Putting localism on the agenda

The autumn conferences are an opportunity to influence party manifestos

The party conference season is just around the corner and the LGA is once again gearing up for a busy time in the political calendar. 

This year, we have organised receptions and debates at four of the upcoming conferences – Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Labour and, for the first time, the Green Party. 

We will also be hosting the LGA’s Independent Group Conference on 24-25 November. 

The Liberal Democrat conference will take place in Bournemouth (23-26 September), the Conservatives in Manchester (1-4 October), the Green Party in Brighton (6-7 October) and Labour in Liverpool (8-11 October). 

This could potentially be the last set of political party conferences before a General Election, which must occur by the start of 2025. 

Each conference therefore provides the LGA with an invaluable opportunity to influence internal party discussions. 

With the cogs of the manifesto writing process already beginning to turn, we will be making the case that this is a moment to listen to our communities and let them shape the political agenda.

Our range of conference events will make clear that this is the time for localism to be put firmly at the top of the agenda, rather than top-down solutions. 

We will hold a series of drinks receptions at each conference to give local government leaders and other attendees the opportunity to network. 

We will also host debates where our councillors and other stakeholders will discuss the big issues facing local government.  

Our panels will be made up of senior councillors, representatives from the Government and the Opposition, as well as members of prominent think tanks and stakeholder organisations.

Attendees, as always, will be invited to participate and engage with our expert panel on key issues. 

Each of our events will focus heavily on the LGA’s Make It Local campaign, launched by Cllr Shaun Davies, Chair of the LGA, at our annual conference in July. 

The campaign highlights the importance of local leadership and its unique ability to impact lives and communities in a targeted and effective way. 

Whatever the outcome of the next General Election, we know that ministers will only be able to tackle current and future challenges if they reset the relationship between national and local government. 

That’s why Make It Local calls for the empowerment of local government, urging central government to foster stronger partnerships with councils across the country.  

The campaign also calls for a change in Whitehall culture, where the belief that ‘one size fits all’ must be replaced by a recognition that the best approach is often determined by local contexts and that policy decisions should be steered by those who work in our frontline services. 

To further empower local government, the campaign calls for government to build greater momentum behind existing devolution deals and to set out a clear pathway for all council areas to follow when ready.  

Undoubtedly, the issue of government funding and resources will be raised in each of our conference events. 

The LGA is adamant that government must put an end to opaque and fragmented funding regimes, characterised by one-year funding settlements and one-off funding pots, and instead opt for a unified and collaborative model of multi-year settlements.  

We are looking forward to discussing these issues with you at our political party conference events this autumn, as we continue our drive to put local government, and its future, at the top of the political agenda.  

See next month’s first for conference reviews

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• For the latest updates on the LGA’s activities at the party conferences, please visit our website.