New Leaders' Council for local authorities to work with government

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has launched a new Leaders' Council, which aims to give local government a voice at the heart of government.

The Council will bring together local government leaders and ministers to tackle shared problems and deliver for the communities they all serve.

It is hoped that members will learn about innovations that councils are pioneering.

Launching the Council at the Local Government Association Conference, Rayner said: "The Leaders’ Council will be critical for co-designing policy at the highest levels.

"And I look forward to working closely with the Council over the coming years.

"Gone are the day of diktats from above.  

"It is time for those with skin in the game to be put in the driving seat.  

"That is what our devolution agenda is all about."

Cllr Louise Gittins, chair of the Local Government Association, said: “We are delighted that the Government has acted on our call for a relationship reset and a new way of working with local government.

“As we set out in our Local Government White Paper, it is time for a new, equal and respectful partnership between local and central government. Meeting the challenges of the coming decade will require a new, joined-up and strengthened system of governance that is sharply focussed on improving people’s lives.

“The Leaders’ Council will enable local government to bring its frontline expertise and experience to the table and help to ensure we can deliver on the issues that matter most to local communities, providing solutions to the complex challenges we face as a nation.”