Speakers’ corner

Ahead of the next General Election, new Independent and Green council leaders set out their asks and messages at a ‘speakers’ corner’ session at the LGA’s annual conference.

Onshore wind power, competing demands on rural land for energy and food production, social providers pulling out of housing provision, “over-stretched” public services, low trust in politicians, the new infrastructure levy, “prescriptive” plans for waste collection, and local government funding and finance were among the issues they raised with delegates. 

The session was chaired by Cllr Marianne Overton, Leader of the LGA’s Independent Group, who said its members were “getting local government to think differently”, to focus on residents and to work collaboratively – all things that “make for successful councils”.