DCLG Discussion Forum - Discussion Topics

Commission on the role of local councillors

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 10:49:58 +0100

Welcome to our forum. We’re still getting a terrific response and the comments we have received are being fed into discussions at meetings of the Commission. Please keep them coming.

Our question this month is: “Should councillors be better paid, and why?”

All principal local authorities (Counties, districts, boroughs) must pay their members a basic allowance. Councils may, if they choose, pay allowances for special responsibilities, travel and subsistence, care for dependents, and co-optees. It is for local authorities to decide the levels of all the categories of allowance they pay. The Government publishes no guidance on this.

Basic allowance is paid at the same level for all members, which is intended to cover the time commitment of councillors and incidental costs such as the use of their homes. It is not related to the actual level of commitment by the councillor, other than that a member need only attend a meeting once every six months to remain qualified and thus eligible for basic allowance.

Third Sector strategy

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:35:45 +0100

Communities and Local Government and many in the third sector share the same broad vision of prosperous and cohesive communities. In addressing our long term challenges we recognise a stronger partnership with the sector is necessary.

We are proud of what we already do to enable a healthy sector. But we can achieve more. In response to our Capability Review, we committed to publishing a strategy to set a framework for effective, on-going engagement with the third sector.

Our draft third sector strategy launched on 7 June sets out how we propose to improve our engagement with the sector by:

• improving how we work with the sector
• enabling the sector to be an effective local partner in place-shaping
• moving to a more strategic partnership and funding relationship with the sector
• supporting sustainable investment in community anchors

Now we want to hear from third sector organisations, local government and other stakeholders on our proposals in the strategy.

New-look Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) post-consultation

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 08:45:30 +0000

Following the overwhelming success of the first LGPS discussion forum, we have launched a second thread. The statutory consultation has now concluded and following the laying of the Regulations in April 2007, the new-look scheme will come into force on April 1 2008.

All documents concerning the LGPS are available via the links on the scheme’s website.

Primarily, this forum will give you the opportunity to talk to other members across England and Wales and to pose questions about scheme reforms. However, as with the previous forum, it is not possible to comment on individuals’ pensions queries – the forum is designed for discussion about the new-look LGPS coming into force on April 2008. If scheme members have specific, personal queries, they should approach their local authority’s pension manager.

In the six months (until 28 September 2007) that this forum will be active, officials will answer questions on aspects of the LGPS (Benefit) Regulations where appropriate. Although included in the FAQ section of the LGPS website, such queries may include:

Future of the 2008 Fire and Rescue Service National Framework

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 11:21:13 +0000

This forum is for anyone with an interest in the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework to contribute their ideas and suggestions for the 2008 Framework.

We welcome your thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of the current Framework and how we could look to improve the next Framework, in particular:

Is the Framework effective in conveying Government’s expectations of the fire and rescue service? How might we improve it?
Is the length of the document right? Do you think the document could be improved by including more or less detail?
Are the chapter headings useful and covering the areas of most importance for the service? What are your views on how the content is structured overall?
Is the Framework’s two-year lifespan appropriate?

The National Framework (NF) is a statutory guidance document that sets out Communities and Local Government’s expectations of the fire and rescue service. It is revised bi-annually by Government in consultation with the Service.