Burnham Government must implement strengthened standards regime: Solace

Solace, which represents senior managers working across local government, made the calls in a report outlining its priorities for the new Government.

The report comes as Burnham took office and appointed his cabinet on Monday (20 July).

Solace said it wished to see improvements in the following three thematic areas: public service reform, good governance and leadership.

Under governance, the report said the new Government should strengthen standards, civility and democratic governance. It said the reformed standards regime should include effective sanctions, promote civility in public life to help protect public trust and support effective local leadership.

Sir Keir Starmer’s Government had pledged to introduce a mandatory code of conduct, stronger sanctions (including suspension), and requirements for councils to convene standards committees, among others. However, his administration failed to introduce legislation for the reforms.

Solace urged the Government in June to “act immediately” to bring forward the reforms, after survey results showed that nine in 10 council chief executives and senior officers have experienced poor standards and/or inappropriate behaviour in the past three years.

Elsewhere in its report, Solace said it hoped Burnham’s Government would work with councils to provide clarity, certainty and realistic implementation timescales on local government reorganisation.

Solace also said the Government should accelerate, broaden and deepen the transfer of power, flexibilities and resources from Whitehall. This included a call for the Government to commit to greater fiscal devolution through the spending review.

The organisation added that the success of any devolution or public service reform initiatives depended upon good leadership.

It said the Government should invest in local government leadership by working with Solace to establish a sector-led ‘Local Government Leadership College’. This should come alongside investment in leadership, skills and workforce development to help lead devolution and public service reform, it added.

The report also said the Government should work to create a sustainable care system that improves outcomes and helps councils meet rising demand, by accelerating the Casey Review and committing to rapid implementation of its recommendations.

In addition, it urged the Government to build a more outcomes-focused and finally sustainable SEND system which aligns reforms with wider children's services improvement and tackles private sector profiteering.

Solace also said that the Government should work with local government to address housing and infrastructure challenges, including temporary and emergency accommodation pressures.

This work should focus on tackling viability issues, delivering new social and affordable housing, and supporting long-term investment and leadership, the organisation said.

Solace President Robin Tuddenham said Burnham’s experience as a Metro Mayor “means he understands the vital role that place and local government play in driving growth and improving people’s lives”.

He added: “Collectively, we now have an opportunity to rebalance power away from a centre, distant from the impact of decision making on people’s lives, back into the hands of those who know best how to use it; by deepening devolution, and strengthening public service reform, creating the conditions for all our communities to thrive.

“We hope and expect to see an enhanced focus on prevention, innovation, and long-term investment in the leadership and capacity needed to deliver change locally.

“We look forward to working with the Prime Minister and his Government, so we can deliver together the improvements in place that people want and need.”

Adam Carey