Sir James Cleverly MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, joined the LGA’s most recent Councillors’ Forum to share his perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing local government.
The panel covered some of the most pressing issues facing councils today, including adult social care, pressures on special educational needs and disabilities, high-street regeneration and the long-term sustainability of local government finance.
A key theme throughout was the vital role councils play in delivering public services and supporting communities.
The conversation also reinforced the importance of focusing on outcomes, prevention, and effective partnership working between central and local government to meet growing demand and deliver for residents.
“All politics is local and, ultimately, almost all public service delivery is local… everybody experiences stuff locally,” Sir James told the forum.
“You see what is working and what is not working… you see the gap between what is said in Westminster and what is delivered on the ground.”
Councillors’ Forum also heard from Olivia Field, Chief Executive Officer of The Jo Cox Foundation, as part of a discussion on civility in public life, marking the tenth anniversary of the murder of Jo Cox MP.