Government ministers and the Leader of the Opposition attended LGA events at their party conferences
It has been another successful party conference season at the LGA.
We held receptions at the Labour and Conservative conferences in Liverpool and Birmingham, which allowed our members to catch up after what has proven to be another busy year for local government.
This year we focused our fringe debates – sponsored by Google – on supporting communities through the rising cost of living and into economic recovery.
Prior to party conference, the LGA launched its cost of living hub, which features the fantastic work councils are already doing to support their residents during these difficult times.
At our Labour Party conference debate, Mike Amesbury MP, former Shadow Minister for Local Government, considered how councils working with government and partners in the private, public and voluntary sectors can collaborate to address cost-of-living pressures, reducing the need for emergency support.
John Park, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google Cloud, highlighted the range of skills programmes Google offers and how this can help communities by upskilling and reskilling residents. Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, LGA Labour Group Deputy Chair, who chaired the debate, shared Hackney council’ s experience of working with Google during the pandemic .
Other speakers included Olivia Bailey, Director at policy and research consultancy Public First, and Cllr Shaun Davies, Leader of the LGA’s Labour Group, who praised the LGA’s cost of living hub.
As usual, the LGA sponsored the Association of Labour Councillors’ drinks reception. Attendees heard from Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition, who thanked councillors for their work in the local elections and the support they continue to provide to their communities, despite the challenges they currently face.
At the Conservative Party conference debate, led by LGA Chairman Cllr James Jamieson, attendees heard from Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader of the LGA’s Conservative Group; John Park from Google Cloud; and Nick Park, Director at Public First.
The panel praised the work of councils and called for greater devolution as councils know their local economies best and are therefore more qualified to provide the right support to their residents.
Cllr Seccombe also noted the LGA’s cost of living hub as an excellent resource for councillors.
The LGA Conservative Group drinks reception was attended by three ministers from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities – Dehenna Davison, Paul Scully and Lee Rowley.
All three praised councillors for their work leading their communities, recognising the financial challenges they are facing, and spoke about their own priorities to work closely with councillors to drive positive change in local areas.
The ministers took the time to network with councillors at the reception and throughout the conference, hearing their priorities for their local areas.
The LGA also hosted a drinks reception at the Green Party’s conference in Harrogate, and Cllr Marianne Overton, Leader of the LGA’s Independent Group, gave a speech praising the success of Green councillors and highlighting the support the LGA can offer to them.
Following the cancellation of their autumn conference, we are exploring other ways to ensure Liberal Democrat councillors can come together and discuss ideas and share best practice in the coming weeks and months.
Beyond party conferences, we continue to promote the priorities of local government in Parliament.