LGA Liberal Democrat Group
The Liberal Democrats have just under 4,100 councillors across the UK. Consequently, our Group at the LGA plays a major role in the organisation. We are the persistent defenders of local democracy, arguing that what a local community can do for itself is best left to that community, without interference from central government.
You can find more information about the Group by viewing the "About us" section to the left.
Pupil premium worth £millions to northern cities
27th July 2010
Liberal Democrats have welcomed the announcement today of the introduction of a pupil premium for disadvantaged pupils which will enable local education authorities to put extra resources into those that need them most.
Police commissioners ill thought out, divisive and costly
26th July 2010
Proposals outlined by the Home Office today to elect police commissioners in 2012 have been described as ill thought out, costly and divisive by Cllr
New public health powers for councils
13th July 2010
Liberal Democrat Councillors have welcomed the announcement today by the Health Secretary that they are to take over powers for public health from the NHS.
Richard Kemp responds to emergency budget
22nd June 2010
The Leader of Lib Dems in Local Government has responded to today's emergency budgets: "The recently announced budget has met the first key priority for Liberal Democrats of being absolutely fair..."
Councils must keep tabs on new academies - Kemp
26th May 2010
Lib Dems in local government have today called for local authorities to be made the strategic education authority for their area, giving them oversight of the admissions policies and performance of all schools operating within their boundaries.
Social care reform won't wait forever
30th March 2010
Responding to today's adult social care white paper, Cllr David Rogers, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Social Care, said: "As Liberal Democrats in local councils, we are very concerned that the commission proposed by the Government to look at funding social care could take 4 - 5 years to report. Councils - and the people we care for - just cannot wait that long.
Budget Response
25th March 2010
According to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Local Government Cllr Richard Kemp, Alistair Darling used smoke and mirrors to distract attention away from the grim reality of the cuts that were outlined in his pre budget review last winter.
Lib Dem Council Group Trailblazers Recognised
15th March 2010
Hull, Bristol, Oldham, Wirrall and Sheffield were amongst the winners at this year’s Liberal Democrat Council Group of the Year awards ceremony in Birmingham at the weekend. Pictures of the event are on our filckr page: LGA Lib Dem photos
Richard Kemp's 8 localism pledges
13th March 2010
Group Leader Richard Kemp laid out eight key pledges to a localism consultation at the Liberal Democrat conference this weekend.
“Total Place needs guts and determination” - Kemp
23rd February 2010
Richard Kemp has told a meeting held by Tory think tank, Localis, that he is pessimistic about the future of localism and feels the massive benefits that could come from the Total Place concept will not be delivered.
Children's Services Conference - presentations now available
12th February 2010
Presentations from the Group's Children & Young People's Conference are now available to view. Click the links below for presentations from Cllr James Kemptom (Islington), Cllr David Belotti (CYP Board, Vice Chair) and also John Howson's famous education quiz.
More for Less - Cllr James Kempton (PDF, 10 pages, 148KB)
Tackling the 14-19 Agenda - Cllr David Bellotti (PDF, 20 pages, 269KB)
Education Quiz (PDF, 1 page, 4KB)
6th February 2010
Cllr Richard Kemp, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Local Government has welcomed the news that Lib Dems won three awards at the LGiU Councillor of the Year Awards in London.
Councils best placed to win hearts and minds over climate change
1st February 2010
Speaking at a joint LGA/Energy Saving Trust conference in Liverpool Cllr Richard Kemp the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at the LGA said “Add up the work that could be done by every council with our communities and we have a result that is far larger than anything that any national governments can achieve”
| Lib Dem Council Group of the Year
7th January 2010 We are now taking submissions for the Lib Dem Council Group of the Year. If your group has excelled in a policy area or has just been generally great this year then use the application form to make a submission by 21st February. |
16th December 2009
Liberal Democrats in local government throughout England have been saddened by the news of the premature death of Sir Chris Clarke the former Leader of the Liberal Democrats at the LGA. Chris served as leader from 2001 to 2005. He served originally as an SDP councillor in Richmondshire before moving to Somerset where he eventually became Leader of Somerset County Council. He was awarded a knighthood for services to local government in 2005 after failing to gain a seat on Gloucestershire County Council when he moved there to live with and later marry Liz who survives him. He described his visit to the Palace to pick up his award surrounded by his family as 'one of the happiest days of my life'.
Cllr Richard Kemp said, "We will remember Chris as a great liberal, a hard working councillor and a person whose dry humour brought life to many an interminable meeting on arcane matters of local government finance and administration".
LGA Children & Young People Conference
Friday 5th - Saturday 6th February 2010
The LGA Children and Young People Conference will be held from Friday 5th - Saturday 6th February 2010, at the National College for School Leadership, Nottingham.
If you have a responsibility or an interest in this policy area then you book your place using the flyer below:
Children & Young People 2010 (PDF, 2 pages, 131KB)
News: New report finds key to economic recovery lies in devolution - LGA
9th December 2009
More people could be helped into work and Britain would be better prepared for the economic recovery if councils had the same powers as councils in other countries, according to a new report published today.
News: Facing the challenges of ageing - Richard Kemp
3rd December 2009
There will be three million additional people over the age of 65 in 15 year’s time. At some stage at least half of us (yes it includes me as well) will need social or health support. The massive increase in the number of elderly presents both an opportunity and challenge for society.
18th November 2009
“The Child Poverty Bill and the Equality Bill as outlined in the Queens Speech today are high on rhetoric and low on deliverability – in short they are mere gestures” says LGA Lib Dem Leader, Richard Kemp.
Take our online survey!
4th November 2009
Click the link below and take a few minutes to let us know what you think of the LGA Group:
Conference presentations now available
19th October 2009
For those of you that missed our Environment & Transport Conference or for those that just want a recap, three of the presentations given on the day are available below:
Community Energy (PDF, 20 pages, 716KB)
Increasing Bus Use (PDF, 18 pages, 774KB)
Kirklees Warm Zones (PDF, 6 pages, 215KB)
Nominations for Urban and Rural Policy Groups now open
8th October 2009
Nominations are now open for both the Urban Commission Steering Committee and the Rural Commission Policy Review Group. For further details see our policy group webpage:
Urban & Rural Policy Group nominations
Bournemouth Conference Pictures
5th October 2009
Pictures from September's Party Conference in Bournemouth are now on Flickr. To see the pictures, follow the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40480234@N04/
We are holding our Lib Dem Group Environment and Transport Conference in Liverpool on 7 October.
See our flyer for further information and booking details:
Environment & Transport Conference flyer (PDF, 2 pages, 159KB)
Four publications produced for conference
We have produced four publications just in time to be distributed at conference; pick them up from our exhibition stand (no.142) or download them by clicking the links below.
In Action for Our Cities the six Lib Dem core city leaders outline the differences that their administrations have made, showcasing what Lib Dems can do when in power. Nick Clegg will be launching this pamphlet and its message in the Purbeck suite of the Marriott at 11am on Sunday.
Greening Actually is a small book showcasing some of the Lib Dem councils and councillors that are tackling the planet's environmental problems through action in their local area. The book consists of a series of success stories on everything from photovoltaic panels to vegetable patches.Greening Actually (PDF, 83 pages, 1587KB)
Liberal Democrats in Education is a series of articles from leading Lib Dem thinkers and doers in education, including parliamentary spokespersons and local government portfolio holders. The articles also cover other issues in the children and young people remit.
Liberal Democrats in Education (PDF, 44 pages, 1119KB)
Delivering for you is a handy little directory containing the names and emails of prominent councillors in the Lib Dem local government family. It lists the Lib Dems that sit on the boards and panels of the LGA and associated bodies as well as all council leaders.
Delivering for you in local government (PDF, 20 pages, 471KB)
