LGA Conservative Report 2016-17
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LGA Conservative Group Report & Review 2016/2017 Contents: 4. Message from the Chairman of the LGA and the Acting LGA Conservative Group Leader 6. LGA Conservative Group Executive 2016/2017 8. Brexit: what has the LGA been doing? 10. What is the LGA and what has it done for my council? 12. The 2017 Local elections 13. Be a Councillor – Finding the next generation of councillors 15. Who are my Conservative LGA Board representatives – How can I get involved? 16. Children and Young People Board 17. City Regions Board 18. Community Wellbeing Board 19. Culture, Tourism and Sport Board 20. Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board 21. Improvement and Innovation Board 22. People and Places Board 23. Resources Board 24. Safer and Stronger Communities Board 25. Fire Services Management Committee and Fire Commission 26. What is sector-led improvement and how can it benefit my council? 29. LGA Conservative Group Best Practice Directory 30. The Conservative Group Office LGA Conservative Group | Report & Review 2016/2017 3 Message from the Chairman of the LGA and the Acting LGA Conservative Group Leader The past twelve months have certainly We have worked successfully with Sajid on David made an enormous contribution to In order to get out of London we have, been eventful for Conservatives, a range issues but we would particularly like the LGA as both a former Chairman of over the past year, organised a number both locally and nationally, as we to thank him for his support in relation to the People and Places Board and then as of briefing seminars around the country have experienced the vote to leave adult social care funding. This culminated group leader and LGA Vice Chairman. in partnership with the Conservative the European Union and its aftermath, in the announcement by the Chancellor in Councillors’ Association. the appointment of Theresa May as the Budget of an extra £2 billion in funding Prior to becoming our group leader he was Prime Minister and, most recently, for social care over the next three years, also a successful Chairman of the County These events cover a variety of policy and the General Election. including £1 billion in 2017/2018. Councils’ Network. campaigning issues and we are already planning future seminars, so if you are The impact of Brexit on local government, Over the past year we also worked closely David’s many years of service to local interested in hosting one please do let progress towards the localisation of with Gavin Barwell in the lead-up to and the government and charitable services were us know. business rates by 2020, moves towards aftermath of the publication of the Housing recognised by the awarding of a CBE in greater devolution around the country White Paper, which contained many the New Year’s Honours list. The LGA tries to be as accessible as possible (as evidenced by the first Mayoral elections proposals that we were able to welcome to all of our members and as part of this The purpose of this annual report is to which took place in May), and the future (such as greater flexibility in relation to it has opened up its regular Councillors’ provide you with information on the LGA’s funding of adult social care, to name just a planning fees). Lord Porter of Spalding CBE Forum meetings to all members who wish activity over the past year, both corporately few issues, have kept the LGA and the LGA to attend. and within the Conservative Group. Conservative Group incredibly busy over Whilst of course sorry that Gavin lost his seat at the General Election, we were delighted The Councillors’ Forum is often attended the past year. These matters are covered in We hope that you will find it interesting and that he was almost immediately appointed by Ministerial speakers – we have recently greater detail throughout the report. we would particularly draw your attention as the Prime Minister’s new Chief of Staff. welcomed Sajid Javid and David Mowat, the to the reports of our lead members on the To effectively lobby on such issues it has former Social Care Minister, and are looking LGA’s various policy Boards. been essential for us to maintain strong It is very encouraging that someone with forward to welcoming Greg Clark, Secretary such a background in local government, of State for Business, Energy and Industrial and close relations with Ministerial teams These summaries outline how they have and with whom we have a strong and Strategy, to our July meeting – whilst the across Whitehall. provided a strong Conservative voice established relationship, has been appointed Conservative Group meeting beforehand within the LGA, how they have worked with Of course, DCLG is the department with to such an important position. We look offers an ideal opportunity for us to discuss Ministers across a range of Government whom we have the closest relationship forward to continuing to work with Gavin key issues in a private political setting. departments and the key lobbying successes and having established excellent relations in his new role. that they have achieved on your behalf over with Sajid Javid following his appointment If you are interested in attending the the past year. as Secretary of State last year we were Following the reshuffle, we welcome Councillors’ Forum please contact the Alok Sharma as the new Housing Minister, Group Office. delighted when he was re-appointed in the In addition to this annual report the congratulate Marcus Jones and Lord recent reshuffle. Conservative Group also sends out a Bourne on their re-appointment as DCLG Cllr David Simmonds CBE We would like to end by thanking you, our monthly email bulletin to update you on key In the same way as we did with Eric Pickles Ministers, welcome Jake Berry as the new fellow Conservative councillors, for all that policy announcements, lobbying activity, and Greg Clark, when Parliament sits we Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and you have done for your communities and consultations and to alert you to upcoming have held weekly meetings with Sajid and wish Andrew Percy all the best following his for our Party over the past year. events. We hope that you find these his Ministerial colleagues over the past year. departure from the Government. bulletins useful and we would welcome any In both the local elections and the General These meetings, which have also been We look forward to continuing to work suggestions that you may have as to how Election, Conservative councillors proved attended by Cllr Paul Carter (the Chairman closely with Sajid and his ministerial team they could be further improved. once again that we are the backbone of the County Councils’ Network), over the coming year. of our party. As the largest party in local The LGA Conservative Group is also on Cllr Neil Clarke (the outgoing Chairman of government you can rest assured that your Twitter so please follow us at @lgacons for the District Councils’ Network), Cllr Teresa We would like to take this opportunity to voice will continue to be heard loud and all the very latest news and views. O’Neill (Leader of the Conservative Group place on record our thanks to Cllr David clear over the coming year both within the on London Councils) and Cllr Rory Love Hodge who, following major surgery last LGA and across Whitehall. (Chairman of the Conservative Councillors’ year, stood down as the Leader of the Association) have been used by Sajid to Conservative Group in March, for his many brief and consult on key issues whilst also years of service to Conservative local allowing us to raise issues on your behalf. government. 4 LGA Conservative Group | Report & Review 2016/2017 LGA Conservative Group | Report & Review 2016/2017 5 LGA Conservative Group Executive 2016/2017 The LGA Conservative Group Executive is elected annually and is the body which steers and takes decisions on behalf of the LGA Conservative Group. A new team is elected in June of each year and the elected members for the past year (2016/2017) were: LGA Chairman Group Leader Acting Group Leader County Council Executive Member Non-Met District London Borough Council Metropolitan District Council Unitary Council Executive Member (and LGA Vice Chairman) – to March 17 (and LGA Vice Chairman) – from March 17 (and LGA Deputy Chairman since March 2017) Council Executive Member Executive Member Executive Member Cllr Paul Bettison OBE Lord Porter of Spalding CBE (originally elected as Deputy Group Leader) South Holland District Council Cllr David Hodge CBE Cllr Colin Noble (and LGA Deputy Chairman) Cllr Teresa O’Neill OBE Cllr Robert Light Bracknell Forest Surrey County Council Cllr David Simmonds CBE Suffolk County Council Cllr Peter Fleming OBE London Borough of Bexley Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council London Borough of Hillingdon Sevenoaks District Council Borough Council ‘At large’ Executive Members i Further information For all the latest news on the LGA Conservative Group please visit our website: www.local.gov.uk/lga-conservatives Cllr Sean Anstee Cllr Philip Atkins OBE Cllr Kevin Bentley Baroness Couttie of Downe (and LGA Deputy Chairman) Staffordshire County Council Essex County Council (and LGA Deputy Chairman) Trafford Metropolitan Westminster City Council Borough Council 6 LGA Conservative Group | Report & Review 2016/2017 LGA Conservative Group | Report & Review 2016/2017 7 Brexit: what has the LGA been doing? Reflecting the different views of the Key achievements (b) Developing a new legal base for We believe that the following should be • Funding is easier to manage: domestic Potential benefits are, for example, reducing councillors and councils who make up our local government the core principles for a new model of redesign should include a simplified and unnecessary and burdensome red tape membership, the LGA remained neutral to date: regional funding: more proportionate approach to financial (eg, the freedom to move towards a during the Brexit referendum last year, but The Government’s proposed Great Repeal management, to allow for shorter time simplified procurement process) To date the LGA has achieved two key wins.