Labour councillor Bella Sankey, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, recently visited 10 Downing Street as one of the first attendees since the new Labour government took office. Her visit on 18th July was part of her duties as the newly appointed Deputy Labour Group Leader on the Local Government Association (LGA). The LGA, which represents the 317 local councils across England and Wales, serves as a crucial liaison between local and national government.
During her visit, Cllr Sankey met with key ministers including Jim McMahon, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Andrew Gwynne, and Georgia Gould. These ministers are responsible for housing, communities, local government, health and social care, and public sector reform respectively. The discussions centered on fostering a genuine partnership between national and local governments to enhance public services.
Cllr Sankey expressed her enthusiasm about the meeting, highlighting the government's commitment to rethinking the relationship with local councils and aiming for bold improvements in public service delivery. She emphasised the importance of her role in advocating for beneficial policies for communities not only in Brighton and Hove but across the country.
She was accompanied by other prominent LGA leaders such as Bev Craig, the new Labour leader of Manchester City Council, and council leaders from Ealing and Milton Keynes. Sankey's appointment to the deputy leadership role of the Labour Group at the LGA on 9th July marks a significant opportunity to influence national policy in favor of local interests.
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