If All the Care Homes in Your Area Are

No.624 June 2018 www.local.gov.uk

the magazine for local government

Interview: “If all the care homes in your area are about to go under, how would you prevent that?” Abdool Kara, Executive Leader, Local Services, National Audit O ce 18 10 16 23 Local elections Metro mayors Care in Wales All the results from Devolution one Invest equally in the May polls year on health and care

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp01.indd 1 25/05/2018 14:25 WE ARE NEWTON We deliver better finances, improved outcomes and lasting change.

Using our evidence based approach, we get to a level of detail which means we can build a real picture of what’s happening in an organisation, or system. We then put our people on the ground to work alongside frontline teams to design and implement change from the ground up. We believe so strongly in this approach that we guarantee 100% of our fee against delivering real sustainable results that are measurable and recognised by everyone.

Our clients are not only saving millions of pounds a year. One county council has reduced Child in Need and Child Protection caseload numbers by 29% through decreasing case drift. Another is supporting 50% more service users to become independent post enablement. One system has reduced placements into long term care from acute discharge by 59%.

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LGANEW0201_LGA_AC_First_Magazine_Ad_V5.indd FIRST 624 June 18 pp02-03 Contents.indd 2 1 25/05/201822/05/2018 14:2815:30 WE ARE NEWTON All change t’s been a busy time since contents We deliver better finances, improved outcomes and lasting change. Ithexxxx last edition of rst. XTherexxxxxx have been some importantLord Porter developments is Chairman Using our evidence based approach, we get to a level of detail which means –of on the building LGA regulations news interview we can build a real picture of what’s happening in an organisation, or system. and funding for replacing combustible cladding, 4 Academy nances 7 Children’s mental 18 Abdool Kara, Executive We then put our people on the ground to work alongside frontline teams to following the Grenfell Children’s teeth health Leader, Local Services, at the National Audit design and implement change from the ground up. We believe so strongly in Tower re (see p5); on xed odds betting 5 Hackitt report Bright Futures terminals (p6); and on planning and shale O c e Help with this approach that we guarantee 100% of our fee against delivering real exploration (p8). Funding for replacing cladding housing “The adult social sustainable results that are measurable and recognised by everyone. We also have a new Secretary of State care sector is slightly (see p24) and, of course, I’m delighted to Business rates 8 Fly-tipping crisis further advanced Our clients are not only saving millions of pounds a year. One county council welcome many of you as newly elected 6 Adult social care Shale developments than the children’s councillors following the local elections in sector in terms of has reduced Child in Need and Child Protection caseload numbers by 29% May. The LGA can o er you a lot of help and Fixed odds betting Clean air support as you settle into your new roles, and terminals self-improvement through decreasing case drift. Another is supporting 50% more service users a good starting point is the LGA’s Councillors Water safety and understanding to become independent post enablement. One system has reduced Guide 2018/19 (p31). good practice” This edition includes elections analysis placements into long term care from acute discharge by 59%. from our resident poll pundits Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher (p10), and there is advice on leadership from one of 8 our longest-serving council leaders (p30). We also have an introduction to a series of think pieces we are producing on adult 5 social care, in the run-up to the Government’s much anticipated Green Paper on the subject (p12). And the Welsh LGA reports on rising pressures on adult social care services in Wales (p23). Finally, a year on from their election, we hear from the six established combined authority mayors about the bene ts of devolution (p16). Lord Porter is Chairman of the LGA 18

Editor Karen Thornton Design & print CPL www.cpl.co.uk Advertising [email protected] Write to rst: Local Government Association 18 Smith Square, London 29 SW1P 3HZ Email [email protected] Tel editorial 020 7664 3294 Tel advertising 01223 378 042 Photography Getty Images and iStock.com unless otherwise stated

Circulation 18,200 (May 2018) rst is published online at www.local.gov.uk/ rst at least two days before the magazine. To unsubscribe 10 email [email protected] The inclusion of an advert or insert in rst does 23 features not imply endorsement by the LGA of any product regulars or service. Contributors’ views are their own 10 Local election results comment and do not necessarily re ect the opinions 29 Parliament – nancial or policies of the LGA. 12 Why does adult social 23 Social care in Wales sustainability care matter? 24 LGA chairman and 30 Councillor – leadership 14 Learning disabilities group leaders advice 15 Membership survey 26 Unitary councils 31 Councillor – guidance 16 Metro mayors 27 Local lotteries for new members

June 2018 first contents | 3 www.newtoneurope.com

NEW0201_LGA_AC_First_Magazine_Ad_V5.indd 1 22/05/2018 15:30 LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp02-03 Contents.indd 3 25/05/2018 14:28 news in brief Free childcare

report by the National Association of A Head Teachers has found that early years providers are struggling to deliver the Government’s 30-hours free childcare offer because of a lack of funding. Less than a fifth (19 per cent) of respondents said that the news funding they received was sufficient to cover their costs. Cllr Roy Perry, Vice-Chairman of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “Councils need to have both adequate ‘Academies need oversight’ funding and sufficient local flexibility to work with their providers to ensure that all families have access to high quality care that meets their needs.”

SEN support

third of councils in England are A planning to cut their budgets for deaf children, according to data obtained by the National Deaf Children’s Society from Freedom of Information requests. Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “Councils know that deafness can make life incredibly di cult for some children. They take their responsibilities to support not just The LGA has urged the Government to take control than council-maintained schools, deaf children, but all those with special control of academies in nancial trouble or and that they are in better nancial health. educational needs or disabilities, let councils step in and oversee them. But the gures, where they are available, through education extremely seriously. This follows a series of reports that show that many academies are running up This is why we are calling for an have raised concerns over the nancial de cits and there are serious questions about urgent review of funding to meet the management of academies. According nancial governance in many academies. unprecedented rise in demand for to the Kreston UK accountancy network, “What we need is greater transparency in support from children with special eight in 10 academies are in de cit, and how academies are managing their nances educational needs and disabilities.” academy trusts are failing because of poor and urgent action taken to balance the books nancial governance. where necessary. The Public Accounts Committee has “Councils, which have vast experience also said that academy trusts need to show running large budgets, are best placed the highest standards of governance, to do this. This would ensure democratic Tooth decay down accountability and nancial management, accountability, and give parents the certainty and that many trusts are falling short. and con dence of knowing that their child’s ooth decay in five-year-olds continues And in a recent report on academisation, school is able to deliver the best possible Tto decline, with 23.3 per cent having the National Audit O ce recommended that education and support, without risk of decayed, missing or filled teeth in 2017, the Department for Education (DfE) should nancial failure.” compared with 30.9 per cent in 2008, apply nancial risk and due diligence tests to Separately, the Government has according to Public Health England. Children all academies and trustees. announced £50 million for grammar school in deprived areas are more likely to have Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA’s expansion and new plans for expanding bad teeth. Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of Children and Young People Board, said: faith schools with funds being given to the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “We urge the Government to get faltering local authorities. “Tooth decay is largely preventable, yet is academy nances under control, or allow Cllr Watts said: “Government should the most common oral disease affecting councils to step in and oversee them, as they not just focus exclusively on selective, faith children and young people. The findings of do with council-maintained schools that face schools and free schools. The most e ective this survey highlight the need for urgent nancial challenges. way to set up new schools and meet demand investment in oral health education so that “The DfE cannot have e ective oversight for places would be to give councils the parents and children understand the impact of spending in more than 7,000 academies. It powers and funding to open new council- of sugar on teeth and the importance of says that academy nances are under stricter maintained schools where there is a need.” good oral hygiene.”

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LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp04-05 news.indd 4 25/05/2018 14:29 Ministers to consult on combustible cladding

The Government has launched a “We would urge the Government to consultation on banning ammable introduce these bans as quickly as possible cladding and insulation on high-rise as they are the vital and immediate buildings. measures needed to make buildings safer Housing Secretary James Brokenshire today. This would provide the clarity for announced the consultation after the building owners who need to know what government-commissioned building they can use to replace dangerous cladding regulations review, carried out by Dame Judith and insulation and immediately help keep Hackitt, did not recommend a ban. buildings safer.” Lord Porter, LGA Chairman, said: “The LGA Dame Judith’s nal 156-page review of the ‘Plug funding has strongly made the case for banning the building regulation system concluded that use of combustible materials on high-rise and roles and responsibilities for building safety are gap with complex buildings and for outlawing the use unclear, found that regulations and guidance is of desktop studies that attempt to approve “ambigious and inconsistent”, and criticised the business rates’ safety compliance. process for testing and certifying products. “It is great that the Secretary of State Lord Porter added: “The Grenfell Ps have backed the LGA’s call for councils has listened to our concerns. He has rightly Tower re exposed a system for ensuring Mto be allowed to use the additional recognised the need to take action to tackle buildings are safe that is broken. Since the revenue gained from 75 per cent business rates these two important issues, while the long- tragedy, the LGA has led calls for a review of retention to fund existing cost pressures. term reforms to x our building regulation building regulations and made the case for The Housing, Communities and Local system, set out in Dame Judith Hackitt’s report systemic change.” Government Select Committee urged the today, are put into place. He added it was good that Dame Government not to force councils to use the Judith’s nal report “set out a range of extra cash to replace revenue support grant, recommendations for its long-term reform” rural services delivery grant, GLA transport grant with councils ready to play a “leading role” and public health grant. in making sure a new system of building Committee Chair Clive Betts MP said: “After regulation works. years of nancial constraints, the Government Recommendations include stronger now has an opportunity to go some way sanctions and enforcement at design, towards protecting vital services for taxpayers construction and occupation phases, and by ensuring that any extra revenue from the the introduction of a new regulator – the retention of business rates can be kept by Joint Competent Authority (JCA) – to bring councils on top of current funding.” together council building control functions, The committee also suggests that re and rescue services and the Health and the Government must ensure any new Safety Executive, to maximise the focus on responsibilities placed on councils from further building safety. business rates retention are linked to stimulating and promoting economic growth. LGA Chairman Lord Porter said: “Local government in England is facing an overall Funding for cladding removal funding gap that will exceed £5 billion by 2020. We are pleased that the committee is backing he Government will fully fund the removal of dangerous cladding and insulation from our call for councils to be able to use extra Ttower blocks owned by councils and housing associations at an estimated cost of £400 business rates income to plug this growing gap. million, Theresa May has said. “The money local government has to The Prime Minister made the pledge following work by the LGA to highlight the maintain vital services is running out fast. nancial implications for councils of carrying out vital re safety measures following the Councils will see their core funding from central Grenfell Tower re. government further cut in half over the next A total of 45 blocks owned by 15 councils were found to have cladding and insulation two years and almost phased out completely by systems that failed one of the re safety tests ordered by the Government following the the end of the decade. Delays to when business re last summer. Local authorities a ected acted swiftly to implement precautionary rate reforms will be implemented mean councils measures where necessary and remove ammable materials. are facing a nancial cli -edge in two years that LGA Chairman Lord Porter said: “While the priority for councils has been getting on the Government has to address. with what they need to do to ensure people are safe in their homes following the Grenfell “Introducing a fairer funding system Tower tragedy, the LGA has been involved in public and private conversations with the and allowing local government to keep Government about the nancial implications. every penny of business rates collected to “It is great that the Government has honoured its commitment from last summer to plug funding gaps is now the only way the meet the unexpected exceptional costs for councils arising from major remedial re safety Government can ensure local authorities are work on high-rise buildings.” able to protect the services communities rely on into the next decade and beyond.”

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LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp04-05 news.indd 5 25/05/2018 14:29 news in brief Water safety

he LGA is supporting Drowning Prevention T Week (15-25 June) and will be updating its drowning prevention toolkit, rst launched last year. It is also encouraging councils to support the week and highlight the work that they are doing on drowning prevention by using the hashtags #STOPDROWNING #DPW. Adult social The latest gures show that 255 people lost their lives in accidental drownings in the UK care ‘in crisis’ in 2017, with many more injured. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among children. A credible plan to sustain the underfunded but the combination of historic funding Drowning Prevention Week this year is run care sector is needed this year, according to reductions, rising demand and increasing by the Royal Life Saving Society UK, the Royal a Public Accounts Committee report on the cost pressures means many councils are National Lifeboat Institution and Swim England. adult social care workforce in England. having to make signi cant savings and Further information and resources are available The report says the care workforce is reductions across their budgets, including at www.rlss.org.uk/about-us/campaigns/ su ering from low pay, low esteem and high within adult social care itself. drowning-prevention-week/. The current turnover of sta , and that there is an urgent “This is leading to an ever more fragile version of the LGA’s toolkit can be accessed at need to reverse the poor public image of provider market, growing unmet and under- www.local.gov.uk/topics/community-safety/ care work to boost recruitment and retention met need, further strain on informal carers, water-safety-toolkit across the sector. less investment in prevention, and continued MPs on the in uential committee also pressure on an already-overstretched express concern that the trend towards only workforce. Cyber security supporting people with the most critical “The funding gap facing adult social care needs is contributing to growing levels of is set to exceed £2 billion by 2020… The funding unmet need for people with moderate care majority of this pressure is with us now with needs – which may become critical if support an estimated £1.3 billion of the £2 billion he LGA has been awarded is not given. needed to stabilise the care market.” T £1.5 million from the Cabinet Meanwhile, an interim report from She added: “The Darzi forecast that adult O ce to help improve and enhance the Lord Darzi Review of Health and Care social care will need an extra £10 billion by councils’ cyber security systems. Part estimates that adult social care will require 2030 just to maintain existing service provision of the funding will be used to carry at least an extra £10 billion by 2030, just to – a more dire position than that facing the NHS out a stocktake of all English councils’ maintain existing service provision. – must serve as a wake-up call for concerted existing security arrangements, to help Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s action to address the serious nancial establish and share good practice, and Community Wellbeing Board, said: “These challenges adult social care is experiencing identify councils that could bene t from reports lay bare the stark facts behind the now and will continue to face in years to come additional support. Cllr Paul Bettison, adult social care crisis. without a sustainable funding solution. This Chairman of the LGA’s Improvement and “Councils have done all they can to action requires consensus and support from Innovation Board, said: “Councils hold prioritise and protect adult social care, across the political divide.” signi cant amounts of sensitive data which is why it is hugely important that we have the necessary protections in place.” For more information, please visit Betting terminal stakes reduced www.local.gov.uk/cyber-security he Government has announced that the maximum stakes on xed odds betting Tterminals (FOBTs) will be reduced from £100 to £2, following extensive lobbying by Dementia admissions the LGA and others. The LGA is now calling for the introduction of the new £2 limit as soon as possible. here were more than 50,000 avoidable “This announcement is fantastic news and a sensible decision to help tackle the Temergency hospital admissions for people harm these machines can cause,” said Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and aged over 65 with dementia last year – a 70 Stronger Communities Board. per increase over the past ve years – because “The LGA and others have campaigned for a number of years for a reduction in of a lack of adequate social care, according maximum stakes on FOBTs, which are signi cantly out of line with other high street to a report by the Alzheimer’s Society. Cllr Izzi gambling machines. We are delighted that the Government has responded to our calls. Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community “Bringing the stake down to £2 will help to reduce problem gambling and its Wellbeing Board, said: “To help reduce pressures devastating impacts on individuals and communities. It will help prevent vulnerable players on the NHS, social care needs to be given parity from losing £100 in seconds in a single play, which many people cannot a ord to lose. with the health service and councils need “The harm and anti-social behaviour these machines can cause has become an issue urgent funding to invest in e ective prevention of growing national concern, while research has shown that problem gambling, often work to reduce the need for people to be linked to FOBTs, creates huge costs for the NHS, councils and the criminal justice system.” admitted to hospital in the rst place.”

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LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp06-07 news.indd 6 25/05/2018 14:30 Children’s mental health news in brief plans ‘lack ambition’ Housing help ouncils can bid now for help from an MPs are warning that the Government’s councils and schools given the funding to C independent housing expert to help them Green Paper on children’s mental health o er independent mental health counselling deliver and plan for more homes, and reduce will leave hundreds of thousands without so pupils have access to support as and when homelessness. Last year, more than 40 projects proper care. they need it.” across the country were supported by the LGA’s The paper lacks ambition and will give no Independent school-based counselling Housing Advisers Programme, helping councils help to those children who desperately need is a key ‘ask’ of the LGA’s Bright Futures deliver local housing priorities. The deadline it now, say the Education and Health and campaign (see also below). The LGA has for expressions of interest is 26 June, see www. Social Care Committees in a joint report. estimated that rolling out a service to every local.gov.uk/topics/housing-and-planning/ The Government is rolling out new secondary-age school would cost just 5.3 housing-advisers-programme-201819 or ‘trailblazer’ pilot projects where mental per cent of all the new money pledged for email [email protected] health teams provide extra support, children’s mental health since 2015. alongside waiting time targets. Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, Chair of the However, these schemes are set to roll Health and Social Care Committee, said: “The Brexit boards out in only a fth to a quarter of the country Green Paper is just not ambitious enough by 2022/23. and will leave so many children without the he LGA is helping facilitate regional Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA’s care they need. It needs to go much further Tand local sounding boards to raise Children and Young People Board, said: “If in considering how to prevent mental health and discuss key risks and opportunities we are to tackle the crisis in children’s mental di culties in the rst place. for local areas arising from Brexit. health, we need a root-and-branch overhaul “We want to see more evidence that This information strengthens local of existing services. We need to develop government will join up services in a way government’s voice with local evidence a system that says yes, rather than no, to that places children and young people at during negotiations with central children when they ask for help. their heart and that improves services to all government, as well as informing “As a starting point, we want to see children, rather than a minority.” government policy development. So far, we have held sessions in Newcastle, Cornwall, West Lancashire, Bristol, Bright Futures in the House Sta ordshire and Tees Valley, as well as in the London, South East and East regions, and with the East of England LGA. If your council is interested in putting on a local Brexit sounding board, please email [email protected] Marathon e ort

LGA Deputy Chairman Cllr Sean Anstee completed three marathons in a month, culminating with the London Marathon in late April, to raise money for the Children’s Society. The charity’s Joe Jenkins said: “Sean’s outstanding e orts will help make a real di erence to young people’s lives.” LGA Chairman Lord Porter tweeted : “He is one of the best politicians in local government and has a heart three times the size of his body, a wisdom three times the length of his age, and has taken hildren and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi MP launched an LGA exhibition of its Bright a £10 note out of my wallet three times as a CFutures campaign for children in Parliament last month (see www.local.gov.uk/bright-futures). result of this race!” The exhibition highlighted the importance of early intervention and prevention in children’s social care and children and adolescent mental health services, and featured case studies from councils across the country. Mr Zahawi (pictured, right) spoke to guests about the work the Government is doing to support councils to deliver children’s services. Other speakers included LGA Vice-President and exhibition sponsor, Wera Hobhouse MP (second right), mental health campaigner Hope Virgo (third right) and LGA Chairman Lord Porter (second left), pictured with Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board (left), and Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board (third left). The week-long exhibition was visited by a number of MPs and Peers, including Communities Secretary James Brokenshire, who congratulated the LGA and councils for highlighting this important work. To see more photos and comments from the exhibition , search ‘#gettingthebest’ on Twitter.

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LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp06-07 news.indd 7 25/05/2018 14:30 Fly-tipping waste ‘stretches from London to Moscow’ The amount of waste being y-tipped environments. New xed penalty notice across England each year could stretch from powers from the Government will help but London to Moscow, analysis by the LGA every single conviction for more serious has revealed. y-tipping o ences still results in council It is warning that the cost to taxpayers of taxpayers having to pick up the bill. clearing up y-tipping rose to £57 million over “We need to make sure that when the last year – a rise of 13 per cent. councils take o enders to court, a faster, ‘Keep fracking Council leaders want the Government more e ective legal system ensures that to help councils tackle this scourge by serious y-tipping o ences result in hard- decisions local’ introducing a scaled-up and speedier hitting nes.” approach to punishing y-tipping, including He added: “Manufacturers can also he LGA has warned against extending streamlining the courts and prosecution contribute, by providing more take-back Tpermitted development rights to fracking process for o enders. services so people can hand in old furniture operations. LGA analysis shows in 2016/17, there were and mattresses when they buy new ones. In proposals set out by government, shale 492,139 incidents of y-tipping reported to Councils are determined to end the scourge exploration developments would not need be the size of a van or truck. If these vehicles of y-tipping and always urge residents to planning permission. were parked one behind the other, then the report it as soon as possible.” Councils argue that communities living amount of waste would be able to circle the near to fracking sites should be allowed M25 twelve and a half times. to have their say on whether to host shale The Government has allowed councils projects in their area. to apply xed penalty notices to y-tippers. In a written Commons statement, However, when taking o enders to court, Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, they have to cover the full cost of successful Energy and Industrial Strategy, announced prosecutions, with nes resulting from these a consultation on the proposals over the convictions being paid directly to the court summer, and launched a new £1.6 million rather than the councils who have to clean shale support fund to build capacity and up the mess. capability in local authorities dealing with shale Recovering costs through these nes is applications. costly and can take years, which often means He also said that the Secretary of councils end up making a net loss on every State for Housing, Communities and Local successful prosecution. Government will “actively consider” calling in Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s Environment shale applications, particularly where statutory Spokesperson, said: “It’s an absolute disgrace deadlines have been exceeded – and may for anyone to think that they can use the consider determining new applications to environments in which our residents live as a “underperforming” local planning authorities repository for litter. himself. “Councils are determined to protect local Cllr Judith Blake, LGA Environment Spokesperson, said: “It is good that the Government will provide additional funding and support to help councils deal with shale applications. However, we oppose any Clean air strategy launched proposal for shale exploration to be allowed to bypass the locally democratic planning system he Government has launched a new clean air strategy to help cut air pollution and through permitted development or national Tsave lives. planning inspectors. The strategy will include primary legislation to create a new legal air quality framework “We are clear that it should be up to local and give local government new powers to take decisive action. communities to decide whether or not to host Ministers believe the strategy will cut the costs of air pollution to society by an estimated fracking operations in their areas. £1 billion every year by 2020, rising to £2.5 billion every year from 2030. “People living near fracking sites – who Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s Environment Spokesperson, said: “Councils recognise the are most a ected by them – have a right to impact that harmful emissions have on our communities and are determined to tackle it in be heard. Local planning procedure exists for all its forms. If the Government’s air quality plans are to be successful, they not only need to a reason, to ensure a thorough and detailed be underpinned by local exibility and su cient funding but also accompanied by robust consultation with those communities.” national action. She added: “Planners also protect local “It is also important that councils have the powers to further tackle air pollution, environments and ensure appropriate and particularly with regard to clean air zones as well as expanded road and tra c measures. a ordable homes are delivered for our If we’re truly to tackle air pollution, we need government support to enable us to deliver communities. That’s why, ultimately, council e ective local plans, and robust national action to help the country transition to low- planners should be able to set fees that re ect emission vehicles and power generation.” the needs of their local area.”

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LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp08 news.indd 8 25/05/2018 14:32 sound bites

Cllr Carolyn Webster (Con, Bridgend) “Great chat with @GavinWilliamson about HM #ArmedForces and letters #Veterans, both a personal and political interest of mine.” www.twitter.com/CarolynBridgend Love your local market Cllr Andrew Kelly (Con, Elmbridge) arkets across County Durham showcased all they have to o er as “A lovely & memorable wedding service – congratulations to the Duke Mpart of the national Love Your Local Market campaign last month, & Duchess of Sussex! A perfect day – a happy couple, Windsor looking celebrating the bene ts they bring to communities. beautiful in the sun and the crowds waving the ags & cheering. Events included a gathering of some of the nest street food chefs from #RoyalWedding.” across the North East in Durham, a retail market, a ‘Craft in Durham’ market www.twitter.com/CllrAndrewKelly and fairground rides, with some traders o ering incentives to customers. Durham County Council oversees the management and operation of nine markets across the county and o ers a range of support to help traders Cllr Jane Dowson (Lab, Leeds) and encourage new visitors (pictured are Matthew McIhone and customers). “Attended a great men’s mental health event this morning at Leeds Markets are at the heart of many of our communities and provide a real Museum. Well done to Lisa and the team for organising it. boost to our local economy, so this fortnight of celebration was a great way @LordMayorLeeds @MindWellLeeds, @LeedsMind @LeedsMuseums.” for people to learn more about them and nd out what they have to o er. www.twitter.com/CllrJaneDowson Cllr Carl Marshall (Lab), Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Durham County Council Cllr Sha aq Mohammed (Lib Dem, She eld) “Great to welcome the 122nd Lord Mayor of She eld Cllr Magid, Cllr Magid made a very moving speech about his journey from war-torn Somalia to the City of She eld.” www.twitter.com/sha aqmohd

Cllr Paul Hopfensperger (Ind, St Edmundsbury) “Delighted to have won the ‘Apple & Spoon’ race (they hadn’t got any eggs ) at the @stmarystpeter Parish Festival today! Wonderful day.” www.twitter.com/CllrHo y

A slow news day?

Sunderland hosts Leonardo da Vinci

o mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci, TSunderland Museum & Winter Gardens has been selected to be one of 12 UK venues to host simultaneous exhibitions of drawings by this extraordinary artist. ‘Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing’ will give the widest-ever UK audience the opportunity to see 12 drawings, selected to re ect the full range of Leonardo’s interests: painting, sculpture, architecture, music, anatomy, engineering, cartography, geology and botany. This partnership with the Royal Collection Trust and the opportunity to host this iconic exhibition demonstrates our city’s deserved reputation as an emerging cultural hub. The attraction of art should not be underestimated. Events such as these make a huge contribution to the city, its reputation and its economy. In 2015, more than 92,000 people visited Sunderland Museum and Winter Cllr Sarah Osborne (Lib Dem, Lewes and East Sussex) found her cat Al e Gardens, while the Canaletto masterpiece, ‘A Regatta on the Grand Canal’, had left an unexpected ‘gift’ on her copy of rst – a live slow worm. All was on loan from the National Gallery in London. three survived the experience. Email [email protected] with These visitors also spend time and money here, giving increased your quirky photos or stories of life as a councillor. opportunities to local businesses and accommodation providers. I urge everyone to make time to go along and visit what, I’m sure, will be a What do you think? Please submit letters for publication fantastic event. by emailing [email protected]. Letters may be Cllr John Kelly (Lab), Portfolio Holder for Communities and Culture, edited and published online Sunderland City Council

June 2018 first letters | 9

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp09 letters.indd 9 25/05/2018 14:34 features Balance of power May’s elections left the balance of power in local government largely unchanged overall, despite decisive swings in some councils

ast month’s local elections did little either to shift the terms of the national political debate or to alter the balance of power in Professors Colin Rallings and local government. Michael Thrasher are Associate L Members, Nu eld College, Oxford In most cases where there has been a shift to or from ‘no overall control’, for example, it will likely be the same party and people who continue to have the manage expectations to the Conservatives. rest of England that had a clear impact whip hand. The Conservatives registered their lowest on outcomes. But electors in those ve councils that did ever number of seats in the capital (511) and Following the loss of Tra ord, the witness a decisive change will now have a lost control in both Kingston and Richmond. Conservatives now have a single metropolitan whole new team – and probably new policy But they had so successfully played up the borough (Solihull), but did come close to promises as well – to hold accountable. In likelihood of their losing councils such as snatching control in both Dudley and Walsall Plymouth, Labour claims it will ful l 100 Barnet and Westminster, which had been in on the back of UKIP losses. They advanced, pledges, although not all are solely within its their hands ever since their creation in 1964, too, in Amber Valley (on paper Labour’s easiest gift; in Redditch, the victorious Conservatives that Theresa May was able to claim holding chance of a council gain) and in other parts of have targeted town centre regeneration. onto them as some kind of victory. Labour, by the Midlands with key marginal parliamentary The Liberal Democrats forced turnovers contrast, was perceived to have fallen short of seats, such as Derby, and Nuneaton and from the Conservatives in Kingston upon its ambitions. Bedworth. Thames, Richmond upon Thames, and South In other places, though, the fallout was Cambridgeshire. In the latter they promise a more evenly spread and it is too crude to put return to ‘liberal politics’ and it is notable that the results down simply to a Brexit-driven the Remain side was well ahead in each of “Both Labour and the electoral rift. In Basildon (a Conservative gain), those three local authorities at the 2016 EU Conservatives made Great Yarmouth, North East Lincolnshire, and referendum. Thurrock, both Labour and the Conservatives In general, however, and despite the ground in former UKIP made ground in former UKIP territory. undoubted impact of local issues and territory” In Plymouth – the only case of personalities on individual results, analysis Labour winning control directly from the of the elections can conveniently be divided There could be no disguising the Conservatives – its gains were thanks in between London and elsewhere. Conservatives’ failure in south west London, part to regaining wards it had lost to UKIP in Labour did do well in London. Although though. Although they made in-roads into 2014, but where the elected councillors had falling 100 seats short of their record the Liberal Democrat majority in Sutton, they subsequently defected to the Conservatives. total of 1,221 in 1971, they matched su ered landslide defeats to Vince Cable’s Labour somehow needs to bottle the their highest ever number of councils party in his own backyard. Indeed, more than Plymouth formula if it is to perform strongly at controlled (21). In Redbridge, they made half the Tory net losses in London were to the next year’s all-out unitary and district elections 15 gains and now have at least 80 per cent Liberal Democrats rather than Labour. and challenge the Conservatives for plurality of all seats in no fewer than 14 of the 32 If that has been put down in some on the LGA’s boards and committees. London boroughs. On the other hand, the quarters to the revenge of ‘Remain’ The Liberal Democrats e ectively party comprehensively lost the battle to voters, it was the wipe-out of UKIP in the held on to what they had barring their

10 | first feature www.local.gov.uk

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp10-11 feats.indd 10 25/05/2018 14:36 Results summary 2018 England and Wales (compared with May 2017, including councils without full elections, local by-elections and boundary changes)

Seats Councils Conservative -43 +1 Labour +82 -1 Lib Dem +73 +3 Other -112 No overall control - -3

Councils controlled (England) 2018 Con Lab Lib Dem Ind/Other No overall control 198 98 11 1 43

Councils controlled (Wales) 2018 Con Lab Lib Dem Ind/Other Nat No overall control “It’s Independents and 1 7 - 3 1 10

micro-parties who Councillors (England) 2018 are the fourth force in Con Lab Lib Dem Ind/Other English local politics” 8,644 5,751 1,746 1,488

Councillors (Wales) 2018 three spectacular council gains – South Con Lab Lib Dem Nat Ind/Other Cambridgeshire alone accounting for nearly 183 472 59 339 201 two-thirds of their entire net seat gains (20 out of 34) in shire England. They still have fewer than 10 per cent of all the councillors in COUNCIL CONTROL CHANGE (3 May 2018) England and have a long way to go before the Con gain from Lab: Redditch three-party politics that characterised local government in much of the 1990s and 2000s Con gain from NOC: Barnet; Basildon; Peterborough returns. Just a decade ago, they had more Lab gain from Con: Plymouth than 4,000 councillors and majority control in Lab gain from NOC: Kirklees; Tower Hamlets 30 principal councils. The Greens now claim to be the fourth Lib Dem gain from Con: Kingston upon Thames; Richmond upon Thames; party in English local politics and, in the sense South Cambridgeshire. of having overtaken UKIP in both vote share Lib Dem gain from NOC: Three Rivers and the total number of councillors (174 to 137), that’s true. Nonetheless, there remains Con lose to NOC: Mole Valley; Tra ord evidence that they have been out anked on Lab lose to NOC: Derby; Nuneaton and Bedworth the left by Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour in some places. They lost half their previous 10 seats on Norwich City Council to make them a rather less eective opposition, and were squeezed one councillor called a ‘bloodbath’ of eight to hold a referendum on whether her post down to just two councillors in Oxford. Conservative losses. should be abolished. However, it’s really Independents and The six mayoral direct elections received Labour MP Dan Jarvis comfortably micro-parties who are the fourth force. There almost no national attention. Labour easily prevailed in the inaugural Sheeld City remain more than 1,000 such councillors and won the contests in Hackney, Lewisham, Region election and he too has talked about they are often best placed to exploit local Newham, and Tower Hamlets – the latter his role becoming redundant – though in loyalties or discontents. In Bolton, for example, rmly putting to bed the Independent this case following the negotiation of a wider the Farnworth and Kearsley First group added challenge which had so damaged the party Yorkshire devolution deal. to their March by-election success with in both 2010 and 2014. Perhaps the most In Watford, Peter Taylor retained the two more gains from Labour; in Tandridge, interesting aspect is that Rokhsana Fiaz, mayoralty for the Liberal Democrats, polling Surrey, it was opposition to the Local Plan who won almost three-quarters of the rst just as strongly as his predecessor had done in that saw ‘non-party’ candidates lead what preference vote in Newham, has pledged her four successive victories since 2002.

June 2018 first feature | 11

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp10-11 feats.indd 11 25/05/2018 14:36 Why does adult social care matter? Ahead of the much anticipated Green Paper on adult social care and support, the LGA Councillor Izzi Seccombe OBE is Chairman of the LGA’s is publishing a series of think pieces from Community Wellbeing Board sector experts addressing what a system fit Brexit, perhaps unsurprisingly, leads the for future generations might look like public’s list of the single biggest issues facing the country (32 per cent), with the NHS, hospitals and healthcare coming second (14 per cent), according to pollster Ipsos Mori. What is surprising, given the growing media coverage of the agenda since last year’s General Election, is that only 2 per cent of the public believe that ‘ageing population/social care for the elderly’ is the most important issue facing the country. As many commentators have observed, the provision of adult social care and support is now a major public service challenge given the increasingly di cult task of squaring rising demand with reducing resources. In 2016, that task prompted the Care Quality Commission to speak of adult social care ‘approaching a tipping point’. Today, others might argue we have already tipped. Whatever our precise location on the scales, one thing is clear: the long-term future of adult social care is far from secure. That is why the Government’s forthcoming, and much-anticipated, Green Paper on care and support is so vitally important; it is a chance to build a system that is t for future generations. We have been here before, of course. In the last 20 years there have been several green and

question will lead to this latest Green Paper series of di erent answers that point to social su ering the fate of its predecessors and care’s importance to our communities, our “How we care for our ending up in the long grass remains to be seen. economy and our very values as a country. most vulnerable citizens The LGA will be doing all it can to ensure Indeed, as the Secretary of State for Health and it does not. As part of our e orts, we are Social Care said recently: “How we care for our is the true litmus test publishing a series of think piece reports that most vulnerable citizens is the true litmus test of whether we are a address some of the key questions that cut of whether we are a civilised society”. By his to the heart of the debate about the future of own admission, “we need to do better”. civilised society” adult social care and support. They are: We are very grateful to the prominent • Why does adult social care matter? colleagues (see box, right) who have • Adult social care – a national or a contributed their views to this publication, white papers, commissions and independent local service? which you can read online at www.local.gov. inquiries. Consensus can be achieved with • How should we pay for social care in uk/towards-sustainable-adult-social-care- relative ease when it comes to de ning the the long term? and-support-system. They have not only problem and articulating a vision for the future. • Is consensus achievable? o ered a powerful and persuasive answer What has proved far less easy – ultimately to the • What are the stages to reform? to the question at hand, but they have also point of progress being derailed – is consensus Our rst publication starts from rst helped de ne what “better” should be. on the key question of how, as a society, we principles and asks the question: why does As you read through them, and the LGA’s should pay for adult social care and support. adult social care matter? It seems a simple headline position, I hope the content motivates Upon its publication, this could well be the question to answer and in one sense it is – it’s you for the weeks and months ahead as we section of the Green Paper that most people about improving people’s lives. collectively work to secure the future of adult turn to rst. Whether or not the answer to this But delve a little deeper and you uncover a social care and support.

12 | first feature www.local.gov.uk

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp12-13 Adult social care.indd 12 25/05/2018 14:37 Thoughts on social care

“Social care is a relational everyone could offer a response to to when the prize is more resilient business: so much depends on ‘why adult social care matters’.” and sustainable communities in the quality of the rapport and Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults the longer term?” communication established Dr Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive, between those who deliver care “It is more important than ever to Voluntary Organisations Disability and receive it…Life is altogether remind ourselves that only 10 per Group, and Chair, Care Provider Alliance better for everyone, as well as cent of health gain comes from more sustainable, if the efforts of health and care services. A social “We need to direct a substantial informal carers are supported and care service that connects the way part of our national wealth to complemented by those of high- in which we deliver social care to supporting each other to have quality paid carers.” those wider factors that keep people good lives in our communities… Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director, well – such as work, housing, Right now, people don’t have Age UK social interaction and friendships – rights to be supported well to is more needed than ever.” live full lives in their own homes “Adult social care matters because Kate Kennally, Chief Executive, and communities or get the best it improves people’s lives and, in Cornwall Council care at vital times in life, as we turn, the communities in which we operate a low resource, poorly all live…The Green Paper must “It is a tough call for paid and valued system, largely be used as an opportunity to help commissioners to prioritise social of last resort.” raise the profile of this vital service value over simple efficiency or the Martin Routledge, Convenor, so that, in the years to come, lowest price, but can we afford not #socialcarefuture

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June 2018 first feature | 13

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp12-13 Adult social care.indd 13 25/05/2018 14:37 Transforming care

Long-term investment is needed to help more people with learning disabilities Justin Hackney is Assistant Director Adult Care and Wellbeing move out of mental health hospitals and at Lincolnshire County Council into the local community

ince its launch in 2015, the national Transforming Care programme has achieved a lot of progress in helping people with learning disabilities and autism to live in Stheir local communities. The brilliant work of professionals across local government and the NHS, in partnership with service users, families and carers, should be applauded. In Lincolnshire, we are proud of our progress on improving outcomes for local people. We established our Transforming Care Partnership (TCP) in January 2016, and this was closely followed by our local plan. Since then, our TCP has been successful in decommissioning a number of learning disability inpatient hospital beds and has reinvested some of the released funding into community, home-assessment and treatment services, including crisis supports Transforming Care’s emphasis intervention. Working alongside our well- on avoiding hospital admissions by established Integrated Assessment and Care “As overall demand improving the quality and availability of Management Team and pooling budgets for services increases, care in the community, and by the use of for adult social care and NHS continuing care and treatment reviews. A member healthcare have been vital to the success the need for inpatient of our TCP helped to develop the NICE of our TCP. hospital care will recommendations and we are committing, With the Transforming Care programme locally, to review our services against the winding down from March 2019, however, also grow without guidance so we can drive further quality there are a number of challenges ahead. improvement. The National Audit O ce’s report, ‘Local proper long-term As overall demand for services increases, support for people with a learning disability,’ investment in alternative the need for inpatient hospital care will also laid bare four key challenges to progress: grow without proper long-term investment a lack of appropriate accommodation; the community services” in alternative community services. ow of money from hospital provision to While care and treatment reviews are community services; a lack of e ective excellent in helping to avoid unnecessary workforce strategies; and that care and provider costs. Discharges from inpatient inpatient admissions, the principle that treatment reviews (CTRs) do not always services have added to these pressures. the funding should follow the patient does happen. Our experience in Lincolnshire has New guidance from the National not apply to new demand, and poses a revealed some further possible challenges Institute for Health and Care Excellence signi cant challenge to councils and clinical with which councils will need to get to grips. (NICE) on service design and delivery commissioning groups as they plan future Demand for learning disability and for people with learning disabilities learning disability services. autism services is increasing, both in terms of the number of people who need support and people having more complex needs. In Details of Lincolnshire’s local transformation of services and outcomes for Lincolnshire, we have also seen a signi cant the people we support are available on the NHS Transforming Care website, increase in the price of care, driven by www.england.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities/tcp/. The NICE guidance can be found at reducing spare capacity in the market for www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng93 care services, but also from increasing

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LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp14 feats.indd 14 25/05/2018 14:38 Member support Each year the LGA surveys member councillors and officers to ensure we are working on the issues that matter most to you

roviding a single voice for local our programme of visits to councils and government, giving up-to-date ensure frontline councillors are involved information about the sector and “Your views are wherever possible. lobbying on its behalf are the three important to us and they We will also o er feedback on peer most useful things the LGA does, reviews to full council and/or frontline Paccording to you, our members. influence and shape councillors, and will continue to o er In a recent representative poll of more everything we do” regional induction events for new councillors. than 1,000 councillors and o cers, 90 The LGA is also looking to further per cent or more listed these three roles develop opportunities for engaging with as the most important. Managing local popular method of nding out about the frontline councillors by involving them more government’s reputation in the national LGA (70 per cent, down six percentage points in #OurDay, our annual tweetathon (see rst media, organising conferences and events, from the previous year), particularly among 617), and Local Democracy Week. and providing advice and information both senior and frontline councillors (both 84 We will also be promoting our o er through the LGA’s political group o ces were per cent). of ve free places per LGA political group also rated highly. To ensure rst continues to meet your for frontline councillors at the LGA’s annual Nearly three in ve of you (59 per cent) needs, we are undertaking a review of the conference, and looking to promote our feel the LGA demonstrates value for money, magazine’s content and design, informed parliamentary bulletin to a wider range up from 43 per cent in 2012. Support for by a recent readership survey, and also have of councillors. sector-led improvement has also increased plans to improve the online version of the Lord Porter, LGA Chairman, said: “Thank signi cantly over the same period, up from magazine (see www.local.gov.uk/ rst) and you to everyone who took part in this year’s 59 to 78 per cent, and up eight percentage develop a new rst e-bulletin. survey. Your views really are important to points in the last year. Most of you would Overall, seven in 10 feel that they know us and they in uence and shape everything speak positively about the LGA to others and the LGA well (73 per cent), ranging from we do. are satis ed with the work of the LGA (73 per 96 per cent of chief executives and 94 per “While overall satisfaction with the cent for both). cent of leaders to 53 per cent of frontline LGA remains high, we need to make sure LGA support is valued in all the areas councillors. On the whole, chief executives, we continually review what we are doing, outlined in the report – including help with directors and leaders have a greater focusing on the things that matter to you.” e ciency savings, service transformation knowledge of, and satisfaction with, the LGA, and income generation (93 per cent); peer and more strongly positive views of sector- challenge and peer support (93 per cent); led improvement compared to frontline If you have any ideas for stories and training for councillors (91 per cent). councillors. for rst, please email When asked what new areas of support The issue of engaging frontline [email protected], they would like to see provided by the LGA, councillors remains a challenge for us and or drop into the LGA’s hub at its 70 per cent cited emergency planning and continues to be addressed in our action plan annual conference at Birmingham’s resilience, and 62 per cent children’s services. for the year ahead. International Convention Centre from Four in ve respondents (80 per cent) For example, we know face-to-face 3-5 July for a chat about the magazine feel that the LGA keeps them informed about contact with councillors and o cers is and rstonline its work. rst magazine remains the most highly valued, so we will continue to develop

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LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp15 feats.indd 15 25/05/2018 14:40 Devolution revolutionaries

ngland has one of the most centralised governance systems Combined authorities – most with a directly elected mayor – have in the world. Lots of decisions are taken in Westminster that been the main vehicle for recent devolution deals. While established a ect communities far away from London. by Parliament, combined authorities are locally owned and have to So devolution – the transfer of power and funding from be initiated and supported by the councils involved. They are also far national to local government – is important because it ensures more robust than an informal partnership or even a joint committee. Ethat decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and Labour’s Dan Jarvis MP was elected Mayor of She eld City Region businesses they a ect. It should give greater freedoms and exibilities just last month (May). But the other six established mayors came into at a local level, meaning councils can work more e ectively to o ce in 2017, and here they re ect on their rst years in o ce, and improve public services for their area. how devolution is making a di erence.

Tim Bowles (Con) is Mayor for the Andy Burnham (Lab) is Mayor of Ben Houchen (Con) is Mayor of West of England Greater Manchester Tees Valley

The big picture Making a di erence Gathering momentum

I’m here to look at the big picture, workin g Over the past 12 months, devolution has It was an honour to be elected as the rst with partners to plan for the future growth of started to make a real di erence to the lives of Tees Valley Mayor, an area which I’ve always our region. everyone across Greater Manchester and has called home. We’re already making a di erence, allowed us to make decisions that positively No-one knows the region better than investing in those things that will improve a ect our communities. those that live here. That’s why, over the past all our lives – better transport, better We have made real progress in tackling year, through local decision making, we have jobs, and more homes. We’re supporting homelessness and ending rough sleeping rapidly gathered momentum. businesses to grow and boosting residents’ in Greater Manchester – making 270 homes Around £51 million has been invested skills and opportunities. available for the most vulnerable homeless in diverse projects and programmes, I’ve worked hard to develop strong people and helping more than 500 homeless supporting the creation of 4,000 jobs. relationships across government departments. people register with a GP. That gure is expected to more than double Because of this, the West of England is seen as We also want to help keep Manchester to £104 million next year. a key player, leading to £150 million in extra moving and have introduced half-price We have recently launched a £3 million investment this year, including £80 million bus and tram travel for thousands of 16 to careers initiative, TeesValleyCareers.com. It is for transport, and millions more to progress 18-year-olds, as well as giving 14,000 women the rst of its kind in the UK, targeting every housing development, a 5G trial, and our a ected by state pension age changes free school and college – almost 100,000 students. new skills programme, Future Bright. This is o -peak public transport with the Women’s It will unite more than 1,000 local money that wouldn’t be coming to our region Concessionary Bus Pass. businesses with 11 to 18-year-olds to inform without devolution. One of our aims is to make Greater them directly of jobs and career opportunities As I start my second year, my plans are Manchester the UK’s number one digital city in the region, with each child receiving seven stepping up a gear. Transport continues to be region and we have secured a £25 million direct and meaningful engagements with a priority – I’m particularly passionate about investment to deliver full- bre broadband employers. improving suburban rail. Building more homes, technology to help us do this. We are going above and beyond to do particularly a ordable homes, is another, We have made important strides in a everything possible to equip our young while skills will also take centre stage over the number of other areas, including making people with the skills they need to ourish, coming year. We have many high-quality jobs Greater Manchester a great place to grow old, and provide businesses with the expertise they and we need to give locally grown talent every making communities safer and stronger, and need to grow. opportunity to secure employment. creating a world-leading green city region. The greatest enemy to progress is Devolution has given us the opportunity But our work does not stop now and we will complacency, and to coast when we to do things di erently, and much has been continue to build on the last 12 months as we should be decisive. This is not ‘job done’, it’s achieved – but there’s so much more we move forward. just the beginning. can do.

“We need to give locally “We have made real grown talent every progress in tackling “Our £3 million careers opportunity to secure homelessness and ending initiative is the first of its employment” rough sleeping” kind in the UK”

16 | first feature www.local.gov.uk

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp16-17 feats.indd 16 25/05/2018 16:21 Details of all powers and funding that have been devolved to individual areas can be found on the Devolution Register, see www.local. gov.uk/topics/devolution/devolution- register. For general information about devolution and combined authorities, please visit www.local.gov.uk/ devolution

James Palmer (Con) is Mayor of Steve Rotheram is Mayor for the Andy Street (Con) is Mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Liverpool City Region West Midlands

Delivering for people A brighter future Restoring pride

The public rightly expects clear bene ts from At the end of a very busy inaugural year as If I were to try to summarise the rst 12 months devolution and for me, that’s all about delivery. mayor, it is good to have the opportunity to of the mayoralty, it would be a year in which While transforming transport infrastructure, look back and re ect. the West Midlands regained its swagger. tackling the housing crisis and addressing skills Devolution means that decisions on the Restoring pride in a region that has for shortages will take time, we are also focused on things that a ect us are taken here, rather than some time underperformed relatively, was a what we can deliver for people right now. in Westminster. key aim. That’s why part of my focus has We are working to deliver a 21st century Already we have collectively worked been on fast delivery of projects such as transport system, a cleaner environment, to secure the Commonwealth Games for innovative community land trust housing an education and skills system that raises Birmingham and the City of Culture for schemes, reopening Soham railway station, aspirations and lets our young people thrive, Coventry, showing clearly that not only does and getting the ball rolling on a university and economic growth that bene ts everyone. this region know how to win once again, but it for Peterborough. Such initiatives t in with our Working together with our six constituent understands the value of working as a team. longer-term goals, while giving people current councils, we have achieved a great deal so far. That sense of teamwork has also examples of how the combined authority is We are delivering an investment programme underpinned the wins we have been able working for them. worth more than £1 billion, to drive to secure from Government – the second The interim ndings of the Cambridgeshire improvements in transport, skills, economic devolution deal, the housing deal and the and Peterborough Independent Economic development and housing. Our region transport investments that have only been Review, chaired by Dame Kate Barker, said our boasts some of the nest assets in the country possible because we have demonstrated to area has three distinct economies. and we must make better use of them to the powers that be that we are united in our We have one of the UK’s fastest growing bene t everyone. approach to rebalancing the UK economy. cities in Peterborough, the nationally important We can become Britain’s energy coast Of course, there is so much more to be Fens agriculture, and a world-famous for renewables and the most digitally done. We need to deliver on our part of the innovation economy in Greater Cambridge. connected region in the country. That’s why deals agreed. Each area has distinct challenges to meet to we’ve established the Mersey Tidal Power But we will also be looking to lead the way push growth further forward. Commission to harness the tidal power of on skills and secure a deal with government From a metro system with tunnelling the River Mersey and we’ve started work on that will help us to tackle the biggest barrier serving Greater Cambridge, to addressing bringing ultra-fast internet to the region. we face – the skill level of our population. skills shortages in Peterborough, to improving I stood as mayor because I believe that road and rail connectivity in the Fens, we devolution is a game-changer. One year on, I’m must deliver for people in ways that prove more convinced than ever that we are making the combined authority really can be real progress towards a brighter future. transformative both now and in the future. “Not only does this “Each area has distinct “Devolution means region know how to challenges to meet to that decisions on the win once again, but it push growth further things that affect us are understands the value of forward” taken here” working as a team”

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LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp16-17 feats.indd 17 25/05/2018 14:41 interview An independent voice

f he hasn’t read it already, new Councils need to understand the financial Communities Secretary James Brokenshire should take a look at the National Audit risks they face, warns Abdool Kara, O ce’s recent report on the nancial sustainability of local authorities. Executive Leader, Local Services, I So says Abdool Kara, former Chief Executive of Swale Borough Council and now, at the National Audit Office since February 2017, Executive Leader, Local Services, at the spending watchdog. The report warn s that councils’ nancial health is getting worse, as they struggle “to juggle higher demands and cost pressures against signi cant central government funding cuts of nearly 50 per cent since 2010/11” (see rst 622). It is also critical of government’s departmentalised understanding of the sector, saying it has “no single view of how funding cuts are impacting the whole of local authority services”. At a time when councils are prioritising social care spending, this unintentionally risks reducing local services to a “core o ering centred on social care”. Mr Kara says the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has made progress on “knitting together a wider picture” of local government services, but it’s “not yet where it could or should be”. “There are 13 departments that have some interest in local government services and the accountability statement by the MHCLG is clear about its role, but perhaps slightly less clear about other departments’ roles,” he adds. “Our report is clear that the next comprehensive spending review (CSR) is a real opportunity and an important time to bring that all together. We’re happy to support the ministry in thinking about how it might do that. It’s a fairly challenging job.” Mr Kara identi es social care – both children’s and adults’ – as probably the two biggest nancial challenges facing councils, with homelessness also picking up, particularly in London and the South East.

18 | first interview www.local.gov.uk

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp18-21 Interview.indd 18 25/05/2018 14:45 “If all the care homes in your area are about to go under, how would you prevent that, and what would your contingency arrangements be?” CHRIS SHARP/LGA © CHRIS

“Our general exhortation to the sector of support coming through, both from the that’s not just numbers, but di erent types is always understand your cost drivers, and LGA and the Department for Education. of care, the pro le of di erent providers, and understand the reasons for variations across The department has research looking into the nancial risks they face. local authorities,” he says. demand management and di erent practices “We know that some of the bigger social “There is lots of experimental work going across local authorities. It’s an area where care providers across the country have had on with things like assistive technology in there are a lot of players and activities… challenges – we saw Southern Cross close adult social care , and looking at machine and something we will continue to keep a a few years ago. So we would always say to learning and big data for spotting patterns watching brief on.” local authorities, start from an understanding of need, and [developing] early intervention The perilous state of the private care- of both the nancial risks and the workforce and prevention around patterns of need. home market – which the LGA estimates risks, which was what our workforce report “We see an awful lot of innovation across needs an immediate cash injection of was about. How exposed are you to a the sector – driven, in part, by need, partly by £1.3 billion to prop it up – is another risk threat of a reduction of workers from EU the nancial challenge.” factor for councils struggling with social care withdrawal, for example? It’s only from that The National Audit O ce (NAO) is doing funding and rising demand for services. evidential starting point that local authorities some work on the health and social care Earlier this year, the NAO published a can then plan. interface, to coincide with the LGA’s annual report on the adult social care workforce, “Understand the risks. If all the care homes conference in July, where Comptroller and which said the Department of Health and in your area are about to go under, how Auditor General Sir Amyas Morse will be Social Care is not doing enough to support a would you prevent that, and what would speaking. Later this year, it is also due to sustainable social care workforce. your contingency arrangements be?” publish a report on children’s social care. It called for a “robust” national workforce In children’s services, Mr Kara identi es “That is looking very much at the strategy, and for the department to invest the availability of specialist provision as a evidence around demand management, more to enable service commissioners nancial and service challenge, leading to early intervention and prevention, to reduce to set appropriate fees for providers, so children in need being placed far away from needs and, therefore, costs,” says Mr Kara. they can pay sta adequately and a ord home. Rising needs and demand are also “I think our work shows that the adult to o er sta career development and outstripping funding for special educational social care sector is probably slightly training opportunities. needs (SEN), and an NAO report on SEN is further advanced than the children’s social Local authorities have a statutory duty due out later this year. care sector in terms of self-improvement, to manage their local care markets, but Mr Meanwhile, Mr Kara’s team is in the understanding good practice, best practice Kara suggests that most councils aren’t big middle of compiling a series of reports on models and so on. Children’s social care enough to do this on their own. housing issues. Last September’s report on needs to catch up on that side. He adds: “You can only start that homelessness concluded the problem had “The Association of Directors of Children’s process [of managing care markets] from increased across all measures since 2010, Services is aware of that, and there is a lot understanding your local providers, and “with many local authorities now seeing it

June 2018 first interview | 19

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp18-21 Interview.indd 19 25/05/2018 14:45 as a risk to their nancial sustainability”. of changes coming into play, as a Mr Kara highlights how welfare reform result of moves towards 100 per cent has been a contributory factor in rising business rates retention, the on going fair homelessness – something acknowledged funding review, and the comprehensive by the MHCLG – alongside the failure spending review. to build enough new homes for 30 or “That has the potential to create 40 years, and rising costs in the private signi cant winners and losers, and what rented sector. always happens – this is not a party political “If tenants can’t a ord a rent because of point – is you then have transitional the local housing allowance rate – and that’s arrangements. So the transitional what’s made them homeless – then, if they arrangements in themselves become a bit of are staying in the same area, why would they a political football about how fast you ‘damp’ suddenly be able to a ord a rent unless their those changes,” he says. circumstances changed – they got a job, or “Irrespective of anything else, a lack of an older child left the household? long-term nancial certainty – even if it’s “We’re seeing that constant pressure. reductions [in funding] – militates against While the Government has put in some fairly good, long-term nancial planning.” high-pro le initiatives and targets, rough The NAO reported last year on sleeping – while worse for the individual implementing business rates retention, involved – is a much smaller problem in noting risks and concerns. quantum terms than statutory homelessness, “There will be winners and losers. Some where people are living in temporary places will grow faster than others. Some accommodation, whether that’s B&B, leasing places will have their demand and costs go or hostel.” up faster than business rates might go up,” New duties on councils to help says Mr Kara. prevent homelessness came into e ect in “The Government has already said April, supported by some funding from there will continue to be a redistributive government, but Mr Kara said he would be mechanism, and we understand the desire surprised if more money was not needed for there to be an incentive mechanism. when progress is reviewed. The balance between the two is really Meanwhile, the NAO is working on new for government to determine, while noting reports on planning’s role in housing delivery the risks. (due early 2019) and the Government’s multi- “For example, the incentive within billion pound ‘Help to Buy’ scheme (due business rates is to grow companies that spring 2019). have floor space – and they aren’t always Next year will be a critical one for the most cutting edge or value adding, local authority nancial management. value-generating types of business. We Mr Kara notes there will be a number are effectively saying to the Government, think very carefully about if this is your intention.” Mr Kara is keen to emphasise the NAO’s interest in local public services. His own role is outward facing to the local government sector, and he also covers education, skills and health. The NAO wanted to recruit someone who understood the sector and was well-connected to it, and four of its ve board members have particular interests in local government and services. “The majority of the sector is pleased to have a powerful, independent voice, such as ourselves, speaking compellingly to Parliament about what is happening in local government,” he adds. “At the moment, we feel very welcome. That might not always be the case, but I can’t imagine it won’t be for the next few years.”

For more information about the National Audit O ce, please visit www.nao.org.uk CHRIS SHARP/LGA © CHRIS

20 | first interview www.local.gov.uk

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LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp22-23 com.indd 22 25/05/2018 14:46 comment Equal investment for health and care

Councillor Huw David is the Welsh LGA’s Spokesperson for Health and Social Care

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National Health Service. Rightly regarded as a ground breaking social experiment, the vision of its pioneering Welsh architect, Nye Bevan, continues to be a source of pride for British people. However, 70 years on, it’s clear that the health of the nation cannot be improved by the NHS alone. Social and preventative services also play a crucial role in caring for the workforce costs or indirect third-party early intervention. For this to truly happen, we population. A recent report by charity The providers, leaping to £344 million by 2021/22. all need to rethink how we approach health Health Foundation recognises that key The Welsh Government has o ered a and social care. determinants of health are largely outside the welcome degree of protection for health and I look forward to joining in uential control of health services. As a result, the social care budgets against some of the horri c speakers at our forthcoming Welsh LGA Annual quality of – and spending on – social care has cuts wielded in England. Its willingness to Conference in Llandudno in a few weeks’ time, one of the strongest impacts on the demand engage in dialogue with councils and provide to discuss the future relationship between the for health care. additional funding to cope with winter NHS and social care. Despite gloomy But social care in Wales is facing huge pressures has resulted in only a fraction of the predictions for health and social care, I am challenges, all of which put increasing pressure bed blocking seen in England because of the rmly of the view that we have much to look on the valuable services that protect some of decimation of services in the community. forward to – as long as councils and the NHS our most vulnerable people, and the workers While we are grateful to the Welsh receive equal investment in future years and who care for them – and, ultimately, risks the Government for its recent £10 million funding are committed to work together. very survival of the NHS. to support winter pressures, it’s clear that By working together, with adequate It has been estimated that pressures on one-o boosts are not enough to cover resources, to integrate health and social care , adult social care in Wales will rise by around 4.1 increasing nancial pressures – let alone we’ll be better prepared to face future per cent a year in real terms between 2015 and signi cantly increased demand and cost challenges and we can ensure that such 2030/31, because of changing demography, pressures in the future. Bold and radical services are protected. If we don’t owe it to chronic conditions and rising costs. This will long-term solutions are urgently needed. Nye Bevan to secure an integrated healthcare require the budget to almost double, to £2.3 The Parliamentary Review into Health and system that is t for purpose, we certainly owe billion, by 2030/31 to match demand. Next Social Care in Wales has called for a shift away it to our children and future generations. year, Welsh social services will face additional from treatment and crisis management to an pressures of £99 million, relating either to direct integrated system based on prevention and The Welsh LGA’s annual conference and dinner takes place on 23 June at Venue Cymru, Llandudno. For “One-off funding boosts are not enough to more information and to book a cover increasing financial pressures, let alone place, please visit www.smart significantly increased demand and cost pressures” survey.co.uk/s/WLGA2018/

June 2018 first comment | 23

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp22-23 com.indd 23 25/05/2018 14:46 group leaders’ comments

A sound position for the future

Councillor Marianne Overton “The LGA’s Independent Group has MBE is Leader of the LGA’s held its own despite pressures from Independent Group the major parties”

ongratulations to all those who stood our Treasurer, and departing members Liz who I’m sure will support our group well. C for election in May and won the right to Hazell and Graham Whitham for their time I’d like to thank those who have attended represent your residents – I wish you representing us on the LGA’s City Regions and and hosted our spring regional meetings. every success. Resources Boards. It is great to work with so many motivated Particular congratulations, and a warm UKIP ousted the Labour leader of Derby and proactive councillors. I look forward to welcome, to anyone who is a councillor for City Council but, aside from that, have meeting more of you, particularly our new the rst time and a new member of the LGA’s struggled to regain their feet this year, losing members. If you have any suggestions for Independent Group. I look forward to meeting some excellent members. However, the LGA’s topics you would like to see on the agenda you as you engage and bene t from the Independent Group has held its own despite for your next regional meeting, please email activities of the group. pressures from the major parties, welcoming [email protected]. Congratulations and thanks also to more new Green Party members and an It is really exciting to see Independent those who helped and encouraged other increase of Independents. Our group is in a Group members working to recruit and councillors with their campaigning. sound position for the future. promote smaller party and independent Commiserations if you have not been Continuing the theme of change, our politics at our Be a Councillor campaign and returned this time. Particular thanks go to Independent Group leadership elections regional events. Keep up the good work, and Peter Reeve MBE for his three years as our are in full swing, and I look forward to being do let the group o ce know if you would like group’s Deputy Leader, to Lisa Du y as joined by a new deputy leader and treasurer, to get involved.

chairman’s comment Democracy in action

included in the nal report of the Hackitt up their seats following last month’s review into building regulations. local elections. The LGA continues It is also good news that his predecessor to campaign on your behalf on the Sajid Javid remains in the Cabinet. It issues that matter to local government, is always good to have an ally of local particularly the need for our sector to be Lord Porter is Chairman government sitting around that table, and this adequately funded. of the LGA will be especially important in the coming We have shown that we can deliver year as we know he will play a leading role in more for less, but there is a limit to t’s only a month ago that I last wrote for the discussions ahead of our exit from the EU. how much more we can do and some I rst, but a lot has happened since then I would like to thank Sajid for his councils have reached it. – not least, that we have a new Secretary engagement with us over the past two No-one is expecting the Government of State for Housing, Communities and years. We will be working with him and to suddenly nd a big magic money Local Government. his team in his new role, on issues such tree. But local services are going to It is brilliant that James Brokenshire as asylum-seeking children and tackling have to be delivered so a solution got stuck into things so quickly. serious violence. needs to be found, particularly to the Just the afternoon after he got the I would also like to welcome all newly challenges facing adult social care and call from the Prime Minister, he was elected and re-elected councillors taking children’s services. answering MPs’ questions, and I was pleased to be able to catch up with him that evening. He also stepped up to the plate on “We have shown that we can deliver more for Grenfell, announcing he will consult on the banning of combustible materials less, but there is a limit to how much more we can on high-rise buildings, after this was not do and some councils have reached it”

24 | first comment www.local.gov.uk

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp24-25 com.indd 24 25/05/2018 14:47 Councillor David Simmonds Councillor Nick Forbes Councillor Howard Sykes MBE CBE is Leader of the LGA’s is Leader of the LGA’s Labour is Leader of the LGA’s Conservative Group Group Liberal Democrat Group

Fighting elections is Grenfell must never Hard-won gains in a team e ort happen again tough campaigns

“Our dominance in “It is disappointing “The election fight was local government is all that the Hackitt Review tough against Labour the more remarkable has not recommended with also a resurgent given that we have been an outright ban on Tory party to deal with” in power nationally for combustible cladding” he ballot boxes have been packed up, and eight years” Tthe local elections are over for another he upcoming rst anniversary of the year. While much of the media coverage ollowing the local elections, we have TGrenfell Tower re will be a sobering focused on the London contests, elections Fretained our dominant position in local reminder of the scandalous failures that led to were held across the country, including some government with control of almost twice as the tragic loss of 72 lives. hard-fought and tough campaigns. many councils as Labour and more than 2,500 What many will not comprehend is why Overall, we gained four councils and 75 more councillors. it is only now that the Government is making councillors, with Three Rivers, Richmond, Particular congratulations are due good on its promise to do ‘whatever it takes’ Kingston and South Cambridgeshire becoming to colleagues in Basildon, Pendle and to remove similarly dangerous cladding from majority Liberal Democrat administrations. Peterborough, which we gained from no high-rise blocks across the country, when We kept control of Eastleigh, South overall control, and Redditch, which we gained councils have warned time and time again Lakeland, Sutton, Cheltenham, and Watford – from Labour. Also noteworthy was our success that they couldn’t a ord to replace it on where we kept the elected Mayor, with Peter in Nuneaton and Bedworth, where we won the properties they own without signi cant Taylor replacing Dorothy Thornhill. nine seats, moving the council to no overall nancial assistance from government. In the greater North, the election ght was control. That we came so close to taking It is similarly disappointing that the tough against Labour with also a resurgent control, despite only half of the seats being Hackitt Review has not recommended an Tory party to deal with. Pendle is now contested, is testament to the e orts of our outright ban on combustible cladding. My Conservative-run and, in a number of places, Vice-Chairman for Local Government, Marcus Labour colleague, John Healey MP, is right that colleagues lost seats or failed to make the Jones MP, and his local team. ministers must not simply accept the report gains they had worked so hard for. I want to Our dominance in local government is all as the “recommendations are too weak to put on record my personal thanks for all their the more remarkable given that we have been overhaul the current system”. hard work. in power nationally for eight years, during Here at least, the Government can show However, it was fantastic to see Liberal which time the Government has had to make that it has listened, and is learning – and I hope Democrats gain seats in places including di cult nancial decisions. By contrast, eight that the announcement that it will consult on Sunderland, She eld, Hull, Haringey and years into the last government, in a much more banning combustible cladding will result in Barnsley. Seats gained from the Conservatives favourable economic climate, Labour had lost swift action to do so. included Winchester, where we are just a thousands of seats and scores of councils. Everyone in power has a responsibility to couple of seats short of winning control. We also have a new Secretary of State at make sure that a tragedy like Grenfell can never Congratulations to those who won their the Ministry of Housing, Communities and happen again. Local councils have proven that seats and commiserations to those who didn’t Local Government, with James Brokenshire we are willing to play our part, and I hope that win this time round. replacing Sajid Javid. central government is now going to give us We look forward to working with our I look forward to working with James, the support we need. newly elected Liberal Democrat councils and who I know well as a result of previous work councillors and making good use of these on refugee issues. I would also like to thank results to push for Liberal Democrat values Sajid for his support and wish him well in his within the LGA. important new role.

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

June 2018 first comment | 25

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp24-25 com.indd 25 25/05/2018 14:47 The LGA Independent Group

Appointment to LGA Annual General Meeting 2018

governance structures The LGA Independent Group will hold its 2018 AGM on 2018/19 Tuesday 3 July, between 10.00am and 11.30am, at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham, Each year the Local Government Association as part of the LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition. (LGA) Independent Group Executive considers Attendance at the AGM is free of charge for councillors applications from its members for appointments to in Group membership. the LGA governance structures. All Independent Members submitting Notices of Motion to the AGM must Group members are able to apply for appointments. attend the meeting in person to speak to the motion, The deadline for submission of applications for or send a nominated Independent Group member . appointments is Monday 9 July 2018 as a substitute to speak on their behalf. Deadline for submission of motions is Friday 15 June 2018.

If you would like an application form for LGA appointments or to register your attendance at the Group AGM, please contact Dr Toby Ganley, Head of the Independent Group Ofﬁce: [email protected] or 020 7664 3206

6.72 LGA_INDEPENDENT AD_FIRST_v01.indd 1 24/05/2018 11:52 A voice for unitary councils

to the LGA Executive, and our proposal was approved earlier this year. Currently, we have 21 members out of “We would like to have Councillor Paul Bettison the 51 unitary councils in England. At our rst a say on advancing is Chairman of the Unitary meeting, we agreed that county unitaries that Councils’ Network and Leader are members of the County Councils Network unitary status, Brexit of Bracknell Forest Council should remain with the CCN, but we will negotiations and reconsider this issue if necessary. The LGA supports a number of special In addition to the interest in business rates sharing best practice, interest groups representing di erent kinds retention, which helped trigger the creation of councils – including the District Councils’ of the network, we have many other areas of particularly for smaller Network, the County Councils Network and common interest. Adult and children’s social authorities” the Special Interest Group of Municipal care pressures and funding remain of vital Authorities. importance to smaller, all-purpose authorities Until recently, however, unitary councils such as mine. best practice, particularly for smaller have been unique in lacking their own voice. We would like to have a say on authorities; local government reorganisation It came to a head when we started talking to advancing unitary status after the recent and devolution; and negative revenue central government about the repatriation ministerial approval of plans to replace support grant (RSG), which is looming for of business rates to local authorities, because the current two-tier councils in Dorset some of our members. unitaries have a particular position not with two new unitary authorities. We also We have quite a few things to get on with, shared by others, in that all the business rates want to discuss Brexit negotiations and so I hope leaders of unitary authorities will be come to us and there is no sharing between economic growth; innovation and sharing able to join us at our next meeting. two tiers. So two years ago, we held an exploratory Please email [email protected] for more information about the meeting of all the unitary council leaders. Unitary Councils’ Network. To find out about the LGA’s special interest groups, visit Everybody who attended said it was a good www.local.gov.uk/special-interest-groups idea to have our own network, so we applied

26 | first comment www.local.gov.uk

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp26-27 com.indd 26 25/05/2018 14:48 A new solution for local good causes

rst online community lottery run by a local authority. Just two and a half years on, we’ve Councillor Janet Blake (Con) raised almost £170,000 for local causes, “We’ve raised almost is Cabinet Member for including sports clubs, disability groups, animal £170,000 for local Commercialisation and charities and more than 40 schools. Business Transformation at So, how exactly does this fantastic project causes, including sports Aylesbury Vale District Council work? Good causes sign up for free at clubs, disability groups, www.valelottery.co.uk and get their own As local authorities, it goes without saying webpage. They then promote this to their animal charities and that we’re here to help improve the lives of supporters, who join up and buy tickets for £1 people – our residents and communities each. more than 40 schools” are, essentially, why we exist. Sixty pence from each ticket helps local So what do we do when, despite the best causes – 50p of this goes directly to the You might be wondering who does all will in the world, we simply can’t support local chosen good cause and 10p to the council’s the work. Well, it’s a joint effort – a wonderful people in the way we used to? If I had the Community Fund, which supports a range of example of co-production, if you like. answer, I’d be one popular lady! organisations. The rest of the £1 ticket price Gatherwell, our external lottery manager, It’s a question we’ve had to consider goes towards running costs, VAT and the prize runs the website, deals with enquiries and repeatedly as austerity continues, and one that fund. The top prize is a cool £25,000 (this is produces free promotional material for the has left many authorities with no other choice underwritten by the insurers and doesn’t come good causes; we approve the organisations than to cut services. Sometimes, however, out of council funds). wanting to join, market Vale Lottery and there is another solution – and I’m proud to We have more than 100 causes on board, manage the relationship with the Gambling say, when it comes to supporting good causes, and most are raising between £300 and Commission, and the good causes spread we’ve found a particularly innovative one at £3,000 a year. This money is making a huge the word. Of course, the louder they shout, Aylesbury Vale District Council . di erence and is being spent on all manner the more cash they raise. Before 2015, support for these groups of things – including computers for schools, More than 50 other councils have now came largely from our grants service – but, subsidised horse-riding lessons for children started their own lotteries and we’ve had the even then, this was on a programme of with autism, a new children’s library, and a pleasure of helping many of them to fast-track reductions because of central government support group for carers. the process. cuts. It was obvious the situation was only going to get worse – so what could we do? If you’d like advice on how to get the ball rolling on a local lottery for your authority, O the back of this realisation , we please contact me at [email protected] developed Vale Lottery in 2015 – the country’s

June 2018 first comment | 27

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp26-27 com.indd 27 25/05/2018 14:48 Stopping illegal dumps

gathering, streamlining our processes and putting more o cers on the ground. We need to be smarter in stopping this activity “We want to work with before it gets as far as bales of waste being others to stop waste Malcolm Lythgo is Head dumped illegally. of Waste Regulation at the In 2016/17, household and commercial getting into the hands Environment Agency waste was the primary type identi ed, at 37 per of criminals” cent of illegal dumping incidents and 27 per Over the past two years, the Environment cent of illegal waste sites that the Environment Agency’s Operation Cesium has been Agency tackled. the environment, and ensure householders investigating the illegal dumping of up to Much of this waste comes from and businesses discharge their duty of care 25,000 tonnes of waste across sites in the householders and businesses who do not responsibly. We want to work with others to Midlands, North West and North East. know – or care – where their rubbish is educate and inform, and stop waste getting The waste is a mix of household, going. We want to increase awareness of into the hands of criminals. commercial and industrial rubbish, wrapped the impact this activity has on people and That’s why, right now, our communication like silage bales (pictured). teams across England are making contact Illegal dumping and ill icit waste sites are with local authority communications teams , to a huge drain on the limited resources of local help bring the responsibility message home authorities and the Environment Agency . to householders and businesses. We want Together, we spend a huge amount of time people to know they can see if a waste carrier and money investigating and prosecuting is legal by checking on our public register: those responsible, as well as millions of environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/ pounds clearing up the aftermath. Illegal view/search-waste-carriers-brokers. waste sites cost the economy £600 million a We also want people to report illegal waste year in England. activities to us directly, or to Crimestoppers To combat these operations, we are anonymously at www.crimestoppers-uk.org investing in improving our intelligence or by calling 0800 555 111.

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28 | first comment www.local.gov.uk LGA FIRST 1-4 page ad 90x125.indd 1 18/08/2017 14:49

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp28-29 parl.indd 28 25/05/2018 15:25 parliament Financial sustainability

In uencing legislation

More details have emerged of how the Government plans to ensure local government in the UK continues to be consulted about legislation a ecting the sector after Brexit. We currently have a formal advisory role in EU legislation through the Committee of the Regions (CoR), and The LGA has been campaigning for and the “pips are squeaking now”. ministers committed to nding a adequate funding for the sector, “[Councils] have seen increased demands replacement procedure after lobbying particularly to meet rising demands on children’s services and adult social care, by the LGA. and costs for adult social care, children’s and homelessness places very signi cant Now, Ministry of Housing, services and homelessness. pressure on them,” he said. Communities and Local Government As part of this, we gave evidence to “They have done the cutting, the Minister Lord Bourne has written to the in uential Public Accounts Committee e ciency, the sharing and the productivity members of the Lords updating them to inform its inquiry into the nancial improvements, but the harsh reality is that, on progress towards replicating the sustainability of local authorities. This follows by the end of this decade, councils will be consultative arrangements of the CoR. a report earlier this year from the National short of funding to the tune of £5.5 billion. He had told Peers that the Audit O ce, which found that councils have That is excluding the money that needs Government envisages twice-yearly had a 49.1 per cent real-terms reduction in to be injected right now to prop up a very meetings between relevant ministers funding since 2010/11 (see rst 622). vulnerable care system for the adults we are and the LGA, and the equivalent Last month, our Chief Executive Mark all concerned about across the country.” associations in Wales, Scotland and Lloyd gave oral evidence to the committee, Mr Lloyd told MPs the solution is to “grow Northern Ireland. alongside Martin Reeves, Spokesman for Local the available funding we have got in local The associations would produce Government Finance for the Society of Local government”. written opinions on proposed Authority Chief Executives; Rob Whiteman, “Business rate retention o ers us legislation and policies, and the Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of one option, but the strong view of local Government would publish a response, Public Finance and Accountancy; and Duncan government is that the eventual retention with copies of both papers put before Whit eld, President of the Association of Local of 100 per cent of business rates should Parliament. We will continue to work Authority Treasurers. come with no new duties, so we can plug the with o cials on the details of the Mr Lloyd praised the amazing work of funding gap of £5.5 billion and prop up the new arrangements. councils in responding to “perma-austerity” care market.” and managing £16 billion of central The priorities outlined by Mr Lloyd will For more information about the LGA’s government funding reductions over the be central to the LGA’s campaigning and parliamentary work, please visit decade from 2010 to 2020. But he told MPs parliamentary work on behalf of councils, as www.local.gov.uk/parliament that there is a limit to what more can be done, we look to next year’s spending review.

June 2018 first political | 29

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp28-29 parl.indd 29 25/05/2018 14:50 councillor Three decades a leader

“The role of a council Dennis Harvey OBE (Lab) recently retired as Leader leader hasn’t changed of Nuneaton and Bedworth – the main goal is to Borough Council deliver high-quality, I am writing this article just one week frontline services to the after retiring as a councillor of 45 years’ standing, and with a further week to go community we serve” before our annual council meeting, when I step down as Leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. It has been suggested that I am the longest-serving council leader in the country, having rst been appointed in 1986 and continuing to the present day, with the WMCA and other key regional players. With exception of a brief period between 2008 neighbouring Coventry being awarded City and 2010. of Culture 202 and Birmingham securing the During the time of my leadership, the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the pro le of world has changed enormously and the local our region has been boosted even further. government environment has also shifted, Moving forward, authorities such as transformed by wave after wave of central Nuneaton and Bedworth will face many government policy and ever-increasing challenges, nancial and otherwise. For spending pressures. me, one of the most signi cant is the need Over the years, there have always been to make our town centres resilient to the challenges, but I have to say that the scale of onslaught of retail change that is ripping the task facing local government right now apart the traditional high street model. is greater than I have ever known; similarly, I see the role of council leader as being a Councils need to rethink their approach and the need for strong and e ective leaders has champion of the council’s vision, continually get creative – this is so important, because never been greater. keeping the focus on the big picture. town centres are often the beating hearts of The basic role of a council leader hasn’t Sometimes, this means taking a long-term our communities. changed over my time – the main goal is to view that may initially con ict with short- Re ecting on my career, I remember most deliver high-quality, frontline services to the term pressures, a position I have occasionally the wonderful people I have worked with community we serve. From my point of view, found myself in over the years – most and the strength of their commitment to this has meant surrounding myself with the recently in making an early commitment public service. During my time as leader, the best people and supporting them to get the to join the West Midlands Combined council has performed well and never had a job done; it has meant managing nances Authority (WMCA), the rst Warwickshire strike against it – this is largely down to the well, being sustainable – also creative – and authority to do so. Holding strong to a vision excellent people I have been lucky enough to sometimes brave to try new things. is so important. work alongside. I am enormously proud of the borough I One piece of advice I do o er is always try have represented. Nuneaton and Bedworth to be inclusive, listen to the views of others Dennis Harvey OBE retired on is a modest but thriving district at the heart and always treat people with respect. I hope, 16 May 2018 after 45 years as a of the country, with exceptional transport in my role as leader, that I have stuck to the councillor . Let us know about your links. It’s ideally placed within the industrial advice of my parents when I was young. They long-serving colleagues by emailing West Midlands to take advantage of the said: “Don’t forget... it’s nice to be important, [email protected] new opportunities brought about by the but it’s more important to be nice.”

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LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp30-32 cllr.indd 30 25/05/2018 14:51 Help for rst-time councillors

Welcome to local government! Being a These include social care, housing, the public sector. At its best, local councillor is a great honour and gives you devolution and keeping local government government provides the strong and the chance to make a real di erence to central to the Brexit negotiations – but top of ambitious leadership that ensures the nation your local residents and the area the agenda is funding. We continue to call for remains t and well, economically resilient you represent. the funding and powers we need to best serve and continues to thrive. But it is also hard work and can feel our communities and for the exibility to raise The day-to-day life of a citizen is directly daunting when you are rst elected. more funds locally. Against the backdrop of impacted by what we achieve as councillors, However, the LGA is here to help, in addition reductions in public sector funding, our work and we look forward to helping you carry out to the support you will receive from your behind the scenes, and our collective legal your new role to the best of your ability. own council, fellow elected members, and actions on your behalf, have delivered some the wider local government family. important wins, prevented additional burdens With more than 400 local authorities in being placed on councils and secured funding membership across England and Wales, the that would not otherwise have been passed to Top tips LGA provides a vast network to share best the local level. practice with, and to support you in your The guide also looks at the councillor role “Think ‘so what?’ on behalf of various roles. – in representing your local area, providing your residents – what do decisions We work with councils to support, community leadership, developing council actually mean to those you promote and improve local government, policy, and acting as a regulator, for example represent?” and as a councillor you will automatically in planning and licensing. Cllr Lynne Doherty (Con), West Berkshire have access to the full range of services that It discusses the importance of standards Council we o er. in public life (the Nolan principles), o ers a helpful introduction to what councils do and “Go with your own gut. As a how local government is organised, how new councillor you hear lots of councils make decisions, and the key policy conflicting information from “Despite the challenges, issues you will face. others about the role and what it’s an exciting time There are also top tips on how to work they’re doing in their area. It’s well with council o cers, plus information your role to shape and embrace.” to play your part in on devolution and combined authorities; Cllr Adam Ellison (Lab), South Tyneside the most trusted part workforce issues; the public sector Council equality duty; support for councillors and of the public sector” allowances; communications; media work; “Get to know council officers in access to information and using data; key departments and get to grips local government nance; and overview with any enquiry or information One of the LGA’s key resources for and scrutiny. systems your council has – it will new councillors is its recently updated As you settle into your new role, you will make dealing with enquiries and ‘Councillors’ Guide 2018/19’. It provides a come to understand that local government complaints far easier.” useful introduction to the LGA, outlining is facing unprecedented challenges. There Cllr Rhys Taylor (Lib Dem), Cardi City the practical support we can give to is less money in the pot but demands for Council you and your council, as well as how we services our residents rely on are increasing. campaign on behalf of the sector on the Despite this, it’s also an exciting time to issues that matter to us all. play your part in the most trusted part of “Don’t be afraid to take a day off. Being a councillor is a 24/7 role that can take over your life if you To nd out more about the LGA, please visit www.local.gov.uk. The full ‘Councillors’ allow it to.” Guide 2018/19’ can be accessed online or downloaded as a PDF at www.local.gov.uk/ Cllr Anna Charles-Jones (Ind), Stockport councillors-guide. Tell us about the challenges you are facing as a new councillor, by Metropolitan Borough Council emailing [email protected]

June 2018 first political | 31

LGA FIRST 624 June 18 pp30-32 cllr.indd 31 25/05/2018 14:52 Gold sponsor

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LGA26.35 FIRST LGA conf 624 adJune FIRST_V04.indd 18 pp30-32 cllr.indd 1 32 25/05/201823/05/2018 14:5110:26