New Redbridge Labour councillors attending Local Government Association briefing day hear how the Tory government have brought local authorities to the cliff edge

Shadow communities and local government secretary Andrew Gwynne warned that the government’s denial of funding for children services and adult social care is dragging local councils to the “cliff edge.”

Addressing the Local Government Association’s (LGA) New London Labour Councillors briefing day, Andrew highlighted how whilst denying funding to local government, the government did manage to give the banks £5 billion back by cutting the banking levy. “The next Labour government will ensure our children services  get the money they need,” said Andrew, who revealed how the Labour front bench is looking at how local government should  be funded going forward. “Council tax is not the answer. We need to fully reform local government finances,” he said.

Much of what Andrew said chimed with earlier comments from Mark Lloyd, the chief executive of the Local Government Association, who revealed how by the end of the decade, local government will have lost £16 billion in funding.

He outlined how local government hand “innovated and been creative” and until recently the public have continued to believe the service has been good. However, recent polling indicates that this may now be changing.

The LGA believes that local government will be £5.5 billion short of cash by the end of the decade and £7.8 billion by the end of the next decade.

The heat is particularly being felt in social care, where 90 children a day are entering the system, with 500 new investigations a day across the country.

On housing, Mark called for council to be freed to build council housing.

He defended the LGA policy of supporting right to buy, which comes with the qualification that all money raised in this way should be able to be reinvested to build new housing stock.

Waltham Forest council leader Clare Coghill told the new councillors that they needed to make sure they had been provided with corporate parent training.

She also outlined her own path to the top, getting elected in 2009, grafting in the local area before being given the children services portfolio on Walthamstow Council. There was then three years working in regeneration  before becoming leader.

Clare wanted to know when Labour are back in government how much money will local government get. “I would like to see the front bench commit to increase income tax, not council tax,” said Clare.

There was lots of good advice on the day for new councillors. Mark Lloyd reminded those present that they were in charge and that the officers were there to serve.

A workshop on scrutiny, emphasised the need to take control when operating as a scrutiny committee. If councillors don’t act in a pro-active way, setting their own agenda, then the officers or executive will do it for them.

In a session on media, new Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz told of some of her ups and down with the press, particularly in the mayoral campaign.

Evening Standard columnist Ayesha Hazarika outlined some of the dangers but also how the media can offer an opportunity for councillors to get their message over and build profile.

Redbridge was well represented, with many of the record 15 new Labour councillors in attendance. All made their presence felt, coming from the council with the largest Labour gains in the country.

It was certainly a worthwhile information filled day, which ended with a drink on the terrace of the LGA headquarters in Smith Square.