Agenda and minutes

No declarations were made.  Apologies for absence were received from:

·         Cllr Keith Wakefield OBE

·         Cllr Philippa Roe

·         Cllr Peter Reeve

·         Cllr Marianne Overton MBE

The Chairman welcomed Cllr Sue Murphy CEB to her first Leadership Board meeting, following her appointment as Deputy-Chair of the Association.

Cllr Peter Box CBE -  Environment, Economy, Housing & Transport Board Chair - will present the item.

Cllr Peter Box CBE – Chair of the Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport (EEHT) Board - introduced the report which summarised the key transport issues affecting local government and the work of the EEHT Board on these issues.  In doing so, he touched upon the devolution agenda, the condition of the highways network, funding challenges and the role and responsibilities of councils’ with regard to air quality.   

Members welcomed the report, endorsing the EEHT Board’s work on transport and highlighting several issues for their further consideration.  Comments, included:

·         The need for a more joined up approach and better integration between national infrastructure projects and local transport networks to improve connectivity.

·         The importance of continuing to lobby Government on the significant road repairs backlog and impact of increasing volumes of traffic on the condition of the highways network.

·         The need to be proactive regarding the potential risk that Government may seek to pass an EU fine onto local authorises, in the event that the UK incurs a financial sanction as a result of a breach in air quality levels.

·         Members’ shared challenges they had experienced in partnership working with the Highways Agency and Network Rail and the resulting impact on their ability to drive economic growth and regeneration.  The Board asked that the LGA continue to raise these concerns strongly with Ministers.   

·         In discussing the Bus’s Bill, Members’ welcomed changes to make smart-ticketing easier and highlighted the importance that learning from pilot areas inform the development of the Bill to make it fit for purpose. 

·         Members’ discussed the potential opportunities that devolution offered as well as the risks.  Whist the availability of franchising powers was welcomed, there was a united view that these powers should not be restricted to only those combined authorities with a mayor.  

·         In discussing the significant funding challenges, Members emphasised the importance of reiterating to Government the impact of the funding cuts on   concessionary fares, subsidised routes and the affordability of public transport.  Given councils’ record of delivering value for money and service improvements, Members made the case for greater devolution of funding to local authorities, and highlighted the open data agenda as a key tool for achieving change.

In responding to Members’ comments, Cllr Box welcomed Members’ steer and provided assurances that the issues raised were encompassed within the EEHT Board’s work programme. 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board endorsed the Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board’s work on transport and asked that their comments inform its ongoing work programme.

Cllr Sir Richard Leese CBE (City Regions Board Chair) and Cllr Mark Hawthorne MBE (People & Places Board Chairman) will be in attendance to present as members of the Combined Authorities Working Group.

Sir Richard Leese CBE & Cllr Mark Hawthorne MBE - members of the Combined Authorities Working Group - introduced the report which proposed changes to the LGA’s structures and services to reflect Combined Authorities and councils with devolution deals.  

Members thanked the Working Group for their efforts, asked a number of specific questions and endorsed the Working Group’s proposed changes as outlined in the report.

Decision

The Leadership Board agreed changes to the LGA’s structures and services to reflect Combined Authorities as recommended by the Combined Authorities Working Group and set out in the report. 

Sarah Pickup briefly introduced the report which summarised the key announcements in the 2016 Budget with implications for local government.

In the following discussion, comments included:

·         Members expressed grave concerns regarding the proposal that all schools become academies by 2020, with cross party consensus that the proposals are counter to the principles of localism and raise serious questions around local determination, need and accountability.  It was suggested that all authorities be invited to sign up to a letter setting out system wide concerns about local democratic oversight of the education system.

·         Members highlighted the need for greater clarity as to the financial impact of  100% business rate retention changes on localities and emphasised the importance that the sector engage through the joint LGA – DCLG consultation papers. 

Decision

The Leadership Board noted the report.

The Chairman moved the report which set out the draft General Assembly agenda for Leadership Board’s endorsement.

The report was agreed without further comment.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board endorsed the proposed agenda for this year’s General Assembly.

The Chairman moved the report which set out the timetable for confirming changes to LGA’s proportionality post the 5 May local elections.

The report was agreed without further comment.

Decision

The LGA Leadership agreed the proposed process and timetable for confirming changes to LGA proportionality.

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 March.  With the start of the new membership year on 1 April 2016, he highlighted those councils currently out of LGA membership and invited members’ support in engaging with those authorities currently on notice to leave LGA membership from April 2017.

Members noted the report and commented on the value and success of the National Graduate Development Programme.

Decision

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

Action

Circulate to Leadership Board a list of councils that are not currently part of the National Graduate Development Programme. [Pascoe Sawyers / Sadie Kerr]

The Board considered the Forward Plan of the Leadership Board, LGA Executive and Councillors’ Forum and asked that the following item be added:

·         A report on devolution to be submitted to the Board in Autumn 2016.  

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board agreed the forward plan.

Decision

The Leadership Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2 March 2016.

The Chairman briefly introduced the report which asked Members to review the LGA’s Pay Policy Statement.

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board agreed:

      i.        the report recommendations: and

     ii.        that the LGA’s Pay Policy be reviewed in April 2017. 

Sarah Pickup (Deputy Chief Executive) introduced the report which updated members on joint working with the Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG) on proposals for the implementation of 100 per cent business rates retention. 

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board noted the report and agreed the next steps in the joint working with Department for Communities & Local Government.