report 2013 & review Morgan McSweeney, Head of the LGA Labour Group Office Foreword The last year has been one of important advancements for Labour in local government. Despite the Government’s scorched earth approach to local government, social security and public services, the reputation of Labour in local government continues to grow. The return of Labour’s Local Government Conference in The Government’s attacks on the most vulnerable February was one of the highlights of our political year. mean that social security continues to be a key After a seven year absence, five hundred councillors battleground. Our campaign to kill the Bedroom Tax gathered in Nottingham on a cold Saturday in February began to take shape in early June, when we met in and showed through their ideas, energy and optimism Manchester to establish a plan for how Labour councils just what the Labour Party has been missing. The last can work together to make sure that Labour time there was a local government conference there is committed to dismantling this unfair policy, and to were no local government speakers on the platform; set out a clear set of principles to protect the victims this time the vast majority of speakers were from local of the tax that Labour councils can sign up to. government, allowing the conference to feel more like We have developed our capacity to help our councillors a genuine dialogue between Labour’s front bench and share ideas through our new website, our new our councillors. Facebook page and our increased efforts on Twitter. We took forward our mission for more localism in the Victories in Derbyshire, Cumbria, Lancashire and Labour Party through our well-received pamphlet One Nottinghamshire have rebuilt our base in County Nation Localism. Jon Cruddas’ speech in June showed Councils. Doncaster and North Tyneside have given we are on the right track when he announced that Labour our first women Mayors. Labour’s policy review “will push power downwards and build a new kind of state.” Our office team has also changed, Nathan Yeowell moved on after seven years of service and Martin As we look towards the 2015 General Election, our Angus, an experienced Labour campaigner, joined our purpose is to make sure Labour’s next manifesto small team. is committed to localism. The achievements of our councillors shows what Labour is capable of delivering These are just some of the highlights of an event-filled when we are in power. The grassroots activity of our year. We know that the year ahead will present us councillors is keeping Labour rooted in communities with bigger challenges than Labour local government across the country. And the innovation of our has ever faced: the summer spending review; the councillors is setting the blueprint for the future impact of social services changes; and the continued of public series. We look forward to supporting the economic rut. So we need to plan big, to be ambitious local government taskforce Ed Miliband set up at the about the next Labour manifesto, and to continue our National Policy Forum in June. commitment to Labour councils and councillors. We have established important relationships to play our We must be clear in what we need from a potentially role in influencing Labours national policies by working Labour-led LGA and unrelenting in standing up to the with Jack Dromey on the Housing Innovation Network, Government and forces of centralism. Harriet Harman on the Creative Councils Network, Toby Perkins on the Labour Councillors’ Business Network, Andy Burnham on the role of local government in delivering whole person care and many others. We are grateful to Leeds City Council, Oldham Council and Derbyshire Labour Group for photos used on the cover page. 2 Morgan McSweeney, Head of the LGA Labour Group Office Foreword Contents 4 Message from the Leader of the Labour Party Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP 5 Message from the Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP 6 Message from the Leader of the LGA Labour Group Cllr David Sparks (Dudley) 7 LGA Labour Group Executive Team 2012-13 8 News in brief 10 Winning in Derbyshire Cllr Anne Western, Leader of Derbyshire County Council 11 The drive for growth Cllr Keith Wakefield, Leader of Leeds City Council 12 Community co-operation Cllr Jim McMahon, Leader of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council 13 Creating a fairer borough Cllr Catherine West, Leader of Islington London Borough Council 14 Board reports from your leading Labour members 18 Training and support for Labour councillors 19 Policy development and the road to 2015 3 Message from The Leader of the Labour Party Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP A lot has changed in the last year. Earlier this year we saw the first Labour Local Government Conference in seven years which I had the privilege of addressing. Over 500 local councillors from across the country gathered together for an incredibly lively discussion and debate. I know from some of my conversations with you there that the scale of the challenges you are all facing is enormous. But I was also struck by the innovation and drive for delivering the best that you can for your residents in a world of tighter resources. I’m pleased to say we will be holding another Labour Local Government conference next year in conjunction with the LGA Labour group. In May we gained 291 more Labour councillors serving our communities and we took control of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire county councils. I want to thank every one of you who worked so hard to campaign in May’s elections. This is a solid foundation to build on for 2014, when I hope we will take back to build hundreds of new homes. It is true of York, setting up an control of the LGA, and for the general election in 2015. annual business conference and working to improve employment One thing which has certainly not changed over the past year, opportunities for local residents. It is true of the many Labour is the importance of the LGA itself, raising issues, lobbying hard councils now paying all their employees the Living Wage. Across against some of the measures this Conservative-led government this country, Labour councillors are showing people how our party are bringing in which damage our communities. I’d like to thank is on the side of working people. We are working to turn our values David Sparks and Ann Lucas for their continued leadership into practical results. and commitment to the LGA Labour group and the wider local Because in the end, that is what One Nation Labour is all about – government community. making sure that we put the right values back into our town halls Power at local level is an opportunity to show people that we have and into government in Westminster. It is about making sure that different priorities to this government and the difference Labour every single person has a stake, that prosperity is fairly shared, and can make, even from opposition. That is true of the councillors that we protect our common life and the institutions which express in Brandon and Basildon training a team of residents to speak to it. If we carry on showing the difference Labour councils can make, their neighbours to find out what elderly residents want from if we work hard, and if we stay united, we can put those values back their council. It is true of Ipswich and Liverpool councils pledging where they belong – at the heart of our national life as a country. 4 Message from The Leader of the Labour Party Message from the Shadow Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP It’s been another tough year for our communities. But we have much still to do, not least to get across to those voters The economy is bumping along the bottom and who feel alienated from the political process and the established neither George Osborne nor David Cameron have any parties. As you know better than anyone else, the answer is to get out there, listen and respond to people’s concerns. The way credible answers. The biggest cuts have continued to we win trust is to show people that we are with them, that we be unfairly inflicted on the most deprived local areas. aren’t helpless, and that we will use the opportunity of being in And changes to benefits – in particular the shameful government to make a difference. That’s why I am passionate about Bedroom Tax and Pickles’ poll tax – are hitting the very localism. We can’t afford to carry on doing things in the way we did poorest households and undermining family life and a before. People want to feel that they can shape their lives where sense of community. they live, and strong local communities and strong local government are the best way to do this. This is what the Policy Review is But there are also signs of hope. Over the past 12 months I have working on; for more information and to encourage party members had the chance to meet with Labour groups in control and in to join in the debate, visit www.yourbritain.org.uk. opposition, and I continue to be struck by the quiet determination Two years before the next general election, and a year before with which all of you are working hard to mitigate the damage being crucial local and European elections in which we will look to make done by this out-of-touch government and to show why Labour further gains across the country, our job is to show that we are values make a difference.