The LGA is starting a national ‘conversation' about how local government can build on its recent improvements. Lord Bruce-Lockhart explains Last year, secretary of state, Ruth Kelly, spoke of a ‘tipping point' for devolution to local councils and communities. The LGA has lobbied hard on the local government White Paper and Bill, and we continue to work with councils and the Government to push for the right tools to make this devolution a reality. And while this work continues, I believe the time is right to turn the lens back on to ourselves in local government. The sector has a track record of real improvement and delivery. The Treasury reported recently that local government was leading the entire public sector in delivering efficiency savings. At the same time, the arguments about the need for a localist agenda have been made and won. We have a new legitimacy and a new spirit of confidence. We must now use this confidence, together with our new opportunities, to challenge ourselves to ‘raise our game' – our performance, the value for money we provide, our leadership and accountability, and our relevance and responsiveness to the public. This isn't about the LGA and colleagues ‘instructing' the sector to raise its game, but the whole sector – with us as a part – really moving to another place. The LGA is starting a national conversation about how we all can raise our game. We are beginning with a series of discussions with LGA members, council leaders and chief executives, and key partner organisations. We will work closely with IDeA and the Local Government Leadership Centre. And later in the spring, we will publish a work programme which we hope all our colleagues in the sector will feel able to sign up to. We have set out some broad themes for discussion. For example: l building visionary and ambitious leadership which makes best use of both the political and managerial role l leading trusted and effective partnerships across the whole public sector l creating radically-enhanced scrutiny, holding to account the council, the wider public sector, and service and utilities suppliers l devolving to residents and local organisations – engaging and communicating effectively, and enhancing the frontline councillors' role l ensuring outstanding improvement and transformation in service performance – innovation, value, efficiency and public access and satisfaction. These are not new themes. But, what is new is that there is now a real appetite and determination in the sector to seize this agenda. Leading LGA members, the chief executives and I, are determined to drive this forward, and to seek radical solutions, and put in place a robust and challenging action plan to ensure implementation. Many councils are leading through outstanding innovation. But there will be no hiding place for poor performance. We need strong and inspiring leadership – from all councillors – which sets out a bold and ambitious vision, both for transforming public services and boosting local economic prosperity, housing transport and regeneration. This must be backed with effective implementation plans and visible accountability. We must rise to the challenge of leading the whole of public services, driving real innovation in Local Area Agreements and building strong partnerships across the public sector, private and voluntary sector. We must rethink scrutiny and select committees – should we bring in MPs, leaders of the private sector and local environmental groups, other organisations, and service-users? We must rethink the local member role and give the necessary support and backup and, at the same time, be determined in devolving ourselves to local organisations. Many councils have trailblazed with innovation and transformation. But all councils must match the best, and the best will raise our game again. Lord Bruce-Lockart is chairman of the LGA
