Agenda and minutes

Cllr Kevin Bentley, Vice-Chair of the LGA, welcomed Members to the meeting of the Executive Advisory Board. He explained that Cllr Shaun Davies, Chair of the LGA, had to send his apologies. Cllr Kevin Bentley would Chair the meeting of the Executive Advisory Board.

Apologies were received from the following: Cllr Marianne Overton MBE, Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Cllr Louise Gittins, Cllr Abi Brown, Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE, Cllr David Baines, Cllr Tony Saville, Cllr Bridget Smith and Cllr Rob Stewart.

The Minutes were agreed as a correct record of the previous meeting.

Sarah Pickup, Acting Chief Executive, introduced the LGA Lobbying Headlines. Sarah highlighted the additional £600million funding for Local Government, which had been announced since the 2024/25 Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and had been achieved by lobbying from across the sector.

Sarah noted that the LGA Board had requested that updates on Asylum and Resettlement and Debate not Hate/civility in public life should be brought to a future meeting of the EAB.

Sarah highlighted concerns on the management of asylum and resettlement and the increasing pressures on temporary accommodation. She raised the issue of care agencies having their licences to sponsor international recruits revoked leading to workers losing jobs and accommodation.

In the discussion that followed, the following concerns were raised:

·        In relation to waste, there was uncertainty around the new Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. In response Sarah referred to ongoing work by the LINZ Board and DCN. Sarah emphasised that the Board’s comments would be fed into that work.

·        Work on asylum seekers should emphasise that Local Government welcome everyone fleeing conflict, rather than focus solely on Ukrainian refugees. Sally Burlington, Director of Policy, explained that currently the LGA did not have an agreed line on who should have access to asylum.

·        The update on asylum resettlement does not expand on some key concerns, including particular pressures on Councils in the East Midlands region. In response Sally agreed that more work was needed and that current funding was wholly inadequate. Sally emphasised we have had significant impact on securing funding for resettlement routes so far.Concerns were raised over proposed changes to the Government’s approach to equalities and diversity. The importance of EDI in ensuring recruitment practices are fair and legal was highlighted. Sarah confirmed that those concerns would be shared.

• It was noted that many Ukrainian guests were in the UK on three-year visas and that clarity from the Government on what will happen once these visas expire was needed.

Decision

The Executive Advisory Board noted the LGA Lobbying Headlines.

Action

A report on Asylum issues to be brought to the next meeting of the Executive Advisory Board.

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Sonika Sidhu, Assistant Director of Policy, gave a presentation updating Members on the progress of the LGA Local Government White Paper.

In the conversation that followed, the following points were made:

·        The LGA White Paper and its progress was praised as an excellent piece of work.

·        Views were expressed that the focus should be on what is deliverable and what Councils need to deliver statutory services.

·        In response to views expressed that the LGA should not focus on asking for more money from Government the Chair reassured Members that conversations had moved more towards integration and the future of Local Government.

·        Members emphasised that the LGA White Paper should refer specifically to ‘equal’ partnerships.

·        Views were expressed that Devolution should focus on powers being devolved too Local Government as opposed to powers already in Local Government being moved into Combined Authorities.

·        Views were expressed that Councils need the autonomy to raise revenue in new and different ways.

·        Members raised that we use the word ‘convene’ many times in the LGA White Paper where we could use the word ‘leads’.

·        Officers were asked to carefully balance the calls for the end to multiple funding pots with the existing LGA ask for a specific prevention funding pot.

·        A view was expressed that a new constitutional framework of relationships governing the country is needed so that local, regional and national government were better defined and less centralised.

·        Members raised that the LGA White Paper needs to be clear in expressing that given the right powers local government can achieve many things more efficiently than central government. It was emphasised we need to communicate what we can do and why we can do it better.

·        Members raised that we need to maintain a focus on prevention.

·        A Member raised that purdah is not the proper term for the pre-election period.

·        Views were expressed that the top five asks would benefit from a degree of nuance, and that the LGA White Paper should have more offers as opposed to just having asks.

Sonika thanked Members for their feedback and explained the LGA would work to ensure the LGA White Paper is of interest to a Government of any political party after the next election.

Cllr Peter Marland, Chair of the Economy and Resources Board, introduced the report on the 2024/25 Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement. He emphasised a huge amount of work from both the LGA and key partners had led to £600 million additional money for local government that had been announced since the provisional settlement. This includes:

·        £500 million for social care

·        £15 million increase in the Rural Service Delivery Grant

·        £3 million outside of the Settlement to support those experiencing the biggest pressures due to Internal Drainage Board levies

·        An increase in the Funding guarantee from 3 to 4 per cent.

Cllr Marland raised there had been some announcements around local authorities publishing productivity plans. He expressed a view that there was an element of micromanagement in this approach. He also highlighted that Government had asked councils to consider whether spending on  equality, diversity and inclusion posts and programmes offerd good value.

In the conversation that followed, the following points were made:

·        Members questioned whether the additional money was a one-off. Sarah Pickup, Acting Chief Executive, responded that the LGA needed to continue to emphasise the need for ongoing funding to pay for ongoing services.

·        A view was expressed that additional money for local government being awarded as councils were tabling their budgets was evidence of a broken system.

·        Members asked for clarity on allocations to Fire Authorities.

·        Members raised the need for multi-year settlements.

·        Concerns were raised about the significant pressures facing councils due to demand for temporary accommodation.

Decision

The Executive Advisory Board noted the update.

Action

Officers will proceed with the delivery of the LGA’s work following the Local Government Finance Settlement, and in advance of the Spring Budget.