Agenda item

The Chair welcomed Ian Hughes, Head of Policy, to the Board.  

Ian Hughes (IH) updated the Board on recent Whitehall announcements and where the LGA anticipates the direction of future announcements, and explained that as Brexit preparations continue to dominate central Government departments, many policy announcements are being held back. Therefore, officers would like members’ steer on the LGA’s policy position on the three pieces of work related to this Board, and their view on the preparation for these announcements.  

The following discussion took place with members: 

·         The Board agreed that the future policy direction of central Government was unclear. Should a general election be called, the Board would need to make use of a short term opportunity for main parties to commit to a devolution agenda in potential manifestos. With regards to other alternative scenarios, the Board’s ambition remained clear: continue to engage local and combined authorities on post-16 skills and building industry alliances that go beyond the sector. With regards to the devolution agenda, the Board’s asks also remain clear, but the Board need to keep building alliances and maintain pressure.  

Decision: 

That the Board are in agreement with the Board’s work programme set out in paragraph 15.