Despite high hopes, June’s easing of lockdown was postponed and many of our councils are continuing to support communities and businesses through local outbreaks.
A vaccine booster programme is planned but with an autumn spike expected, we continue to press the Government to ensure our councils are adequately resourced and able to meet remotely.
“Local government hopes to have a strong presence at COP26 as local leaders of place”
Over the past month, our peer team has been busy providing remote support to new administrations, opposition groups and councillors. The group’s support for members continues throughout July, including our new councillor surgery on 13 July and at the LGA’s annual conference (6-8 July).
This year, the conference is free to attend and includes several group sessions: our AGM; a climate change session with UK100; and a webinar with Professor Colin Copus on the future of local government. If you haven’t already, do sign up (www.local.gov.uk/conference).
This is my last column for first, with our group election results due on 6 July. As we look ahead, planning, levelling up, care, leisure and culture support will be priorities for the next political year along, of course, with climate change.
The G7 meeting in Cornwall was a useful precursor to the COP26 UN Climate Conference later this year, where local government hopes to have a strong presence as local leaders of place – a commitment the LGA will discuss at our general assembly thanks to a motion brought forward by our Green members.
I hope you have a good LGA conference and hopefully next year’s gathering will be in person.