Visiting local authorities to find out about the amazing work you are doing on behalf of your residents is one of the most enjoyable, but also humbling, parts of my role as Chair of the LGA.
Following successful visits to the West Midlands and the North West, I’m pleased to say that visits to the South West and North East are in my diary, with virtual meetings pencilled in with colleagues in the East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.
During my North West visit earlier this month, it was good to meet Emily Spurrell, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and recently elected Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, as well as Steve Rotheram and Katherine Fairclough – respectively the Mayor and Chief Executive of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – and council leaders from across the city region, to discuss local priorities and how the LGA can best support member councils.
Similarly, in the West Midlands, we met a range of colleagues, including leaders and chief executives from Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull and Birmingham.
The challenges of temporary accommodation and asylum are particularly acute in the region, and this reinforced the work we need to do at the LGA to shape and influence a national, long-term resettlement strategy
We will continue to prioritise such visits to ensure the LGA’s work is not London-centric. By July 2025, my aim is to have visited every region, ensuring we remain connected to the realities on the ground.
Finally, we will be holding another virtual meeting with council leaders next month to reflect further on the summer’s far-right riots, and to share lessons, ideas and ‘asks’ of both government and the LGA.
Look out for the invite in your inbox, as our initial asks from similar meetings over the summer contributed to the Government announcing financial support for the 20 most affected areas, and the LGA has started attending the Deputy Prime Minister’s Recovery Steering Group.