Agenda and minutes

Councillor Robert Light, Kirklees Council, declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Item 3 (Audit Transitional Body),  as he is a member of the Audit Commission.

Mayor Sir Steve Bullock, Lewisham Council, declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Item 14 (Local Government House Review) as he is a member of XXXX

Property Board.

Councillor Robert Light (Kirklees) declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in Item 3 as he is a Member of the Audit Commission.

Mayor Sir Steve Bullock (Lewisham Council) declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Item 14 as he is a Director of AMA Properties Board.

Laurence Meehan, Head of Public Affairs, introduced a report setting out the legislation that is expected to be included in the Queen’s Speech on 4 June and suggesting a prioritisation of the Bills. Laurence informed the Board that since the paper was written a further two Bills had been announced – one on fracking and a second to extend child neglect legislation to include emotional cruelty.

Laurence Meehan undertook to circulate responses to specific questions raised by members on Right to Buy, childcare legislation and the impact of paying national insurance on councillors’ pensions.

Decision

The Leadership Board noted the summary of Bills expected in the Queen’s Speech.

Action

Officers to:

·      Circulate responses to members questions on Right to Buy and Childcare legislation and councillors’ pensions;

·      provide a further report to the Leadership Board on 11 June.                                                                    

Michael Coughlin, Executive Director, Workshop, Leadership and Productivity, introduced a report summarising the next steps following the recent announcement that the LGA would lead interim arrangements for public sector audit after the close of the Audit Commission in 2015. The LGA would establish an independent company to manage the audit contracts with private sector audit firms until the new arrangements come into place in 2017, which would mean significant savings for the sector.

Michael Coughlin paid tribute to Dennis Skinner, Head of Leadership and Productivity, for his work to develop the successful submission to DCLG.

Decision

The Leadership Board noted the decision of Ministers to ask the LGA to establish the Transitional Body to manage the existing external audit contracts.

Action

Officers to progress in accordance with the Boards decision.

Councillor Peter Fleming, Chairman, Improvement & Innovation Board, presented a summary of the sector-led improvement support to councils over the last three years, together with the outcome of the evaluation. Councillor Fleming highlighted the positive comments received from Brandon Lewis MP, Minister for Local Government, on the LGA’s programme of support

In the discussion that followed, Members commended the LGA’s work over the last three years, which had been welcomed by councils and had led to an increase in confidence in the sector’s capacity to monitor and improve its own performance. 

Members asked that an alternative phrasing to “sector-led improvement” be considered for external communications, that is clear and comprehensible to those outside local government.

Councillor Fleming paid tribute to Juliet Whitworth, Research Information Manager and her team on the research work which supported the evaluation.

Decisions

The Leadership Board

·         noted the comprehensive programme of support the LGA has provided for the council;

·         welcomed the findings of the evaluation;

Action

Officers to find an alternative phrase for “sector-led improvement”

Officers to circulate the data analysis that supported the evaluation.                                 

The Leadership Board received a report setting out a timetable for confirming changes to LGA proportionality and agreeing the allocation of seats and distribution of chairs and vice-chairs, following the 2014 elections on 22 May.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board agreed the proposed process and timetable set out in paragraphs 5-9 of the report.

Action

Officers and LGA Leadership Board to take forward the timetable as set out in the report.                                     

Roberta Henry, Deputy Head of Events, updated the Board on progress on the 2014 LGA Annual Conference.  Roberta reported that three more speakers had accepted invitations to speak:

·         Sir John Peace (Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank) on ‘Our new sub regions – a model for devolution’.

·         John-Paul Marks (Department of Work & Pensions) – Welfare Reform workshop

·         Kate Barker (Chair, Commission on the Future of Health & Social Care in England) – Social Care plenary.

Decision

The Leadership Board approved the emerging programme and activities for the Annual Conference 2014.

Action

Officers to action as directed by Members.

The Leadership Board received a report setting out the proposed format and a draft agenda for the Annual Meeting.

Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive reported that, to date, no motions for debate had been received from member authorities.

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board endorsed the proposed format and agenda for this year’s General Assembly;

Action

Officers to progress the arrangements for General Assembly.                   

The Leadership Board received the Chief Executive’s monthly report for April 2014.

Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive, reported that Rochford District Council had withdrawn their notice and highlighted the current positive situation regarding membership, compared with previous years.

Councillor Robert Light, Leader, Kirklees Council, referring to the fourteen councils currently on notice, asked that figures be provided on the loyalty bonuses they would receive if they were not on notice.

Decision

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

Action

Offices to circulate loyalty bonus figures for those councils on notice.

Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive, informed the Board that the joint Leadership Board/Chairs of Boards’ discussion on the First 100 Days would be held on 14 May from 12.30pm to 2.00pm (and not after the Leadership Board on 14 as set out in the Forward Plan).  Carolyn urged Group Leaders to encourage their Board Chairs to attend as this would be a key opportunity to feed into the First 100 days’ document, prior to its launch at Annual Conference.

Decision

The Leadership Board noted the Forward Plan.

Action

Group Leaders to encourage Board Chairs to attend the First 100 Days discussion on 14 May.                                                              

Decision

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

Decision

The Leadership Board agreed the note of the last meeting.

Noted that an informal discussion on the First 100 Days would take place after the Leadership Board meeting.

The Leadership Board noted the report and agreed the proposals.

The Leadership Board noted the report and agreed that Officers should progress in accordance with the Board’s decisions.

Date of Next Meeting: Wednesday, 14 May at 2.00pm.