Graham Vidler

A clear example of the impact that devolution is having already. We'll see more and more of this as consultations and legislation progress. In turn, we'll see councillors and officers increasingly focussed on what their future is (or isn't) within these new structures. It's all exciting change for a shamless local gov nerd, but we all need to be live to the short term pain and ambiguity within that change.

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This is the first in my short series of blogs for BTA on how the charity sector can embrace the United Nations #SustainableDevelopmentGoals as a key component of their fundraising and governance - and find out how well they are currently performing.

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As CE, Simon Fletcher, says, 'local government can be too conservative (small c) and resistant to disruptive innovation because of an unbalanced appreciation of the risk in same, whilst not also considering its potential benefits'. Try saying, 'let's try this, it may not work but if it does...' and see a common response. Simon says councils can and do copy better practice from each other. Yes, but that is often not on the 'before the event' basis that it should be. In local goverment communications there is endless reinventing of the wheel - and some of these solutions will naturally be better than others - by each council's operation. It does not need to be so - in civil service communications, the Government Communications Service works out a disruption that will improve and it has the positive track record (and clout) to get widespread implementation. So think of a national resource for local government that produces materials such as: 'How to ensure improved participation in consultations' - innovative and going against some pre-conceived ideas, this has been shown to be effective in situations such as... with examples including... The reaction to such would often be better than a Comms person saying internally, 'Here's my idea for this and I'm thinking of something disruptive and original'. ' 'Why risk it and as the first council to do this - unless we have no choice?' might be the reaction from the (non-Comms?) higher-up.

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En route to Liverpool for Labour conference... This will be my 8th conference, some 14 years since I first attended and my first with Labour in power. I'm expecting, hoping for, a jubilant atmosphere. But I'm also interested to see how Labour is going to respond to the many challenges it faces. I'll be discussing some of these key issues with MPs from across the party. Top of the agenda are the role of different sectors in achieving the government's growth plans, the transition to Net Zero and how to ensure everyone, not just the few, are lifted by the party's polices. Check out the New Statesman's programme of events for details or keep your eye on here for updates from me. I'll be wearing three different hats while here: as well as that of chair of New Statesman panel events, I'm also in Liverpool to represent Brussels Labour, and to find opportunities for Agenda clients who we help to create social change by influencing those with power. On the agenda for today: A reception with the EU delegation to the UK, the Labour Movement for Europe rally, the New Statesman reception and Progressive Britain party. If you'll be at any of those events, come find me and say hello 👋 In addition, I'm keen to see what the party's attitude to dissent will be. The Labour party is a broad church, and while message discipline was essential to win the election, it's vital that members are now allowed to air and debate their views, without fear of being penalised. Will that be allowed, or better still, encouraged? Let's see... #Lab24 #LabourConference24

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The Government's announcement that it is setting up a commission with the objective of delivering a robust plan to fix social care by 2028 feels dispiriting. Gaining cross party support is a sensible aim, as previous attempts to fix social care have been subject to political jousting, but most people accept that social care is close to breaking point right now. There appears to be a lack of urgency. And this matters. It matters to those of us who need social care now, and it matters in the workplace, where too many people are forced to exit the workforce on account of their caring responsibilities. I do feel that the Government's aim of developing a National Care Service, to run alongside the NHS, is sound. I'd simply rather they have it in place by 2028. One of my strategies for trying to process the trauma my youngest son has experienced on account of the relentless seizures he has endured for 23 of the 25 years of his life has been to write. I'm close to 20,000 words now. There is a section in which I try to address some of the challenges facing the NHS and social care. Here, for what it's worth, is part of the section where I consider: How might things be better? 1.    The government of the day needs to involve more people who have lived experience of the system in its decision making processes. We might just be able to help. We can probably help find ways of saving money, too. 2.    We all need to be more honest with ourselves. We all might need social care one day, just like we all might need healthcare. Most of us are happy enough for our taxes to be spent on the NHS. Well, social care needs more of our taxes sent its way. Or we need to pay more tax to fund social care. It’s often been said that we expect the kind of health and social care system that our European neighbours in Scandinavia enjoy, where taxes are higher, whilst paying American style lower taxes. A rise of one penny in income tax is generally understood to raise £6 billion per year. This is believed to be the kind of money needed to ‘fix’ social care. 3.    Money alone will not improve standards. I feel there needs to be a National Care Service. It needs the following targets: a)    Massively improve standards of leadership in social care  b)   Ensure money intended for social care is spent on social care, and does not leak into other services funded by providers c)    Drive up standards of training so that the social care workforce is better equipped to deliver outstanding support d)   Appoint a small number of regional best practice tsars, who see what’s working well in their area, and spread these ideas around their patch. There are about 16,700 care homes in the UK. 200 tsars would cover around 80 homes a year. I'd welcome comments with practical suggestions on how we might improve social care.

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The Devolution Bill, published on 16 December, has huge implications for planning and development. It has been the 'elephant in the room' for some time. We are facing the biggest shake up of local government since 1972. Many existing local councils will be subsumed into larger strategic authorities. These will have wider powers, including strategic planning and call-in powers. We have summerised the English Devolution White Paper here: https://lnkd.in/ezygHMKw

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Hertfordshire Futures has published the county’s response to ‘Invest 2035: the Government’s Industrial Strategy Green Paper’, setting out how and where Hertfordshire can positively drive the UK’s growth agenda.   Hertfordshire is well positioned to contribute to rapid economic growth and drive-up UK productivity performance across a number of key areas, leveraging its achievements over the past decade and its future ambitions. Read the summary and download Hertfordshire’s full response here: https://lnkd.in/gVc5EJtd

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The second of three videos.

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With Ed Miliband firmly behind the desk at DESNZ, the energy industry will be eagerly waiting for him to provide more detail of some policies in Labour's manifesto - particularly what he intends for Great British Energy.    Whether it's an investment vehicle or something more involved, there's one mission he should build into the body from the start. That's acting as an educator and an advocate for the energy transition.   Our NSIP Community Sentiment Research, conducted earlier in the year, shows that: 📣 More than 7 in 10 support renewables in their area ❓ BUT nearly 6 in 10 also say that they don't know about renewables 🚫 It's that knowledge gap that opens the way for opponents of development to convert passive support into active opposition We're seeing that particularly in attitudes towards new transmission infrastructure. Only 35% said they supported this in their area - partly because many people don't make the link between needing new renewables and needing to get the electricity to where it's needed.   Developers have had a hard time making the case themselves. Communities, naturally, tend to point out that they have a financial stake in the matter.   That's where Great British Energy could and should come in - leading the charge in helping communities understand how the 'local pain' they're facing is genuinely part of a much bigger picture, with similar work taking place across the country. For more on what Labour means for your business, get in touch with our Advocacy team on [email protected] #advocacy #publicaffairs #energy #renewables #labour #politics #election #NSIPs #greatbritishenergy

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Responding to the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee’s vote to cut the base rate to 4.75%, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Chair Martin McTague OBE said: “The fall in the base rate will slightly ease the pressures small businesses face on their margins, and will bring a bit of cheer in the run-up to the festive season. “Success rates for small firms’ finance applications are still notably lower than they were on average before the pandemic, indicating that many small businesses looking to grow and invest are being held back by the borrowing environment being less welcoming than previously. “Interest rates coming down to more reasonable levels should help unlock new demand from small firms for finance, and it’s important that when they apply for funding to grow, they are not put off by blanket demands for personal guarantees from lenders. Personal guarantees turn what should be a business loan into a personal finance product, but without the consumer lending protections which cover other forms of individual borrowing – a situation we think should be looked at by regulators, in order to protect small businesses. “With a lot of swirling geopolitical uncertainty, small businesses in the UK will at least be able to bank on a slightly improved situation if they are looking to borrow, and slightly less financial pressure from existing loans on floating rates. The rate cut must swiftly be passed on by lenders, and the hope from small firms is that it will be followed by other rate reductions in months to come, enabling more small firms to reach their full potential and driving the growth that is needed to get the economy humming.” #fsb tirelessly fighting on behalf of #smes in the UK #fsbsouthmanchester #fsbcheshire

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We Want to Find People Comfortable in a Board Room There are huge numbers of businesses in Devon and Cornwall that would value expertise in their board rooms that can enable them to grow, become more resilient to crisis situations and forward plan to an eventual exit that benefits them, their families and the legacy they have built sometimes over decades. If you would enjoy using your skills to add value to and chair small board meetings, I would like to hear from you. https://lnkd.in/eGy3Z7E4

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Another budget has come and gone with the emphasis placed on social care falling painfully short of the comprehensive reform needed to address the sector's longstanding challenges once again. £600 million sounds like a sizeable grant that could help address staffing shortages, improve care quality and support innovation, and the additional funding for foster carers and the planned reforms could improve outcomes for vulnerable children, but... This is a one-off allocation and a sustainable long-term funding solution is still needed to ensure the future of social care. Whilst any funding boost will be welcomed, it may not be enough to address the ongoing staffing crisis in social care, with more still needing to be done to attract and retain skilled workers, particularly in the wake of the cost of living crisis. Overall, it is a step in the right direction, but it is by no means a silver bullet for social care. Continued investment and reform are still needed to ensure that everyone can access the care and support they need. Don't even get me started on the impact of the budget to small businesses..! #SocialCare #CareHomes #HomeCare #CareReform #AutumnBudget #Budget

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Media training with Black Swans? We'll put you through your paces with our intensive but supportive media training workshops. Whether your a blue chip company, a housing association or a local authority. Our workshops are certainly challenging but great fun. And if you haven't got a clue what I'm banging on about, read my blog -the link is below. (Just watch out for the Black Swans.) #crisiscomms #mediatraining #pr https://lnkd.in/eRrp24r9

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My view: bigger versus smaller councils is a moot point in this article, but prepare for controversy about changes.   There are some interesting arguments in this article about why 'bigger is not necessarily better' as is being proposed in the current local government reorganisation plans (although some of supporting research cited is dated).   The piece also rounds-up in a general and clear way reasons why many councils are in such a parlous financial state.   The article’s argument (despite whatever good points are made) for having more councils would go against a strong and well-established tide - consolidation of councils has been the direction of travel since before the 1960s (when councils were combined to form London boroughs). There was also the occasional merging of an Urban District Council with a Rural District Council before WW2 and which themselves were sometimes done only a few decades after the founding of local authorities towards the end of the 19th Century.   I did not know that the UK – all parts – is such an outlier in having so many people per council compared to many other countries - see the chart in the article.   I think there is some merit in considering the benefits of expanded parish councils and the better local identification to these. This was the thinking behind the devolution of London Borough of Tower Hamlets into neighbourhoods (you still see some of the different colour street signs around) when the ruling Liberal Democrats let Labour run some areas and make decisions that normally would be made by them, as the majority group, at full Council.   Birmingham City Council also tested ‘parishing’, previously unknown in metropolitan councils.   'We need local authorities with wider areas to better encourage investment and more’ goes an argument for bigger bodies. I wonder what the council of the Square Mile - the City of London Corporation - think of that idea?   It is hard to see any ‘community’ between Penzance and Bodmin (70 plus miles apart) and which are both administered by Cornwall Council but then how long is a piece of string? So, alternatively, you could go even further and have a single national contract for all domestic rubbish collection in England, with priorities decided by the UK government.   At the moment we are likely to face bitter arguments about the shape of the new councils. These will be presented, with a straight-face, as the best for ‘cohesion’ or some such. This sometimes will be so but many of the proposals and counter-proposals will primarily be about seeking best political advantage. It’s that sort of shenanigans that for example, kept the Lea Valley politically out of the conurbation – London – of which it is clearly part.   This gerrymandering will be the underlying flaw in changes, not necessarily the changes themselves. Prevent that and there is more chance of a solution that will not need revisiting 30 years hence. #localgovernment #localgov #council #councils #localauthority

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Happy local democracy day, all! 🗳 The mandatory reminder to get out and vote today if you can (and to bring your photo ID). Local government and metro mayors are responsible for the services and investment that often have the biggest impact on our daily lives, so don't miss the chance to make your voice heard. As someone who has had a ringside seat for over 14 years of northern devolution, I'm especially excited about the results of the mayoral elections - the first time that every metro mayor in the country is up for election at once. As a Wakefield resident, of course I'll be taking a keen interest in the West Yorkshire mayoral election, but the other ones I'll be paying extra attention to are: ☑ York and North Yorkshire - today is the first time that residents of York and North Yorkshire will get to elect a metro mayor, responsible for £540m of investment in areas including transport, brownfield regeneration and net zero. York politics have always been a rollercoaster (I worked with Labour, Conservative, Conservative-Lib Dem and Lib Dem-Green administrations over a 10-year period) but the formerly solid Conservative North Yorkshire has also become much more interesting in recent years. I'm not a betting gal anyway, but I can't call this one... ☑ Tees Valley - I grew up in Middlesbrough and Teesside will always be the place I'll call home, so I'll be keeping a close eye on this mayoral race, which will be incumbent, Ben Houchen's, third run at re-election. He got a stonking majority the last time around, but concerns around the huge Teesworks regeneration scheme and Freeport, mass shellfish die-offs along the Teesside coast and the national political context mean third time might not be the charm for Lord Houchen of High Leven. ☑ Another first is the North East mayoral election. The North and South areas of the Tyne were unable to reach an agreement on a combined devolution deal for years, until the government put a deal on the table that all parties could unite around. The previous North of Tyne Combined Authority will become part of a wider North East Combined Authority stretching from Durham up to the tip of Northumberland. This is widely seen as a two-horse race between the incumbent North of Tyne Mayor, Independent, Jamie Driscoll, and Labour's Kim McGuinness, who currently serves as Northumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner. I suspect McGuinness will edge it, but Driscoll has amassed significant support after he didn't make Labour's candidate shortlist for the new North East role. Of course, today's hot takes are tomorrow's digital chip paper, and whoever ends up victorious tomorrow must turn immediately to the job of delivering for communities, bringing forward investment and fighting for their places on the national stage. I'll end with a shout-out to the many public servants who are grafting behind the scenes to make today's elections happen. You are the unsung heroes of our democracy! Social

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An interesting first Budget from Reeves to say the least 🌹 Labour are walking the tightrope of fiscal responsibility, delivering investment while not upsetting those voters who brought them to power. A difficult balancing act ⚖️ The team at WA have you covered once again with some top notch analysis! 👇 Do get in touch to learn more about how we can help you navigate this new environment. 📲

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Great to see Tom Adeyoola as the headline speaker at the upcoming TECH SY summit. It chimes very closely with the policy direction of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and its constituent councils in promoting funding access to diverse founders and also the focus on the creative industries sector as a growth sector for the region. Tom's journey, well detailed in this interview is fascinating and shows what a determined group of people can achieve when they unite behind a very important national issue. Whether this focus is where growth will come from in South Yorkhire is a very different matter: just one per cent of the population of Barnsley, which is home to TECH SY self-define as black; and 2.7% in Doncaster. And a recent report by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority revealed that while there has been a sharp uptick in CCI businesses being formed post covid, most of them turn out to be one-person, freelance operations. The report found that: ✖️ Only 4.8% of South Yorkshire’s CCI sector businesses file full accounts (i.e., the remainder re below the statutory reporting threshold) ✖️ 101 companies – less than 2% have accessed grants for collaborative R&D at any point in their existence ✖️ 36 businesses have secured equity investment ✖️ The region is home to only eight CCI sector university spinouts ✖️ Only six of South Yorkshire’s CCI companies meet the definition of ‘scale up’ (20% growth year-on-year). South Yorkshire's political leaders seem to wish they were somewhere else; somewhere more metropolitan and less industrial. But the reality is that CCI is not the road to salvation for Sheffield and South Yorkshire, which accounts for less than 1% of the UK’s creative industries output. Even the previous government recognised that SY’s real strengths are in advanced manufacturing; which is something our political leaders appear not to fully embrace. Let's hope Tom can talk them round.

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For those who found this post interesting I’ve written about my reflections on this event in a bit more detail for the LGcomms blog. You can read it here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eUVrdcd8

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In stark contrast to what you might read in much of the mainstream media, electric vehicles are superior to petrol and diesel cars in so many ways - including driver wellbeing. I started my electric journey back in 2016 and I've never looked back https://lnkd.in/esXvJ8ED Fleet News #sustainablemobility #smarttransport #electricvehicles #evs

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