Agenda and minutes

Councillors Sharon Taylor OBE,Gerald Vernon-Jackson and Mayor Dorothy Thornhill each declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in Item 9, May 2015 General Election, as they would be standing as Parliamentary candidates in the May elections.

Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive, presented the LGA’s Business Plan for 2015/16 for agreement and recommendation to the LGA Executive.

In the discussion that followed, Councillor Hodge (Surrey CC) asked that work be done in the future on the vision for local government, to make it shorter and less complex.

Decision

The Leadership Board agreed the LGA’s Business Plan for 2015/16 for recommendation to the Executive.

Action

LGA Executive to consider the Business Plan on 5 March 2015.

Helen Platts, Head of Finance and Business Management, introduced the budget book for 2015/16, setting out the LGA’s financial strategy for the next two years and presenting proposals for the 2015/16 budget.  With regard to the Liberata contract, Stephen Hughes informed the Board that work was underway to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements involving services that were currently being run by Liberata.

Councillor David Hodge, Surrey County Council, asked that in future presentations of the budget comparative figures for the previous year be provided.

Decision

The Leadership Board agreed

·         the 2015/16 budget prior to this being presented to the Executive for agreement;

·         that the Commercial Advisory Board would assume member oversight of the re-provisioning of ICT services following the termination of the Liberata contract, with recommendations being made to Leadership Board to enable them to make final decisions on the award of any new contracts.

Action

LGA Executive to consider the 2015/16 budget on 5 March 2015.

Decision

The Leadership Board noted the Chief Executive’s report for March 2015.

The Board considered the forward plan of the Leadership Board, LGA Executive and Councillors’ Forum and requested the addition of the following items:

LGA Leadership Board

10 June           Implications for the LGA of the General and local elections.

11 June           Education (including School Places and Accountability).

The Leadership Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Leadership Board agreed the recommendations in the report.

The Leadership Board noted the update report.

The Leadership Board discussed the report and agreed its recommendations.

The Leadership Board approved the emerging programme and activities for the 2015 Annual Conference.

The Leadership Board reviewed the current events programme and agreed the recommendation.

The Leadership Board noted the report from the Commercial Advisory Board on progress with implementing the Commercial Strategy.

The Leadership Board discussed the corporate peer review action plan and agreed the recommendations set out in the report.

The Leadership Board discussed the issues set out in the report and agreed its recommendations.

The Leadership Board agreed the recommendations set out in the report.

Members discussed and agreed the proposals set out in the report.