LGA Liberal Democrat Group
The Liberal Democrats have just over 3,100 councillors across the UK. Consequently, our Group at the LGA plays a major role in the organisation. We are the persistent defenders of local democracy, arguing that what a local community can do for itself is best left to that community, without interference from central government.
You can find more information about the Group by viewing the "About us" section on the left.
Feed in Tariff consultation - have your say!
17th November 2011
The LGA and the Liberal Democrat Group are lobbying the Government over the proposed reduction in the Feed in Tariff rate for solar power on 12th December.
- We respect the hard work done by Lib Dems in government over renewable energy, such as allowing local authorities to sell energy to the national grid (previous Conservative and Labour governments banned councils from doing this).
- But we are calling on the government to protect community run schemes - including those run or planned by councils - by extending the cut-off date for these schemes to the end of the financial year.
- We accept that the tariff had to be cut but are concerned at the short notice given for the reduction.
- The Government should be taking a wider view than just the Department of Energy and Climate Change's budget for Feed in Tariff payments. It must realise that the growing solar industry is helping to create jobs and employment - at a time when unemployment is rising.
A summary of the changes are:
- To reduce the generation tariff for a single installation of solar panels on an average home by over 50% from 43.4p per kWh to 21p per kWh.
- To introduce this change by 12th December 2011. This would require any schemes in the pipeline to have confirmation of registration from Ofgem in the next 5 weeks. This date is also before the end of the consultation on 23rd December.
- To make a further reduction where councils have schemes for social housing, on several of their own buildings or public buildings, of another 20%, bringing the tariff down further to 16.8p per kWh.
The Consultation can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/fits_comp_rev1/fits_comp_rev1.aspx
What you can do:
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If you can, send in a response to the consultation - use the link above.
- If you have a Lib Dem MP then please write to them expressing your concerns. If you do not then please write to: Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, 3 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2AW. Please send a copy of your letter to Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, HM Treasury, Horse Guards Road, LONDON SW1A 2HQ
The LGA is submitting a formal response at the end of November.
Thumbs up for new recycling money, thumbs down for Whitehall control
30th September 2011
Liberal Democrat local government leaders welcome Eric Pickles' announcement of £250 million new money for waste collection and recycling, but criticise the strings attached that make weekly bin collection a requirement.
Lib Dem Councillors: 'Standards must not be optional'
8th September 2011
The leader of Liberal Democrats in local government, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, has called for a proper framework for ethical standards to be put in place once the current Standards for
Election results announced
19th August 2011
Please see below for the results of this week's count and the new look LGA Lib Dem team.
Results 2011 (PDF, 3 pages, 64KB)
New Group 2011 (PDF, 2 pages, 15KB)
Full results breakdown 2011 (PDF, 16 pages, 116KB)
Resources Panel and Rural Commission
Due to an error, the full set of manifestos for candidates for the LGA Resources Panel and the Rural Commission was not included in the election mailing sent to candidates. Click on this link to view the manifesto for Cllr Keith Whitmore (Resources Panel) and click on this link to view the manifesto for Cllr John Cordwell (Rural Commission) . A full set of manifestos for the Resources Panel Candidates can be found here.
LGA Liberal Democrat Group Elections
25th July 2011
Ballot papers and manifesto booklets for the LGA Liberal Democrat Group elections were all in the post as advertised by 22nd July, and the deadline for them to be returned is August 15th.
A complete set of manifestos can be found here (part 1) and here (part 2)
Letter on Directly Elected Police Commissioners
22nd July 2011
Over 100 leading Councillors have jointly written an open letter calling on the Government to drop its plans for elected police commissioners in light of the phone hacking scandal. A copy of the letter, which appeared in the Times on 22nd July, can be found here.
July edition of Focus
16th July 2011
The latest edition of the LGA Lib Dem Group Focus leaflet can be found here
Could you be in the Next Generation of leading councillors?
22nd June 2011
The Next Generation programme is the Local Governement Group’s prestigious political leadership programme for committed Lib Dem councillors who have already demonstrated flair or a potential for leadership at a local level and have the capacity to develop politically. Applications open on 29 June. For application forms and more information, visit the Local Government Leadership website.
Group Elections 2011
14th June 2011
Nominations have now closed in the Liberal Democrat Group elections, there are 80 candidates for 14 contests. Ballot papers have now been sent out to all Lib Dem Councillors on LGA member authorities. For information, the election guide and nomination forms are below:
Election Guide 2011 (PDF, 8 pages, 149KB)
Nomination Form 2011 (PDF, 1 page, 32KB)
The Fightback starts here
14th June 2011
The LGA Lib Dem Group's latest booklet can be found here on what our councillors have achieved in their authorities.Local Government Lib Dems lobby Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister on Health Bill 6th April 2011
Cllr Richard Kemp, LGA Lib Dem Group leader, and Portsmouth City Council and Deputy Group Leader Leader Gerald Vernon Jackson have met with Nick Clegg and Paul Burstow following the announcement that the Government will allow more time for consultation over the Health and Social Care Bill.
Personal Income Tax Allowance by local authority
30th March 2011Use the PDF below to find out how many people in your authority will benefit from the raising of the personal allowance threshold, announced last week.
Personal allowance benefits (PDF, 9 pages, 25KB)
Lib Dem Localism booklet published
9th March 2011
Delivering Localism (PDF, 20 pages, 1489KB)
Lib Dem Local Government Letter to the Times
10th February 2011
Local government Lib Dems have written to the Times expressing their frustration at the Secretary of State's treatment of the sector, calling for closer working between central and local government in tackling the deficit.
Lib Dem Local Government letter on the settlement (PDF, 2 pages, 268KB)
Council Group of the Year Awards 2011
This year’s Lib Dem Council Group of the Year awards are much simpler to enter. No forms; no word limit; no format. If you can send a convincing reason why you should be given an award by Friday 25 February, you’re in with a chance. Categories include: Council Group of the Year, Localism and Green Council Group. Email Alanna Coombes - alanna.coombes@local.gov.uk with your submission! The Judges will be: Tim Farron MP, incoming Lib Dem President; Andrew Stunell MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government; Simon Hughes MP, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Co-Chair of the CLG Parliamentary Committee; Kath Pinnock, Chair of ALDC; Lord Shipley, LGA Vice President and Cllr Jill Shortland, Chair of the LGA Lib Dem Group
Public Health Bill announced
30th November 2010
“I warmly welcome the thrust of these proposals. There may be some detail to work out but I think local government should start working now on bringing public health home to us and not wait for final details and final legislation. We want it to happen. public health professionals want it to happen and it will be good for our constituents. Let's go for it!”. Cllr Richard Kemp, Leader of the Local Government Liberal Democrats.
Council Newspapers - Pickles blunders again
29th September 2010
Liberal Democrats have reacted angrily to new government proposals to limit the ability of councils to communicate with their electorates. Cllr Richard Kemp, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in local government said, “once again Mr. Pickles displays both hypocrisy and ignorance...
Localise benefits to save a fortune
27th September 2010
In a letter to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, Cllr Richard Kemp, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in local government has urged the government to localise benefits delivery and strategies.
Pupil premium worth £millions to northern cities
27th July 2010
Liberal Democrats have welcomed the announcement today of the introduction of a pupil premium for disadvantaged pupils which will enable local education authorities to put extra resources into those that need them most.
Police commissioners ill thought out, divisive and costly
26th July 2010
Proposals outlined by the Home Office today to elect police commissioners in 2012 have been described as ill thought out, costly and divisive by Cllr
New public health powers for councils
13th July 2010
Liberal Democrat Councillors have welcomed the announcement today by the Health Secretary that they are to take over powers for public health from the NHS.
Richard Kemp responds to emergency budget
22nd June 2010
The Leader of Lib Dems in Local Government has responded to today's emergency budgets: "The recently announced budget has met the first key priority for Liberal Democrats of being absolutely fair..."
Councils must keep tabs on new academies - Kemp
26th May 2010
Lib Dems in local government have today called for local authorities to be made the strategic education authority for their area, giving them oversight of the admissions policies and performance of all schools operating within their boundaries.
Social care reform won't wait forever
30th March 2010
Responding to today's adult social care white paper, Cllr David Rogers, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Social Care, said: "As Liberal Democrats in local councils, we are very concerned that the commission proposed by the Government to look at funding social care could take 4 - 5 years to report. Councils - and the people we care for - just cannot wait that long.
Budget Response
25th March 2010
According to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Local Government Cllr Richard Kemp, Alistair Darling used smoke and mirrors to distract attention away from the grim reality of the cuts that were outlined in his pre budget review last winter.
Lib Dem Council Group Trailblazers Recognised
15th March 2010
Hull, Bristol, Oldham, Wirrall and Sheffield were amongst the winners at this year’s Liberal Democrat Council Group of the Year awards ceremony in Birmingham at the weekend. Pictures of the event are on our filckr page: LGA Lib Dem photos
Richard Kemp's 8 localism pledges
13th March 2010
Group Leader Richard Kemp laid out eight key pledges to a localism consultation at the Liberal Democrat conference this weekend.
“Total Place needs guts and determination” - Kemp
23rd February 2010
Richard Kemp has told a meeting held by Tory think tank, Localis, that he is pessimistic about the future of localism and feels the massive benefits that could come from the Total Place concept will not be delivered.
Children's Services Conference - presentations now available
12th February 2010
Presentations from the Group's Children & Young People's Conference are now available to view. Click the links below for presentations from Cllr James Kemptom (Islington), Cllr David Belotti (CYP Board, Vice Chair) and also John Howson's famous education quiz.
More for Less - Cllr James Kempton (PDF, 10 pages, 148KB)
Tackling the 14-19 Agenda - Cllr David Bellotti (PDF, 20 pages, 269KB)
Education Quiz (PDF, 1 page, 4KB)
