LGA Governance


Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Westminster Room, 8th Floor, 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ. View directions

Contact: Alexander Saul  Email: Alexander.Saul@local.gov.uk / 020 7664 3232

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

The Chairman congratulated the new Vice-Chair and Deputy Chairs of the LGA for their appointment for the 2019/20 meeting year. The Chairman also expressed his thanks to officers of the LGA for a successful LGA Conference.

 

The Chairman noted apologies from the following;

·         Cllr David Finch (Con)

·         Cllr Stephen Houghton CBE (Lab)

·         Sir Richard Leese (Lab)

·         Cllr Lucy Nethsingha (LD)

·         Cllr Roy Perry (Con)

·         Cllr Martin Tett (Con)

·         Cllr Anne Western CBE (Lab)

·         Cllr Philip Atkins (Con)

·         Cllr David Simmonds CBE (Con)

 

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

Brexit

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed Cllr Kevin Bentley, Chairman of the LGA Brexit Taskforce, who updated the Executive on the LGA’s work in preparing for Brexit.  

 

He informed members that he would be meeting the Secretary of State (confirm) after the meeting and would again confirm that local government was as prepared as it could be for Brexit. He would continue to press for clarification on the resources available and regulations applicable to local authorities, in particular under a No Deal scenario and to emphasise the importance of devolving powers, responsibilities and funding from Brussels to councils. 

 

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

 

·         Cllr Bentley confirmed that he would continue to push for formal recognition that local government should have a direct say on changes that impact them directly, such as changes to city regions. 

 

·         In response to a query from Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Cllr Bentley agreed to raise a specific issue regarding planning permission in Portsmouth with the Secretary of State. 

 

·         In response to a question from Cllr Debbie Wilcox, Cllr Bentley confirmed that local government from the devolved nations was also represented in discussions with the Secretary of State. He emphasised that UK local government as a whole speaks as one voice in these matters. 

 

·         Cllr Bentley emphasised that he would continue to push for clarity so that Councils could plan their budgets accordingly. Concerns were raised as to the impact that could have on local authorities, their local residents and their staff.

 

Decision

 

The LGA Executive noted the update from Cllr Bentley.

3.

Sustainable Development Goals pdf icon PDF 305 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the item which set out the work being undertaken to develop a draft LGA work programme following the amended motion on the UN Sustainable Development Goals agreed at General Assembly. He explained that a Member-led sounding board would lead on this work and report to the Leadership Board and LGA Executive in September.  

 

Decision  

 

The LGA Executive noted the actions proposed in the paper, and commissioned a full report to be brought to its September meeting. 

 

Action

 

A full report on the UN Sustainable Development Goals to be brought to the September meeting of LGA Executive.

4.

Business Rates Retention and Fair funding pdf icon PDF 144 KB

Minutes:

Cllr Richard Watts,Chair of the Resources Board, introduced the report providinga summary of progress on the Fair Funding Review and Business Rates Retention work programmes since the last meeting.  With regard to formula to be used for fire and rescue service, he explained the view of the Business Rates Retention and Fair Funding Task and Finish Group was that a simplistic formula would not accurately reflect the specific service needs of fire and rescue services, but recognised there is not enough time to build a new more sophisticated formula. Therefore the Task and Finish Group had supported calling on the Government to refresh the data in the old formula in the short term, and commission a full, new formula immediately. He explained the Leadership Board had agreed with the Task and Finish Group’s recommendation on the Fire and Rescue Formula as set out in paragraph 9 of the report.

 

Decision 

 

The LGA Executive endorsed the LGA policy position on the fire and rescue services’ relative needs formula (paragraphs 8-10). 

 

Action 

 

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

5.

LGA Boards: Annual Review of the Year pdf icon PDF 191 KB

a.        Children & Young People

 

b.        City Regions

 

c.        Community Wellbeing

 

d.        Culture, Tourism & Sport

 

e.        Environment, Economy, Housing & Transport

 

f.         Improvement & Innovation

 

g.        People and Places

 

h.        Resources

 

i.          Safer & Stronger Communities

 

Minutes:

The Executive noted the Boards’ achievements on the 2018/19 meeting year.

6.

Children & Young People pdf icon PDF 244 KB

6a

City Regions pdf icon PDF 232 KB

6b

Community Wellbeing Board pdf icon PDF 269 KB

6c

Culture, Tourism and Sport pdf icon PDF 271 KB

6d

Environment, Economy, Housing & Transport pdf icon PDF 148 KB

7.

Improvement & Innovation pdf icon PDF 210 KB

8.

People and Places pdf icon PDF 164 KB

9.

Resources pdf icon PDF 247 KB

10.

Safer & Stronger Communities pdf icon PDF 305 KB

11.

Note of the last Leadership Board meeting - Tabled

Minutes:

The LGA Leadership Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 July.

 

12.

Note of last LGA Executive meeting pdf icon PDF 168 KB

Minutes:

The LGA Executive agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 June.

 

13.

2019 Spending Review - Update

Minutes:

Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the Resources Board, report provides an update on the LGA’s planned activity ahead of the 2019 Spending Review. A confidential discussion followed.