LGA Governance


Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Smith Square 1&2, Ground Floor, 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ. View directions

Contact: Frances Marshall  0207 664 3220 / Email: frances.marshall@local.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome and Congratulations

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed Cllr Peter Box CBE who had been newly appointed as a member of the Leadership Board for 2016/17.

 

On behalf of the Board, the Chairman congratulated Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson CBE and Cllr Anne Western CBE who had received their respective honours in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

2.

Declarations of Interest and Apologies

Minutes:

No declarations were made.

 

Apologies for absence had been received from:

 

·         Cllr Philippa Roe, Con, Westminster City Council;

·         Cllr Anne Western CBE, Lab, Derbyshire County Council; and

·         Cllr David Hodge, Con, Surrey County Council.

3.

Chief Executive's Report - July 2016 pdf icon PDF 316 KB

Minutes:

Mark Lloyd (Chief Executive) introduced the report which set out the LGA’s main achievements against the business plan priorities since the last meeting in June.  In doing so, he provided some initial reflection on the LGA’s Annual Conference and highlighted the importance of political engagement in the development of Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP).

 

In the discussions that followed, Members shared their reflections from conference and put on record their thanks to all those involved in organising it.  Comments included: positive reflections on speakers from outside of local government; the need for a greater balance of diversity in speakers in terms of gender and ethnicity; and the value of longer plenary sessions. With reference to STP, Members echoed the importance of the issue to local government.

 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the Chief Executive’s report for July 2016.

4.

Membership, Terms of Reference and 2016/17 Meeting Cycle pdf icon PDF 178 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Claire Holloway (Head of Corporate Services) briefly introduced the report which set out the Leadership Board’s Terms of Reference, membership and meeting dates for 2016/17. 

 

The report was agreed without further comment.

 

Decisions

 The LGA Leadership Board:

i.      agreed its Terms of Reference for 2016/2017;

ii.     noted its Membership and dates of future Leadership Board, Councillors’ Forum and Executive meetings; and

iii.    noted that the location of these meetings would be confirmed pending a start date for the refurbishment works at Local Government House. 

5.

LGA Leadership Board - Review of the Year 2015/16 pdf icon PDF 211 KB

Minutes:

The report, which summarised the work of the Leadership Board over the past 12 months, was moved by the Chairman, and agreed by Members without further comment.

 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the report.

6.

LGA Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 169 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Forward Plan was moved by the Chairman without further comment.

 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board agreed the forward plan.

7.

LGA Executive (See Executive Agenda)

Minutes:

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the LGA Executive agenda for the meeting on 21 July.

8.

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) - 2016 Annual Reports pdf icon PDF 250 KB

SIG Annual Reports circulated in a separate supplemental document pack.

Minutes:

The report, which invited Members to review the annual reports of the LGA’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs), was moved by the Chairman without further comment. 

 

Members recorded their thanks to those SIGs that had submitted annual reports and suggested that a similar reporting mechanism be developed for LGA Task Groups.   

 

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board:

           i.          noted the annual reports of the LGA’s Special Interest Groups; and

          ii.          agreed that those Special Interest Groups that had not submitted annual reports be contacted with a view to removing them from the LGA’s list of Special Interest Groups. 

 

Actions

A letter of thanks be sent to those SIGs that had submitted an annual report. 

 

Those SIG that had not submitted annual reports be contacted with a view to removing them from the LGA’s list of Special Interest Groups. 

 

LGA Task Groups that do not already report into the LGA’s formal governance structure be invited to do so.

9.

Confidential

Minutes:

The following items were confidential and therefore considered under Part 2 of the meeting. 

10.

Priority work in the LGA over the coming months

Minutes:

Ian Hughes (Head of Policy, Place) introduced the report which suggested some priority areas of focus for the LGA and local government within the context of the recent EU Referendum result and appointment of the new Prime Minister and Cabinet.   Members’ views were sought to help inform future LGA priorities.

 

There followed a detailed and confidential discussion in which Members’ provided a steer to inform the LGA’s work programme and draft LGA Autumn Statement submission. A further discussion would take place with members of the LGA Executive on 21 July 2016.

 

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board agreed that their comments inform:

      i.        the development of an LGA’s work programme on the implications of Brexit for councils and representing England and local government in Brexit negotiations;

     ii.        a programme of work on building relationships with the Prime Minister and relevant new Ministers; and

    iii.        the LGA’s submission to Government in advance of the Autumn Statement.

 

Actions

·         Develop a work programme on the implications of Brexit for councils and representing England and local government in the Brexit negotiations.

 

·         Develop a programme of work on building relationships with the Prime Minister and relevant new Ministers.

 

·         Draft Autumn Statement submission for the September Leadership Board for clearance.

11.

Note of the last meeting

Minutes:

Decision

The Leadership Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 June 2016.

12.

Local Government Business Rates Retention

Minutes:

Nicola Morton (Head of Local Government Finance) introduced the report which updated on the joint working between the LGA and DCLG on the proposals for local government business rates retention, including the launch of a summer consultation.

 

There followed a detailed and confidential discussion in which Members’ provided a steer to inform the LGA’s response to the Government consultation paper.  A further discussion would be held with members of the LGA Executive on 21 July 2016.

 

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board:

      i.        noted the report; and

     ii.        agreed their comment inform the LGA’s response to the Government’s Consultation on Business Rates Retention.

 

Action

Draft LGA response to the Government’s Consultation on Business Rates Retention to be submitted September Board for clearance. 

13.

LGA Financial Strategy: 2016/17 to 2018/19

Minutes:

Paul Brack (Strategic Finance Manager) introduced the report which sought approval to explore in more detail a potential option relating to the LGA’s approved Borrowing Strategy.

 

The report was agreed without further comment.

 

Decision

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

 

Action

A report on Financing the two Property Projects to be brought to the September Board meeting. 

14.

Note of the last Audit Committee

Minutes:

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the minutes of the previous meeting of the Audit Committee held on 6 June 2016.

15.

Note of the last Commercial Advisory Board

Minutes:

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the minutes of the previous meeting of the Commercial Advisory Board held on 23 May 2016.

16.

LGA Governance: Meeting Frequency Review

Minutes:

The report, which set out the cost implications of potentially increasing the frequency of LGA board/committee meetings, was moved by the Chairman without further comment.

 

In the discussion that followed, Members were united in the view that four Board meetings per annum was insufficient to maintain pace with the fast moving policy agenda. 

 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board agreed to increase the meeting cycle frequency of the LGA’s nine Boards and one Fire Services Management Committee to five formal Board meetings and five lead member meetings per annum, with effect from the 2016/17 meeting year. 

 

Action

To set future Board/Committee meeting schedules at five meeting per political cycle, to take effect from 1 September 2016 and adjust resourcing levels accordingly.