Weekly Ministerial Round-up

As well as the surgeries MPs provide to constituents ministers also offer the same for MPs in Parliament across parties so they can raise directly local issues they are working on for their own constituents. At a time when there is so much going on with devolution, local government reorganisation and council finances, it’s never a dull session.

There were the usually, and plentiful meetings with pension fund pools, other government departments, and further work on the English Devolution Bill preparations.

I was pleased to join a parliamentary reception hosted by the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA) who have been pushing for reform of the funding formula government to deliver the sustainable long-term funding required, and they have welcomed the inclusion of deprivation in the funding of councils and the move to the first multi-year settlement in a decade.

The work they do is as close to a technical college for councillors and councils you can find. Insight, evidence, and all drawn from on the ground experience. They make a strong case for reform.

And on council funding, it was on to an “Adjournment Debate” on council tax reform. This government is determined to put councils on a sure financial footing for the long term so that local people get the high-quality frontline public services they deserve.

I committed to working in partnership with local government and I’ve followed that through with regular engagement.

This week that included meetings with the County Council Network (CCN) and District Council Network (DCN) as well as the Local Government Association (LGA) Labour Group meeting with councillors and local leaders on Thursday, before addressing and taking questions from the cross-party LGA Councillors Forum.

It is very important to this government that local leaders views are heard on the reforms we are making with English devolution and local government reorganisation since they know their areas better than anyone because they have skin in the game. We will continue to keep up this engagement every step of the way.

The week was topped by a visit to Runcorn for the by-election where we had great weather matched by the reception from voters, and little wonder with a great candidate in Karen Shore.