A key part of the EELGA offer is our extensive advocacy and lobbying activity. EELGA works hard to provide a single, unified voice for it’s member authorities and promote the region as a whole.

Government Fiscal Policy

The work of EELGA’s Policy Team has been heavily focused on the range of Government fiscal events in the last quarter. We have kept the regional’s councils abreast on all of these announcements via briefing documents shared with Leaders, Chief Executives and our political and officer networks.

If you are interested in viewing any of the documents, or would like to find out more about the work of the EELGA Policy Team, please contact info@eelga.gov.uk

Advocacy and Lobbying

A key part of the EELGA offer is our extensive advocacy and lobbying activity. EELGA works hard to provide a single, unified voice for its member authorities and promote the region as a whole. Here is a quick overview of recent and upcoming advocacy activity:

• 3^rd November: Meeting on council financial sustainability held with the East of England All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). At this meeting, Cllr Matthew Hicks, Chair of EELGA and Leader of Suffolk County Council launched a report by EELGA on the importance of income generation for councils and highlighted other key messages regarding council finances.
• 8^th November: Cllr Richard Roberts, Chair of the East of England Regional Climate Change Forum and Leader of Hertfordshire County Council delivered a presentation to a meeting of the East of England APPG focussing on climate change. He highlighted the positive work of the Regional Climate Change Forum, supported by EELGA, including the delivery of regional baseline analysis on strengths and areas of improvement regarding local authorities’ activity on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• In the lead up to the Autumn Statement, EELGA produced a letter to the Chancellor setting out our councils’ priorities and concerns regarding their finances and support from government. A number of key recommendations, including flexibility on council tax, were delivered in the Autumn Statement.
• On the 13^th December 2022, at an online event with Ministers, MP’s, council leaders and wider partners, we will be launching a report that has been jointly produced by EELGA and the APPG on the region’s progress towards the government’s levelling up missions. The report sets out the current position and key messages on what is required to achieve them.

Housing

EELGA Associate, Trish Reed has provided specialist housing support to the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) over the last six months to develop a Regional Housing Best Practice Guide for social care, health and housing partners.

Titled ‘Putting people at the heart of new housing development: co-producing the place we call home’, the guide was commissioned by ADASS East to encourage local authorities, developers and housing providers to work collaboratively, and with people, to deliver new high-quality housing in the Eastern Region. Click here to view the guide.

Climate Change

The Regional Climate Change Forum, chaired by Cllr Richard Roberts, was formed in January 2022 and has set out on an ambitious programme work to support councils in the East of England, and the region as a whole to deliver against net zero targets.

An initial piece of work carried by the Forum was a piece of regional baseline analysis that explores the current climate change partnership arrangements in place across the East of England, identifying some of the strengths and considerations for improvements linked to these. The report also sets out a number of recommendations for regional level support. These have informed a draft Action Plan for the Forum which is soon to be signed off. Click here to read the full report.