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WELCOME BY CHAIRMAN
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Welcome to the East of England Local Government Association e-bulletin.
The Association brings together leaders and portfolio holders from across the East of England to discuss and act on the issues that really matter to them.
I hope that you will find these updates useful and make use of the services and support on offer. Please also take time to visit the Association's website - www.eelga.gov.uk.
Robert Gordon, Chairman, East of England LGA
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| NEWS |
Member Panel agrees to support the continuation of Improvement East
The Improvement East Member Panel (16 February) has strongly endorsed a "sector led" approach to improvement and efficiency, and so has agreed to extend the life of Improvement East into a fourth year (2011/12).
However, members also recognised that the changing local government
environment means that the scale and style of support provided by
Improvement East will need to be more targeted. Members agreed:
- That Improvement East should reduce its core secretariat from 10 posts down to 4 posts with effect from 1 July 2011.
- To continue with the current governance arrangements, with Improvement East operating as a panel of the East of England LGA.
- That Improvement East should urgently consult with authorities
on a year 4 (2011/12) programme including the use of any residual
funding.
- That new requests for funding should be temporarily suspended,
and considered as part of the development of the revised year 4
programme. This will not affect funding allocated to existing projects
that have received approval (where a confirmation letter has been
issued)
- That Improvement East should develop a business case for a
transition to a sustainable business model, by adopting a more
commercial approach and focusing its services more tightly.
Read more...
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Portfolio-holder networks launched
A small number of priority portfolio holder networks have been launched to enable politicians to share learning and address issues of mutual concern.
Of the first to be launched were the Economic Development, Adult Services and Health and Children's Services and Education Networks. Key areas of focus included:
Economic Development
- Business leadership of LEPs
- Use of innovative financial instruments
- Collaborating across LEP boundaries and industrial sectors
Adult Services and Health
- The role for local authorities in taking on local public health improvement functions
- Reforms to the commissioning of primary healthcare, including the progress towards shadow Health and Well Being Boards and their relationship with the emerging GP consortia
Children's Services and Education
- Impact of the Schools White paper and forthcoming Education Bill
- Structural re-organisations in the face of the tough local government finance settlement
- New models of service delivery
The Portfolio-Holders at each of the networks agreed that the meetings were highly beneficial, and have given
direction for each of the Networks to continue to meet on a quarterly basis. Details of future meetings will be
circulated to all relevant Portfolio-Holders shortly.
A meeting of the Environment and Waste portfolio-holder network is due to take place next week. A further four networks will be established over the next few months.
Read more...
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The 2011-15 New Affordable Homes Programme: Helping local authorities play a central role
In December the EELGA Housing Project produced a briefing paper for local authorities on the Government's proposals for a new Affordable Rent tenancy. Through detailed analysis of local housing association and market rents, the paper, (a link to which is provided
here), highlighted the existence of significant differential impacts between local areas in terms of their ability to fund future affordable housing. The paper was very well received with many local authorities finding the analysis useful and asking if another paper could be produced once further details of the programme became available.
The Homes and Communities Agency have now published their framework document for the 2011-2015 Affordable Homes Programme (a link to the relevant HCA webpage is provided
here, which sets out details of the new delivery model and seeks offers from providers for the delivery of affordable housing over the next four years.
Read more...
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Economic Development Update
The Association continues its work to support member authorities in the transition to new economic development structures.
Over the past month, this has involved:
- The Transition Board bringing local authorities, business and EEDA together to ensure that valuable work is not lost;
- Launch of the Economic Development Portfolio-Holder Network to enable politicians to share learning and address issues of mutual concern;
- A meeting between senior BIS and CLG civil servants and a delegation of chief economic development officers to ensure Whitehall understands the requirements of our member authorities;
- Meetings between senior local authority officers and EEDA on specific transition issues and assets.
Read more...
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Mutuals Information Service Launched
A new signpost service has been launched to help public sector staff set up a social or mutual enterprise. Following the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude's Announcement on Mutuals, Local Partnerships, Co-operatives UK and the Employee Ownership Association have come together in partnership to provide a signposting service for staff in the public sector interested in setting up a social or mutual enterprise.
If you would like to take advantage of this free signposting service, please visit the Mutuals Information Service website.
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?120,000 Autodesk Software Grants for Cleantech Companies
EnviroCluster Peterborough is supporting a new grant enabling cleantech businesses to receive up to ?120,000 of Autodesk software. Autodesk produces a number of high quality programs, including AutoCAD. The grant is dedicated to supporting early stage cleantech companies which are working to solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. As part of the program, cleantech entrepreneurs involved in making a physical product or project (includes service-based projects) are eligible for the grant. The programme currently has 60 companies enrolled with more joining every week.
The Brussels Office would like to get as many innovative cleantech companies from the East of England involved as it will help them save large costs associated with these software packages.
Interested companies are invited to participate in a free workshop to find out more information. The workshop is taking place at the Eco Innovation Centre, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 1SA on the 21st February 2011 between 2-4pm. Delegates must register here if they would like to attend.
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Port of Felixstowe awarded ?5 million in infrastructure funding
The European Commission has announced that the Port of Felixstowe in the East of England is to be awarded ?5 million under the Trans-European Transport Network Programme (TEN-T) for works to improve intermodal transfers and the removal of bottlenecks at the port rail terminal. The project will cost nearly ?40 million and will contribute in particular to the free movement of goods across the UK and EU and allow for increased length of intermodal trains and the handling of additional rail services.
In addition to the success in Felixstowe, the East of England will also benefit from work being carried out on the Nuneaton North Chord and Kennett railway line where re-signalling works will take place. The Commission awarded the project ?4.9 million in TEN-T funding with the total value of the project expected to be around ?39.9 million. The re-signalling works will make a major contribution in freeing up freight capacity on a busy line.
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Strategic Migration Partnership health update
Members of the Strategic Migration Partnership Health Working Group met recently to map out an awareness-raising process for key NHS staff on the new Language Support Framework produced by the group, primarily for commissioners of health services. The new Language Support Framework can be found here. Information about the framework will also be presented to, and discussed with multi-agency Asylum Seeker and Refugee groups right across the region during the spring.
Read more...
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"Last but not East" apprenticeship conference a resounding success
The East of England LGA's contribution to Apprenticeship Week (7-11 February 2011) was an Apprenticeship event for the 52 local authorities in the East of England.
The event covered Procurement and Commissioning, the importance of Members buy in to Apprenticeships, a Pre-Apprenticeship Scheme, National Apprenticeship Service, Local Government Improvement and Development, Diversity in Apprenticeship's project, UNISON, turning NEETs (not in education, employment or training) into apprentices, apprentices in Adult Social Care and apprentices working in schools. The networking opportunities available were used well and many people gained a great deal of new information from the day.
Read more...
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| EVENTS AND CONFERENCES |
Environment and Waste Portfolio-Holder Network
Date: 7th March 2011, 10:30 - 13:00
Venue: Bull Hotel, Peterborough
The Environment and Waste Portfolio-Holder Network enables councils, through their political leadership, the opportunity to collaborate on a number of important areas of environment and waste policy.
The meeting is exclusively for councillors with responsibility for Environment and Waster and there is no charge for attendance.
Contact Ian.beattie@eelga.gov.uk for more information.
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Public Service Reform and Localism in the East
Date: 23rd March 2011, 10:00 - 16:00
Venue: Moller Centre, Cambridge
Keynote speaker: Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society
This event will debate how councils can cross organisational boundaries to embrace true localism in transforming the way services are delivered, against a backdrop of unprecedented cuts. We will discuss new delivery models, exploring whether publicly-owned enterprises and mutuals can deliver services on the scale required, assess where the limitations between personal responsibility and public services lie and ask what can be done to change behaviours and mobilise social action to create services designed with, by and for users.
This is an opportunity to hear from a prominent range of speakers, engage in high quality debate and network with leaders, members and senior officers from councils across the East of England about their plans and successes in transforming services within this new environment.
Book now as places are extremely limited
Read more...
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Employment Law Update
Date: 31st March 2011, 9:30 - 16:30
Venue: East of England LGA Offices, Flempton House, Flempton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6EG
This one day event aims to provide authoritative and practical information on changes in employment law over the previous twelve months, with particular emphasis on issues relevant to the public sector. The event will involve formal presentations interspersed with question and answer sessions.
Read more...
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Child Trafficking - Advanced Course on Safeguarding Children delivered by ECPAT UK
Date: 24th May, 9:30 - 16:15
Venue: East of England LGA Offices, Flempton House, Flempton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6EG
This advanced course aims to build on practitioners' knowledge of child trafficking and assumes a basic understanding of the key issues. The focus will be on supporting and safeguarding suspected victims of child trafficking and some of the complexities this area of practice can create. The course will include new changes in practice since the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against the Trafficking in Human Beings including the National Referral Mechanism and new Trafficking Toolkit. The need for a multi-agency approach will underpin the course content.
Book before 28th March for a reduced rate
Read more...
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Training Courses
We offer a range of different training courses which can be provided in-house or at our training centre at Flempton House in Suffolk. Scheduled upcoming training courses can be found here.
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USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE EAST OF ENGLAND LGA
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Support for Employers
The
East of England LGA provides a range of tailored support to local
government and the wider public and the voluntary sector by bringing
in-depth expertise to bear on business problems. In addition to our
training, education and development services, we also have a team of
experienced specialists who provide the experience, knowledge and skills
you may need to meet the challenges for your organisation.
If you have any queries about our support for employers service, please contact: valerie.seaman@eelga.gov.uk
East of England Brussels Office
The
East of England Brussels Office is the eyes and ears on policy changes
and new opportunities in Europe. We help councils and other partners
engage with Europe, signposting potential partnership opportunities,
providing key information and obtain increased access to European
funding. To find out more visit: www.east-of-england.eu
Interchange Opportunities
Interchange
is a scheme for the East of England run for the benefit of the Local
Government family. Interchange is the exchange of personnel and good
practice between organisations. Interchange can only be used by
organisations within the family and their employees. By registering you
gain access to search the current opportunities available and be alerted
to new opportunities as they arise. If there is nothing that currently
meets your requirements, please contact your Interchange Manager who
will be able to make a request on your behalf.
For full details of all opportunities please visit
interchange.eelga.gov.uk. If you have any difficulties accessing the system please contact: valerie.Seaman@eelga.gov.uk
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Feedback
The East of England LGA would like to hear from you. Please contact info@eelga.gov.uk with comments or suggestions on any aspect of our work.
The East of England LGA is firmly committed to respecting your privacy. We do not share
your information with any third party. If you feel you have received
this email in error or wish to unsubscribe from receiving these updates click here.
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