The LGA’s annual conference is always a wonderful opportunity to catch up with old political friends, make new ones, and grow our support and information networks to help in our work as councillors.
So, spending time with my fellow enthusiasts for local government – of all political colours and none – in Liverpool, in my native North West, has been one of the highlights of my year.
But annual conference is also a place where the LGA does vital external engagement, on behalf of our member councils, with our counterparts in the UK’s other nations and with national politicians. For example, it was my great pleasure to meet colleagues from the Welsh LGA, the Northern Ireland LGA and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities at our conference in early July.
We discussed the many issues we have in common – including funding, multi-year settlements, tackling violence against women and girls, and abuse and intimidation of councillors – and how we can work collectively with all UK governments to make a difference on behalf of all our communities.
A plethora of UK Government ministers spoke publicly at conference’s plenaries and workshops, and their attendance in Liverpool allowed us to have one-to-one catchups on key issues for councils.
These included: the practical delivery of the NHS 10-year plan; the local impact of cuts to integrated care boards; the Casey review into adult social care; reform of support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities; and net zero.
These and many other conversations remain ongoing all the time at the LGA, sometimes behind closed doors. But they help us make a difference.
They ensure the LGA remains a trusted, credible and authoritative voice, allowing us to lobby and influence on behalf of our members and our shared aim of strengthening local government so our communities thrive.