Agenda and minutes

Councillor Sir Merrick Cockell, Chairman, on behalf of the Leadership Board, congratulated Cllr Marianne Overton and Cllr Andrew Lewer, who each received an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

The Chairman informed the Board that Daniel Goodwin, Executive Director (Finance and Policy) would be leaving the LGA in March and that Michael Lockwood, currently Chief Executive of the London Borough of Harrow, would join the LGA on an interim basis from 1 March to cover Daniel’s post.

The Chairman asked that the Board’s best wishes be passed to Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive, who was recuperating from a recent operation.

Cllr Sharon Taylor OBE, Chair of the Finance Panel, summarised LGA activity on the Local Government Finance Settlement and the LGA’s response, which had been by Finance Panel Office Holders. Some of the key points in the response had been raised by the Chairman in his meeting with Brandon Lewis MP on 13 January.

Cllr Taylor set out the key lobbying points in the LGA’s response to the Settlement and emphasised that the Association would continue to press Ministers and officials on these issues in the run up to the Settlement being approved by Parliament in the second week of February.

Members made a number of detailed comments on:

-       the need for a longer term funding settlement for councils;

-       the impact on council budgeting of the late announcement of the council tax cap;

-       Better Care Fund and funding for the Care Bill;

-       the future of the New Homes Bonus;

-       the Welfare Payment Scheme

Decision

The Leadership Board

·         endorsed the response to the Local Government Finance Settlement and the

LGA response;

·         noted that lobbying would continue on key issues in the run-up to the Settlement being approved by Parliament in the second week of February.

Action

Officers to provide briefing for the Final Settlement debate.                   Mike Heiser/Alan Finch                                                                                         

Michael Coughlin, Executive Director, Workforce, Leadership and Productivity presented the LGA’s draft Business Plan and Budget for 2014/15, for the Board’s initial review.  The draft Business Plan reflected the LGA’s overall strategy as set out in the ‘Rewiring’ documents and was informed by the priorities of the Boards. The Budget was broadly in line with the current allocation.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Board, thanked officers for their work in developing the Business Plan and Budget.

The Leadership Board discussed the report and made a number of comments, which were noted by officers. In particular Councillor Sharon Taylor OBE asked for the section on EU funding (P38) to be strengthened to include a commitment to ensure that LEPs recognise local authorities as significant partners in delivering the growth agenda associated with EU funding.

Councillor David Sparks OBE, Vice-chairman, asked that further information be provided to the Board on the LGA’s relationships with Wales. Officers undertook to bring a report to the next meeting.

Decision

The Leadership Board noted the draft Business Plan and Budget for 2014/15, prior to presentation of the final Business Plan and Budget to the Leadership Board and Executive in March for final agreement.

Action

Officers to provide a report on the LGA’s relationship with Wales to the next meeting.                                                                                                     

Final Business Plan and Business Plan and Budget for 2014/15 to be presented to the Leadership Board and Executive in March.        Helen Platts

Helen Platts, Head of Business Development, introduced a report inviting the Board to review the performance report for the third quarter, which reported back on the delivery of the business plan.

Decision

The Leadership Board agreed the performance report for the year to date.

Action

Officers to provide further quarterly reports.                                              Helen Platts

David Holdstock, Director of Communications, introduced a paper outlining communications activity between October and December 2013.  David referred to the draft annual membership survey report emailed to members earlier in the week.  The key findings in the report were positive and the headline figures would be included in this year’s membership packs.  A full report, with analysis, would be presented to the Board’s February meeting. 

Members made a number of detailed comments which were noted by officers.  In particular Councillor David Sparks asked officers to explore the potential for increasing LGA coverage on regional television.

Decision

The Leadership Board noted the communications activity for the period October to December 2013.                                                                                                           

Action

Officers to continue to provide quarterly reports to the Board.          

Officers to explore the potential for increasing LGA coverage on regional television.                                                                                                                          

Officers to present a report on the Membership Survey to next meeting.

David Holdstock                      

Michael Coughlin introduced the Chief Executive’s report for January.   Michael

highlighted the reduction in the number of councils on notice from 21 to 15.

Decision

The Leadership Board noted the Chief Executive’s report for January 2014.

Decision

The Leadership Board noted the LGA Executive agenda for the following day.

Decision

The Leadership Board

-       noted the Forward Plan and agreed the addition of the following item:

            February - Leadership Board

LGA and its relationship with Wales.

Decision

The Leadership Board agreed the note of the last meeting

The Leadership Board noted the report and endorsed recommendations

The Leadership Board noted the minutes of the Audit Committee meeting on 12 November.