New unit ‘needed to tackle abuse’
The Government should establish a permanent central unit to deal with abuse and threats against councillors and make them safer when performing their elected roles, the LGA has said.
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Call to review temporary accommodation subsidy
Government subsidies towards councils’ temporary accommodation costs – currently stuck at 2011 levels – need to be “urgently addressed” in the face of rising homelessness, the LGA has warned.
Cultural services ‘under threat’
Councils’ spending on culture in England remains under threat because of the multitude of funding streams and wider funding pressures, LGA infographics have revealed.
New parental leave policy for councillors
The LGA has adopted its first model parental leave policy for councillors, providing a practical starting point for councils wanting to address this grey area for elected members.
Virtual meetings ‘under review’
The Government is considering changes to the rules around councillors attending meetings virtually – something the LGA has been calling for since 2021.
LG Challenge winner announced
Islington Council’s Faith Scott Deuchar has won the LGA’s Local Government Challenge 2024, with a project seeking to understand why some families disengage from early help services.
Cross-party working
LGA Chair Cllr Louise Gittins met her predecessors over the summer to discuss “all things local government” and the importance of cross-party working.
Fear of pharmacy ‘deserts’
Rural areas of England are at risk of becoming ‘pharmacy deserts’, with nearly all seeing at least one close in the past two years, according to the National Pharmacy Association.
LGA staff changes
Sally Burlington, the LGA’s Director of Policy and Deputy Chief Executive, is leaving the organisation to become Chief Executive of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services.
BAME leadership
The LGA is celebrating 20 years of its annual leadership programme for ethnic minority councillors, with applications now open for its 2024/25 BAME councillors weekender events, taking place in October 2024 and February 2025 in Coventry.