information innovation influence value to your council and your residents all year round • 22 new local authority members in 2012 • membership fees frozen for the fourth consecutive year • three new online services

Local Government Chronicle a respected, even-handed think tank  “and source of policy analysis that crosses political divides with ease ” LGiU value to your council and your residents all year round

LGiU delivered even better value in 2012 – improving services in response to feedback, and winning extra members. Achievements included:

■ a record total of 263 expert policy briefings with 37 per cent readership increase

■ LGiU’s report of the Local Government All Party Parliamentary Group’s inquiry into the future of adult social care – and ten other major policy reports

■ 22 new local authority members:

Blackpool Council Shepway District Council Buckinghamshire County Council South Hams District Council Cherwell District Council South Somerset District Council Coventry City Council Staffordshire Moorlands District Council Daventry District Council Stratford-on-Avon District Council East Riding of Yorkshire Council Stroud District Council Gedling Borough Council West Devon Borough Council High Peak Borough Council Wigan Council Kent County Council Wiltshire Council Mid Suffolk District Council Wolverhampton City Council Oxfordshire County Council Wyre Council

In 2012 LGiU members across the country used LGiU every day to add value through:

■ our unique policy briefings – average unit cost per emailed briefing was under 25p

■ visits and advice to members – free policy discussions and presentations

■ bringing local and central government face-to-face.

In 2013 LGiU aims to enhance its services and grow its membership still further.

LGiU INFORMATION

LGiU achieved major improvements to its policy briefings in 2012 in response to the 2011 members’ survey, while also building its pool of expert briefing authors. Key changes in 2012 included:

■ new distribution system – now mailing full briefings to councillors and officers direct

■ new PDF format – a link to a PDF download in every briefing

■ new ‘On Your Radar’ briefings – helping councillors and officers plan ahead.

2012 key statistics show:

■ 263 new briefings published

■ 4,806 new members and officers receiving briefings

■ 39 per cent increase in readership.

LGiU’s blog doubled its readership and LGiU’s C’llr magazine – reaching nearly 10,000 councillors every two months – was re-designed. 2012 highlights included:

■ interviews with Liz Kendall MP, Sir Richard Leese, Minister of State Mark Prisk MP

■ features on Children’s Services, Housing, Police and Crime Commissioners

■ free blog posts on Heseltine and Growth, Parish Councils, Council Finance. LGiU INNOVATION

LGiU’s policy team in 2012 tackled key local government issues in ten new reports researched and developed with Ministers and Shadows, senior civil servants, and of course council leaders, chief executives and key colleagues. New projects included:

■ Civil Society Innovation Network. A national task group bringing leaders, cabinet members, chief executives together with ministers MP and MP, and DCLG officers to discuss local third-sector engagement in public services.

■ Future Service Partnerships. New research by LGiU on current local authority partnerships, identifying barriers to community investment and highlighting innovation.

■ The 2011 Summer Riots: one year on. A report on the local government response to the 2011 summer riots, surveying councils’ preparation for future troubles.

■ A Good Death: the role of the local authority in end of life care. Research and a report examining how councils can develop their role in this important service area.

■ Should we shed the middle tier? A report based on original LGiU research looking at future education governance as secondary schools transfer to academy status.

■ Outcomes Matter: effective commissioning. A national survey and report on the challenges of promoting an outcome-focused approach to commissioning.

■ In It Together: In Practice. Research by the LGiU and the Children’s Services Development Group on how strategic partnerships and excellence in commissioning deliver best outcomes for children with complex needs.

■ Making Social Care Personal and Local. A joint publication with Governance International exploring co-production in health and social care – with councils, health and social care providers, the third sector and universities. LGiU INFLUENCE

LGiU in 2012 delivered a year-round programme bringing local government together with Ministers, MPs and Peers, and senior officials. As secretariat to the Local Government All Party Parliamentary Group, 2012 highlights included:

■ Care Now and for the Future: launched by DCLG Secretary of State Eric Pickles MP at the LGiU Summer Reception, presenting the LGAPPG’s major inquiry into adult social care.

■ Ministerial presentations including: • Rt Hon MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media, Sport •Rt Hon MP, Minister for the .

At all three main party conferences, LGiU ran fringe events and receptions for local government leaders, including in 2012:

■ ‘Social Care – where next ?’ with speakers including: •Caroline Abrahams, Age UK •Cllr Peter John, Leader, LB Southwark •Norman Lamb MP, Minister of State.

■ ‘Shedding the middle tier – what should be between schools and Whitehall?’ with speakers including: • MP, Minister of State •Lord Knight of Weymouth •Cllr Jane Scott, Leader, Wiltshire Council.

■ Nearly 100 local government leaders and cabinet members attended LGiU dinners and receptions, with hosts including: •Hillary Benn MP, Shadow Secretary of State, DCLG •Don Foster MP, Minister of State, DCLG. LGiU for councillors

In 2012 LGiU focused on local councillors’ development and achievement as below, working directly with nearly 2,000 councillors in Learning and Development events and reaching over 10,000 more through the C’llr Awards and C’llr magazine.

Learning and Development Over 30 new training events at LGiU’s Euston office and more than 20 externally-delivered events on-site with councils including:

■ Bromsgrove District Council – Role of the Ward Councillor ■ City of York Council – Co-ops and Mutuals ■ East Midlands Councils – Local Government Finance ■ County Council – Localism for Members ■ Wyre Council – Neighbourhood Agreements.

The C’llr Awards 2012 was the LGiU/CCLA C’llr Achievement Awards’ third year, with eleven categories including Leader of the Year, Community Champion of the Year, Young Councillor of the Year. The new Bruce-Lockhart Member Scholarship, with funding for the winner’s own research and development, was launched by DCLG Secretary of State Eric Pickles MP.

C’llr magazine LGiU’s C’llr magazine goes out bi-monthly to 10,000 councillors. Each issue features articles and interviews with local politicians including in 2012 councillors Rod Bluh, Richard Kemp, Jason Kitcat, Terry O’Neill, Gerald Vernon-Jackson (see also LGiU INFORMATION panel overleaf).

The Local Government Information Unit is a charity run by councils for councils. As well as its member councils, trade unions and associates, LGiU works with the local government and voluntary sectors through the Children’s Services Network and Local Energy. For more information see www.lgiu.org.uk or email [email protected]. Follow us on twitter @LGiU 22 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0TB Tel 020 7554 2800

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