I think it’s fair to say, that the Local Government funding fairy didn’t arrive at Christmas; and for so many of us we’re left trying to balance budgets without further draining reserves. As I write this blog, I note a £600m one off support has been awarded across the local authorities with adult social care funding responsibilities. However, updates from the Local Government Association (LGA) , outlines that Councils are currently facing funding gaps of £2.4 billion in 2023/24 and £1.6 billion in 2024/25. These gaps relate solely to the funding needed to maintain services at their current levels. The one off, limited relief just isn’t going to solve the underlying issue of continued under funding. We need a fairer and more long-term local government settlement.
As I said in my first blog in November (which was also dominated by finance), it is however important we remain positive; were an incredibly resourceful sector and are undoubtedly an important solution to find new ways to solve the increasing demand pressures on health and social care systems at local levels; which is a key cause of financial challenges for many authorities.
It has therefore been good (and somewhat cathartic) to see the CLOA Executive being invited to share its concerns and opportunities directly into Minister and Shadow Minister discussions, this past two weeks. Part of the reason for my blog today, is to welcome your feedback on issues of concern and areas you’d like our further support.
In advocating for the sectors position, we have coordinated our input(s), and shared our thoughts with wider LGA colleagues, to hopefully inform ‘how’ the government could work differently with the sector, alongside the ‘what’ in terms of priorities.
To date, on the ‘how’, alongside the LGA, there has been clear requests made for fuller and deeper sector engagement and at early policy stage; encouragement to reach out for local insight to inform policy and indeed a fairer approach to the distribution of funding; and of course, to see a huge reduction in ‘short term’ competitions for ‘slivers’ of cash, whether capital or revenue.
We have also emphasised the need for national departments and arms-length bodies to ‘be more collaborative’ on shared, place-based outcomes.
On the ‘what’, above all, we’ve made a clear request for a local government settlement to be fair and appropriate to the scale of the challenges, and a more settled multi-year arrangement, to enable the sector to properly function and transform how we can all support communities to thrive better.
Last week, we held our first Executive Committee meeting of 2024, where we discussed being more proactive to advocate for the sector nationally, and to be clear with members the areas we’re working on to support you all.
So, over coming weeks and months, we’d really welcome your feedback on issues of concern and areas you’d like support? This might be through a roundtable discussion, or training, or areas you’d like us to advocate for change. Please do let us know by leaving a comment below or emailing us at info@cloa.org.uk
We’re also working towards shaping our 2024 Annual Conference, which will be virtual and held on June 26th, 9.30-1pm; Please do save the date.
We’ve chosen the theme of ‘Creating Health; through culture and creativity and moving more’. Given the overwhelming challenges around health and social care, we feel it’s timely to further unpack and understand place issues better together; we’ll also be able to share ideas and solutions on how we can better connect multiple and complex system(s) to support some of our most vulnerable communities; so that together we can create better health outcomes.
We’re looking to welcome some exciting headline speakers from the world of health, social care and place, alongside our own sector to explore the theme. In the coming weeks we will be reaching out for great examples of evidence-based work which is truly tackling health inequalities.
Spoiler alert: my new year’s resolution was to try and use tech a bit better so be warned: my next little blog may well be on video – Please be kind when it lands!
Julie Russell, Chair of CLOA – Chief Cultural & Leisure Officers Association 31 January 2024
