Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils

LCC Local Councils Conference

Leicestershire Councils & LRALC

Jake Atkinson

LRALC Chief Officer

Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils 2012-13

• 2012-13 was a challenging period of change and uncertainty for local councils.

• New rules, powers, and changes to long standing processes.

• Continuing reductions in funding from Govt to principal authorities.

• Increasing range and number of demands on local councils from parishioners, principal authorities, and other public bodies

Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils 2012-13

• Local councils remain “uncapped” and able to precept according to need.

• LRALC’s activity and sphere of influence in support of its membership is greater than ever.

• Increasing recognition of the valuable role local councils play from strategic bodies (e.g. Leicestershire Together).

• A number of concessions and agreements secured from key organisations and bodies in support of local councils.

Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils

Membership of LRALCLRALC Membership Analysis - January 2013

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Blaby

Charnw

ood

Harbor

ough

Hinck

ley & B

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Rutland

Associate Member Parish Meeting

Member Parish Meeting

Non-member Local Council

Member Local Council

Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils

LRALC 2013 & beyond – Strategic Plan• CALCs increasingly important - growth of localism,

devolution of services, new powers, other changes, etc.• Govt has made number of major changes to systems

that impact on PCs (e.g. planning); further changes in relation to audit, transparency requirements, pensions.

• LRALC main role supporting/training PCs in being compliant with requirements, and delivery of national, county, and local objectives of importance to PCs.

• Strat Plan has priority “themes” around Funding, Staff, Services, Leadership, Partnerships; will provide direction and focus for Executive Committee decision making, and a framework for development

Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils

Leicestershire CC & LRALC

Some shared priorities:• Training of clerks and councillors.• Quality Council Scheme (under review)• Communication between LCC and local

councils (both ways).• Resolution of contact issues between local

councils and LCC.• Representation of local council views at a

strategic level.• Liaison between local councils and

Districts/Boroughs.

Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils On the horizon

• Further large scale reductions in funding to principal authorities; services WILL go (at least till 2015).

• Possibility of capping (December 2013).• Further changes to precept calculation/grant

funding (December 2013)?• Elections (2015)• Open Public Services White Paper & the

Sustainable Communities Act

Leicestershire & RutlandAssociation of Local Councils What will you do?

As the Government itself says, local councils…• “have a close understanding of what their

communities want and can tailor a wide range of local services including grants to local organisations and financing projects such as new community buildings and facilities”

• Local councils can play a significant role in the Govts agenda for promoting localism and open public services if they choose to.