta documents from 1215, as well as borrowing Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten draft of the declaration of American independence and an original copy of the Bill of Rights. 3–4 March LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Conference, Durham The venue is home to three copies of Magna Carta. The title of this year’s conference is: “A new Magna Carta? The power of culture, tourism and sport to transform places and renew democracy.” Speakers include Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chairman of Arts Council England; Sir Laurie Magnus, Chairman of English Heritage; Viscountess Cobham, Chairman of VisitEngland and Sir Robert Worcester, Chairman of the Magna Carta 800th Committee. To book a place visit www.local.gov.uk/events
FIRST FEATURE
11
At this year’s LGA Finance Conference attended by councillors and chief officers, LGA Chair Cllr David Sparks launched the ‘Future Funding’ campaign to protect local government services. It will focus on making the case for no further cuts and social care being fullyfunded by government and will call for devolved control over local finances. The launch coincided with the publication of an LGA report on the impact on councils and residents of a shortfall in government funding for council tax support.
Campaigning for our communities
Since 2010 local authorities have seen a cut of 40 pence in every pound of core funding, yet we have responded stoically, saving millions in efficiencies and re-configuring services.
We cannot take the same level of cuts in the next parliament. Most of the efficiency savings which can be made have been made. We need a more flexible income base and we need to ensure funding for our costliest and most vital services, such as adult social care, is protected from further cuts. A total of 60 per cent of councils we surveyed are considering stopping some services in this coming year. And by 2020, councils will face a funding gap of more than £12 billion. That is why – as part of the LGA’s 100 Days campaign for the “must do” tasks the new government must tackle beginning in May – we are launching our ‘Future Funding’ campaign focused on local government finance. We will: • Make the case for local government, showing the impact on local communities; • Look at the concept of whole-place budgets;
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• Call on the Government to make sure social care is fully-funded. If not, extra money currently being pledged to the NHS will just be spent picking up the pieces of a declining adult care system; • Look at what decisions on cutting services still need to be made, and new ways in which councils can raise income to meet these gaps;
As the first step, we’ve calculated that even if adults’, children’s and waste services were protected for 150 social care authorities, funding for “other” services, which bind our communities – including libraries, community centres and bus routes – would fall by £11 billion by 2020. In cash terms, that’s a cut of nearly 50 per cent. However, for some councils the reduction would be as high as 81 per cent.
Devolved powers We need the powers and flexibility to use what we do have in ways that are best for our local areas. Devolved powers could put local councils on a sustainable footing. Placed-based budgets are better value for money for the taxpayer. Independent research by Ernst and Young has shown that applying the lessons from community budget pilots nationally could save up to £20 billion over five years. In addition, the City Growth Commission has reported that the UK’s top 15 metro areas could add almost £80 billion to our economy by 2030 – if they were able to fulfil their potential. We will also focus on non-metropolitan areas –
shires, smaller cities, rural and suburban areas. These produce the majority of England’s growth, with over half a million jobs created in these areas during the economic recovery. They should also get a bigger say in the issues that matter to residents. Devolving control over local finances would free councils to drive growth at a local level – bringing business taxation into the twenty-first century. Letting councils set the level of business rates and discounts could improve support for small, local businesses, for example. This is something we called for in our “100 Days” campaign – alongside a call to let councils keep 100 per cent of business rates. The review of business rates announced in the Autumn Statement is an opportunity for us to make our case to government. This year won’t be “just another election year.” It will be the year which defines our future and the fate of residents’ services.
Council tax support The LGA is also urging the next government to help councils protect those on low incomes by fully funding council tax support to the same level as under council tax benefit. Our report, “Council tax support: the story continues” lays bare the impact of central government’s funding cut. Government reduced funding for council tax support by hundreds of millions of pounds when it handed the responsibility for administering it to continued on p.13
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New talent takes on LG Challenge
councils. As a result, councils would need to find £1 billion by 2016 to protect discounts for those on low incomes. When we are already tackling £20 billion worth of cuts, this is a stretch too far. Many councils have been put in an impossible position. This cut has taken millions of pounds out of funding for local services and increased the cost of living for some of society’s poorest. Government must give local areas the full amount of funding required to provide council tax support to those who need it. Otherwise, it is almost inevitable that further cuts to local government funding will further force up bills for those who can least afford to pay.
Cllr David Sparks is Chair of the LGA
Finance Conference More than 100 councillors and chief executives and finance officers attended the LGA’s annual Finance Conference. Following LGA Chair David Sparks’ speech on local government finance and the next parliament, were keynote speakers: Kris Hopkins MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Hilary Benn MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Mr Hopkins told the audience: “The choices we’ve had to make about reducing the deficit are difficult. Whichever government comes to power in May this will continue.” He said it was an “opportunity” for councils to get control over their funding. Mr Benn told the delegates that “innovation and doing things differently has become a necessity”. Among the Opposition’s plans, he said, was longer term funding settlements. Find out how the to-do list issues on our “100 Days” campaign affect your area and create your own infographic at www.local. gov.uk/localised-data
cal The Lo ent n r ve m Go ge Challen
Ten potential chief executives are finalists of the annual Local Government Challenge and are about to face real-life challenges in councils across the country. Now in its sixth year and run by the LGA, the LG Challenge seeks to identify local government’s top talent, promote best practice and highlight the breadth of the challenges facing top executives in local government. During each of the five challenges, contestants must tackle the issues facing councils and demonstrate that their ideas can have a significant impact. Contestants are judged on business acumen, creativity, problem solving, forward thinking and their ability to inspire. Finalists attend the LGA’s Annual Conference, where they pitch a project plan they have developed to benefit local communities. The prize is the £10,000 Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship, to assist implementation of their project. Cllr Paul Crossley, Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, where the Challenge begins this month, said: “We’re delighted to be the first of five councils chosen to support the LG Challenge and put the contestants through their paces. We’re sure that the tasks they face will bring out the best in them and inspire us all. We look forward to welcoming the LG Challenge as we work together to help shape the future of local government.” Past host authorities have been so impressed with contestants’ ideas they continue to seek their input months after the challenge has finished. Lloyds Banking Group are sponsoring the challenges. This year’s contestants are: • Angela Glithero, Derbyshire County Council • Ben Smith, St Edmundsbury Borough Council • Steve Chu, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue • Joanne Ivison, Bolton Council • Jude Taylor, Staffordshire County Council • Kelsey Hill, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council • Michael Gray, Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council • Philippa Mellish, Hampshire County Council • Sarah Porter, Swale Borough Council • Stuart Lester, Birmingham City Council Last year’s winner Graeme Kane, a strategic leadership manager at Mole Valley District Council is now in implementing his project to educate community resilience teams. He said: “Winning Local Government Challenge is a great confidence booster and I look forward to developing my career within local government on the back of this experience.” Keep up to date with @LGChallenge
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PARLIAMENT
URBACT is a European exchange and learning programme promoting sustainable urban development. It enables cities across the EU to work together to develop solutions to major urban challenges by sharing good practices and lessons learned with all professionals involved in urban policy.
At the time of publication, there are 109 days until the General Election but only 45 days left of activity in the House of Commons. Expect a flurry of announcements over the coming months as the Government seeks to finish any remaining work and the main political parties publish and promote their election manifestos. The three biggest parliamentary parties have already begun to set out their election platforms. In what is expected to be the most unpredictable election for a generation, some milestones in the coming months include: • February: The Low Pay Commission is expected to recommend the new level of the minimum wage to ministers; migration figures are due to be released; and UKIP hold their spring conference in Margate, Thanet East, which they will try to use to consolidate their support. • March: A good deal will rest on the final budget of the Parliament delivered on 18 March and the opposition parties’ responses, the day after the Prime Minister attends the last EU Council meeting in Brussels before the election. The following week is the final opportunity for David Cameron and Ed Miliband to lock horns in the House of Commons in the last Prime Minister’s questions before Parliament is dissolved on 30 March. The Liberal Democrats and the Green Party host their spring conferences. • April: An important, but as yet unresolved question is whether the televised debates with party leaders will go ahead. It is most likely to take place in mid-April. • May: Polling day is scheduled for 7 May. In 2010 it took five days for the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to agree to a coalition, we could see other coalition discussions take place this time around, with many polls forecasting a minority government or a hung parliament.
Funding urban Staying top of the development devolution debate
Jointly financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund) and the Member States, URBACT network successes have led to UK cities securing further EU Structural and Research Funds, such as an electric mobility demonstration project in Westminster (pictured). One way for local authorities to find out more about what they have been doing, is to attend one of our free information and networking events. The next one will take place on 3 February at Europe House, Smith Square, London from 10am to 2pm. It will be an opportunity to hear from four UK city partners in current URBACT networks that have developed best practice through exchange and learning with other EU city stakeholders. Cllr Gus Hoyt from Bristol will talk about the city’s sustainable food policy; Des Gardner from Manchester will explain how the City Council has led a network on financial instruments and Owain Jones of Westminster City Council will present the Cross River Partnership URBACT Local Action Plan on London Markets. Jennifer Caswell from Dundee will show how the city has benefitted from exchange on its branding and marketing initiatives There will also be insight from Leeds, on creating jobs for young people and better brokerage between supply and demand sides of the labour market. The Info Day will conclude with an outline of future funding opportunities in the URBACT III programme. To reserve a place go to www.eventbrite.co.uk and enter URBACK Info Day UK in its search facility. Sally Kneeshaw is URBACT Thematic Pole Manager
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The next few months are also crucial for local government as devolution will be high on the election agenda, given the Scottish independence referendum, which decisively changed the debate about devolving power. Local government needs to remain at the forefront of this debate as all the main party leaders have stated their intention to grant more powers to boost local areas and communities. Devolution and the public’s wider concerns about housing, health and social care and the sustainability of local public services will be debated intensely by politicians as their policies are scrutinised in the coming months. The LGA will continue to push for recommendations from our 100 Days campaign to be included in manifestos pre-election and that the new Government, of whatever composition, listens to and considers local government needs. This is a once in a generation opportunity to achieve ground-breaking devolution and decentralisation from Whitehall.
BY-ELECTIONS ANALYSIS
LAST WORD
Unpredictable change Welfare reform impact
Throughout 2014 we recorded the results of 218 by-elections. Some 45 per cent of these vacancies were caused by the death of a sitting councillor, with resignations accounting for another significant amount. Because of the local electoral cycle a large majority of contests, 80 per cent, occurred in the shire and unitary council areas with London and other cities under-represented. Despite the geographical distribution, the byelections reveal interesting features about the state of political competition. In three in 10 cases a seat changed hands but the direction of change was far from predictable. All of the main – and some of the minor parties – can highlight victories whilst wishing to gloss over their losses. The most gains, 16 in all, were made by the Conservatives but these were offset by 25 losses, although 68 seats were successfully defended. The Liberal Democrats were probably grateful that just a few vacancies that appeared in their seats but of the 19 that did so, eight were lost. Despite such setbacks the party can claim a positive outcome with 15 gains of their own. Labour might argue that the absence of urban seats means this assortment of contests does not show the party’s real strength. Indeed, only 12 gains were made over the year. Labour defended over 70 vacancies but lost 11 of these. The sought-for momentum is not really evident from votes being cast among these local authorities. The explanation for Labour’s predicament lies partly with the continuing strength of UKIP, which made a net gain of five seats, and latterly the Greens, who posted a net gain of four seats. The withdrawal of the Liberal Democrats, absent from
more than a third of all vacancies, has left the door open for these emerging parties. Despite these changes in the pattern of party competition, an average of 4.5 candidates contested each vacancy. However, electoral success is ultimately measured by how far votes are translated in to seats. UKIP candidates, for example, consistently averaged over 20 per cent of the vote, peaking with 26 per cent in October and November as attention focussed on key parliamentary contests. That effort brought scant reward, with the party finishing in the runner-up slot on 27 per cent of occasions. There is little evidence to suggest growing support for UKIP and the Greens is galvanising the electorate. Leaving aside those by-elections held coincident with the main May elections, turnout averaged just 27 per cent. Admittedly, this was three percentage points higher than in 2013 but in line with the broader trend that sees turnout failing to surpass 30 per cent in most by-elections. Now that the long general election campaign has begun what clues can be gleaned from local voting? Plymouth University’s unique election forecast model uses local votes and not national polls. The national gap between Conservative and Labour is estimated to be only a single percentage point but only two-thirds of voters are pledging support. UKIP occupies third place with 18 per cent, six points ahead of the Liberal Democrats but the latter has a better track record of translating votes in to seats. Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher are Directors of Plymouth University’s Elections Centre
Local by-elections Authority
Ward
Result
Kingston Upon Thames Nottinghamshire
St. James
CON HELD
Ollerton
LAB HELD
Bolsover
Bolsover North West LAB HELD
For more statistics, see this story at www.local.gov.uk/first-news
Swing % from/to (since) 3.0 per cent Con/LD (2014) 3.0 per cent Lab/Con (2013) Swing N/a
Turnout % 39.2
A new report published by the Wales Audit Office demonstrates how the UK Government’s welfare reform programme is having a significant impact on councils and social housing tenants in Wales. The report identifies how these reforms are affecting a much greater proportion of social housing tenants in Wales than in England or Scotland. Local government in Wales has issued repeat warnings on the challenges and additional pressures for councils and social housing tenants being created by changes to the housing benefits system in the UK. This report offers the latest insight into the disproportionate impact that these changes will have in Wales, and also the significant social and economic impacts that the UK welfare reform programme will have on some of our most vulnerable people. Councils are making best use of Discretionary Housing Payments to support tenants most in need and have been working with the Welsh Government to develop a more consistent approach to administering such payments. Wales has seen an unprecedented 250 per cent rise in the number of people applying to their council for financial support to help them meet their housing costs, with a number of Welsh councils dipping into their dwindling resources or applying for further funding to help meet demand. This comes at a time when councils are experiencing significant reductions to their overall budgets due to the funding decisions being made by the UK and Welsh Governments. The WLGA, on behalf of Welsh local authorities, has for some time also been working jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on a framework for vulnerable clients which aims to provide financial and digital support for those affected by current and pending welfare reform changes; and partner organisations are also working with us. Councils are also involved in a range of initiatives with DWP and landlords that will test a more flexible way of offering services in advance of Universal Credit full roll-out, and these should help mitigate some of the longer term impact. Councils continue to work together with social landlords to tackle the well documented shortage of smaller homes, but providing smaller housing units in such a short space of time is highly challenging. While the impact of these reforms should not be underestimated, local councils are doing everything they can to reduce the impact of the welfare reform programme.
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Cllr Keith Reynolds is WLGA spokesperson for antipoverty and welfare reform
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