SEEC argues for fair funding deal for South East

New analysis of local government finance carried out for SEEC members will help SEEC make the case to Government for greater funding allocations for South East councils.

Research shows the South East is regularly receiving less funding per head than other areas of the country across a range of services. SEEC’s AGM on 13 July 2011 will debate proposals for changing local government finance to redress the imbalance. SEEC views will feed into Ministers’ review of local government funding.

Proposals will focus on creating a clearer, more accountable system that takes better account of the high population and cost pressures facing South East
councils. SEEC’s arguments will also draw on facts from the research, for example:

• The South East has received the lowest per capita formula grant for 4 years, 33% less than the average for England
• Capital grant per head received from Government in 2009-10 was lowest in the South East at £102 per head, compared to a high of £196 per head in the North West
• Deprivation in the South East rose by 6.8% from 2007-10 according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation
• The South East has the highest proportion over 65s in the country and faces unit costs for care services up to 12% higher than the national average.

Help councils deliver localism by cutting bureaucracy, says SEEC

SEEC members are making the case for greater devolution to local government as the Localism Bill enters the House of Lords.
Members strongly support the principle of localism and specific aspects of the Bill. But there are also worries that parts of the Bill will be expensive and bureaucratic. Reducing the 140+ central controls in the Bill would allow councils to deliver more quickly and cheaply.
Changes in the Bill should focus on:

• Local referendums: These are costly, non binding and can be triggered by small groups who do not represent wider community interests. Council tax referendums are unnecessary as voters already give views on council performance in local elections.
• Neighbourhood planning: This is too complex and responses from different groups will be uneven. Cost of supporting local groups is high and councils expect local tension over location of growth. Current Parish Plans & LDFs deliver at lower cost.
• Reducing bureaucracy: Rules on maintaining lists of assets of community value, community right to challenge, referendums & neighbourhood planning all increase council administrative burdens.
• Rejecting transfer of EU fines to councils: This is   unfair, unconstitutional & will prompt legal battles.
  SEEC has agreed a short briefing on the Bill for MPs & Peers that makes the case for allowing councils more freedom to deliver localism for their communities.

SEEC AGM 13 July

Representatives from all SEEC member councils are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting on 13 July in central London.
Attendance is important to ensure input into setting SEEC’s priorities for the next 12 months. Key items of business include:

• Election of SEEC Chairman for 2011-12
• Election of Deputy Chairman, Secretary and Executive Committee
• Fair funding for the South East: proposals to update local government finance
• SEEC’s work on Europe and creating a Data Dashboard
• Subscription levels for 2011
• Budget and business plan.

The AGM will be held at Church House Conference Centre, Dean’s Yard, Westminster, London SW1. Please email hayleyaustin@secouncils.gov.uk to confirm your attendance.

Future meeting dates

Dates for SEEC meetings for the remainder of 2011 are as follows:

• 27 September – Executive Committee
• 8 November – All-member meeting
• 16 December – Executive Committee.

May elections alter political balance in South East
Local elections in over 60 councils on 5 May changed the political landscape for South East local authorities. There are now:

• 60 Conservative councils (an increase of 3)
• 4 Labour (an increase of 1)
• 3 Lib-Dem (a reduction of 2)
• 6 councils have no overall control (an increase of 1).

In the six no overall control councils there are:

• 4 Conservative leaders
• 1 Labour leader
• 1 Green Party leader.

The Greens are now the largest party on Brighton & Hove City Council and have formed a minority administration to become the country's first Green-controlled council. They replace a minority Conservative administration.

Political balance on SEEC’s Executive Committee is calculated according to percentage of the votes cast for each party. For 2011-12 seats on the Executive remain unchanged at: Conservatives 13; Lib-Dem 4; Labour 2.

SEEC makes case for funds to cut deprivation & create jobs

SEEC has published a paper tackling misconceptions about deprivation and public employment in the South East. Copies have been sent to Ministers, MPs and LEPs, encouraging them to support councils in making the case for a fair share of investment in the South East.

The paper sets out facts that disprove the mistaken view that the South East is universally wealthy and needs no funding support from Government. Key facts that make the case include:

• Over 850,000 South East residents live in the country’s 20% most income-deprived areas.
• 240,000 South East children live in income-deprived households, compared to 122,500 children in the North East.
• Several South East areas have more than 40% employed in the public sector, making them highly vulnerable to job losses resulting from public spending cuts.

Positive feedback has been received from a number of MPs across the South East. Read the full report on SEEC’s website www.secouncils.gov.uk/deprivation The report calls on Government to invest in helping the South East create more private sector jobs and improve conditions in disadvantaged areas.

SEEC Chairman Cllr Paul Carter said: “South East councils strongly support the aim of creating more private sector jobs but we need some help to achieve it as we have the third highest number of public jobs in the country and three of our districts are among those with the highest share of public jobs in England.”

Migration update
South East Strategic Partnership for Migration (SESPM) updated SEEC’s June Executive on key issues. SESPM is fully funded by UKBA and hosted by SEEC.

Skills gap research
From April 2011, Government has capped the number of non-EU workers entering the UK. SESPM has co-funded research to identify South East areas and job sectors that rely heavily on non-EU labour.

Findings show potentially worrying gaps in some areas. A series of reports assesses the capacity of 7 LEP areas to respond to cuts in skilled migrants available. Reports also identify where skills training is needed to equip local workers to fill gaps.

Topical migration issues

Figures show 547,000 migrants living in the South East. Net migration will be published in November and is expected to be high as emigration is at a 10-year low.

Evidence suggests unrest in Arab countries may result in higher numbers of unaccompanied asylum seeking children. There are also more reported ‘lorry drops’ in the South East.

SESPM is preparing to participate in an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Migration roundtable. Issues for discussion raised by South East councils include:

• Access to English lessons and integration
• Limiting non EU migration
• Disparities between child care & immigration law
• Housing
• Legal representation
• Gurkha resettlement
• Reduction in asylum support services.

SESPM Business Plan

SESPM business plan for 2011-12 sets 6 objectives:

• Support & lead services to address challenges and maximise opportunities of migration.
• Monitor & report trends relating to the nature and effects of migration to and from the South East.
• Promote understanding of all aspects of migration & integrating migrants in communities.
• Enable a collective South East voice to inform & influence national/local policy & decision making.
• Build robust cross sector partnerships facilitating open and collaborative working.
• Provide a conduit for 2-way exchange between government departments and local partners.

South East Employers: Annual conference
South East Employers hold their annual conference on 1 July at Local Government House, London SW1.

‘Enhancing Local Democracy: Local Democracy Leading Local Enterprise’ will look at the future shape of local government a year after the General Election. Two key strands will be the future shape of service delivery and the future shape of local democracy. Keynote presentations and interactive workshops will cover topics such as the role of LEPs, Big Society and localism. Further details and prices at ELD 2011.