LGA RESPONDS TO QUEEN’S SPEECH

Responding to the Queen’s Speech announced today, Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:

“The Local Government Association has long called for a cross-party consensus on how we tackle the adult social care crisis, and as a cross-party organisation, we will be happy to host the talks. We are pleased the new Government has committed to achieving this.

“While much of the immediate business for the Government will be around Brexit, it should not delay in delivering a long-term funding solution which secures the future of adult social care, alongside reform of children’s social care.

“It should also build on previous work to transfer power to local communities to deliver on its pledge to move away from ‘Whitehall knows best’.

“Councils know their areas best and can make a huge difference to the lives of their residents and the communities where they live by creating more school spaces, building more homes, boosting economic growth, improving our roads and equipping people with the skills they need to succeed.

“Handing widespread powers to local areas and making sure they are adequately funded is essential if all parts of England can improve vital services such as housing, transport, and health and social care.

“We look forward to working with government as a vital partner to help deliver its commitment to levelling up powers and investment in local areas across all parts of the country.

“Now the new government needs to follow today’s Queen’s Speech by publishing the provisional 2020 Local Government Finance Settlement as soon as possible and no later than Parliament rising for the Christmas recess. This is critical if councils are to have the certainty and time they need to plan how to provide the vital local services our communities rely on next year.”