Paul Carter:
In last week’s MJ, Mike Burton intimated a minority Conservative Government presented the best opportunity for local government to 'press home its case' in decades – I agree. However, other contributors took a more sceptical approach, viewing the prospect of getting the necessary legislation through parliament as an inhibitor to change. I suggest the prospect of less legislative change could be seen as a refreshing and exciting opportunity, enabling local government to spend more time on the doing.
The events of the last few weeks mean that we need to adapt to change and as a result do so much more and differently – and local government must forge a new relationship with central government, working and communicating in new and innovative ways. It is my view that the LGA needs to apply a focussed, positive and pragmatic approach to take forward its priorities. We need to be a united voice wherever possible, forming new and stronger relationships with central government and public sector partners. We offer to government experience and solutions to many of the challenges it faces. We need devolution agreements that empower all sectors of local government to 'get on' enabling them to deliver.
Fair funding is vital to delivery. We need to move quickly to agree a needs-led, evidence-based, transparent funding formula for all sectors of local government. The LGA was tasked with this by previous secretary of state Greg Clark some 18 months ago and now needs to provide the solution. The LGA must not allow it to be parked in the 'too difficult to handle' box.
The national funding formula for schools must also be needs-led and transparent. While the current proposal contains the right cost drivers, the weightings within it urgently need to be adjusted to remove the unfairnesses in the current system – with no school being a loser now a must-do requirement.
Heath and social care integration and reform is dependent above all else on relationships between local government and health colleagues. Health colleagues' reluctance to engage with local government is a considerable obstacle. A renewed partnership between local government and the secretaries of state for communities and for health could be a powerful influence.
I have strong views on social care funding. The current system is broken and phenomenally unfair. For 'the 25%' on low incomes, the current system supports them well with entitlement to good state support. However, for the vast majority who are unfortunate to succumb to dementia and other long-term disabling conditions, fails to provide the essential financial support needed. To rub salt into the wound, for older people, Scotland has free entitlement to personal care for all. We need to work hard to find sustainable solutions and should look around the world, particularly in the Netherlands and Germany.
We must siege the opportunities ahead. Local government has delivered transformational change and efficiencies over the last decade. The LGA needs to be the champion for change. Let’s work together and get on with the job.
Paul Carter is leader of Kent CC
Please note these articles have been published in alphabetical order
David Simmonds:
All Conservative councillors have been focussed on winning votes in the General Election in the past weeks, and Conservative councillors from all types of council, including those we run and those we have to campaign to win, are reflecting on what the result means for us. I am campaigning to be group leader at the LGA to ensure a united Conservative voice that reflects the ambitions of all our leaders, groups and councils as we negotiate a new political landscape which presents opportunities and challenges that were not expected even a few weeks ago.
The LGA remains the best way for getting our voice heard by government and the media, who do so much to influence political debate. It is right that Conservative voices dominate, as we have campaigned hard for our place as the largest party in local government. Based on feedback from colleagues around the country, in all types of council, my aims if elected will be:
- The financial challenge that all councils face remains great, and my number one priority is a funding settlement for social care that works for everyone. The LGA lobbying that resulted in an extra £2bn in the last budget was a welcome step, but we need to see councils coming together to play a bigger role in controlling the spend. Those who have the best ideas and can manage most efficiently must be free to do so.
- Much of Whitehall will be occupied with Brexit. This is an opportunity for councils and I will campaign to ensure that devolution does not stick in Whitehall. Councils, because of their local knowledge, are best placed to help their communities to meet the challenges and make the most of the economic opportunities that we need to exploit to make Brexit a success. I will build on this with government to ensure that you have more opportunity to shape and grow your local economy.
- Housebuilding has been much debated in the general election. Councils are the source of creative ideas which need to be taken up by government if we are to see a step-change in the volume of new homes delivered. Many Conservative councils have made huge strides in this direction, but we need to showcase these good examples and demonstrate that central control is not the way to get results.
There are, of course, many other policy areas where councils have so much to offer and which we need to get right, not least the thorny issue of business rate retention and what it means for council funding.
I am a passionate believer in the positive difference that councillors make to the lives of their residents, and to their community. Councillors bring common sense and local knowledge that is needed to make a success of our policies and we value the contribution that they make. It is the role of the LGA to convince our government of this; if elected Group Leader, I will be a strong voice for Conservatives in local government.
David Simmonds is deputy leader of Hillingdon LBC