The LGA continues to strengthen our engagement with government on priorities affecting local and strategic authorities.
As part of this, we are in discussions about creating a strategic partnership with No 10 North, with the aim of influencing policy sooner to get a better outcome for local government.
Together with our Interim Chief Executive, Jenny Rowlands, I recently visited No 10 North in Manchester to meet Caroline Simpson, Deputy Chief of Staff to the PM, and Nathan Yeowell, the PM’s Special Adviser.
“Only strong and financially sustainable councils can provide the solid base for effective strategic authorities”
We discussed how we can work more closely together to ensure the voice, experience and expertise of local and strategic authorities helps to shape national policy before decisions are made – ‘place-proofing’ reforms so that they reflect local priorities, build on what is already working and deliver better outcomes for communities.
This is especially important as ministers develop their plans for ‘rewiring’ the state to boost good growth ahead of the Budget, on 28 October, and a white paper this autumn.
We are grateful to the LGA elected members and local authority chief executives who have been working with us to make the case for councils to be at the heart of these conversations (and simultaneously also demonstrating our ability to convene the sector).
We are clear that the Prime Minister’s ‘rewiring’ ambitions – for fiscal devolution and widespread devolution to local areas of new powers over skills, transport, employment support, housing, innovation and public services – will only succeed if the Government confronts the financial crisis facing councils and local services and turbo-charges genuine English devolution.
Only strong and financially sustainable councils can provide the solid base for effective strategic authorities and a newly rewired state.
The LGA continues to make the case that an empowered, financially sustainable local government sector is crucial to meeting the needs of local residents, unlocking our country’s potential and tackling our national challenges, as outlined in our submission to the Chancellor.