There were no declarations of interest.

Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the Resources Board, introduced the report and highlighted the key announcements of the Chancellor’s 2018 Autumn Budget. He raised that this was likely to be the last major fiscal event before the 2019 Spending Review. He highlighted some key announcements from the Autumn Budget, in particular the additional funding for Disabled Facilities’ Grant and the improvement of high streets.

Cllr Watts also raised that Autumn Budget included a cut in business rates bills with local government compensated for the loss of income in full. He informed the LGA Executive that they were unsure when exactly this would come into effect.

Cllr Debbie Wilcox emphasised the merit of the Welsh LGA and English LGA sharing information and working closely together in responding to the implications of the Autumn Budget for local government.  A view was also expressed that the lifting of the HRA cap was a significant victory for the sector.

Decision

The LGA Executive discussed and noted the content of the report and the on-the-day briefing.st of day-

Actions

protection means a cut

Officers to update members on progress regarding the announcements made in the Autumn Budget as and when required through normal LGA business.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Community Wellbeing Board, updated the LGA Executive on the progress with the LGA green paper for adult social care and wellbeing. He expressed his gratitude to both officers and Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE for their work on the LGA green paper for adult social care and wellbeing. He also highlighted that there had been a significant number of responses to the consultation.

Cllr Hudspeth informed Members that the LGA green paper had been launched on 14 November at the National Children and Adult Services Conference in Manchester. The response had set out findings from the consultation along with implications and 14 recommendations to Government. He also informed Members that the LGA was intending to hold a one day conference on the adult social care green paper.

Views were expressed that there were different models that local authorities could also explore in considering the future of adult social care.

Decision

The LGA Executive noted the update.

Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the Resources Board, introduced the report updating members on the progress on the Fair Funding Review and Business Rates Retention reform since the October meeting of the LGA Executive. He emphasised the common policy positions detailed in the report had been endorsed by Leadership Board.

In the discussion that followed, the following points were raised;

·         The impact of business rates on high streets.

·         A view was expressed that business rates retention is extremely complex.

·         Sarah Pickup, Deputy Chief Executive, confirmed that the Task and Finish Group was proposing that mandatory council tax discounts should be taken into account in council tax equalisation and the Government should produce a formula to adjust for working age council tax support.

Decision

The LGA Executive noted this update and provided clearance on the policy positions set out in table 1 and Appendix 1 to the report.

Action

Officers to incorporate the views of LGA’s Leadership Board and Executive into a response to the upcoming Government consultation on the Fair Funding Review.

Officers to proceed with delivery of the LGA work programme on Business Rates Retention and the Fair Funding Review as directed by the LGA Leadership Board, Executive and the Business Rates Retention and Fair Funding Review Task and Finish Group.

The notes of the last LGA Executive meeting were agreed.