When we work with central government, we improve lives and achieve the best results for our communities.
The Government has committed to building 300,000 new homes by the mid-2020s. But we need to deliver this with public consent.
It contained a number of positive announcements. The New Homes Bonus is particularly significant for shire districts.
More than one in four councils was subject to a serious security breach in the last five years. Given the sensitive nature of the information held, security needs to be improved.
Too often local government lacks proper scrutiny. There is a closed-mindedness that ignores warnings and fails to consider long-term consequences.
Digital is changing the way we live our lives. Councils can’t keep up unless the younger generation are part of the decision making process.
Demands for billions of pounds for extra adult social care spending lack credibility given the continued profligate spending in our town halls.
On Brexit, housing and social care there is constructive dialogue and partnership with Ministers. It is delivering results.
Councils sharing space with job centres is an example. It means an improved service – and releases buildings which can be sold to reduce debt and provide new homes.
We must seize the opportunities to provide services in a more efficient way – cutting the long delays on public procurement is an obvious example.
The full text of the Communities and Local Government Secretary’s speech to the LGA today.
Heath and Social Care integration is in everyone’s interests and we need to work hard to make it a reality.
We need a strong voice to demand that Brexit means devolution.
It is not a fix-all, but I hope its measures will produce a real improvement in the number of people who become homeless in the first place.