LGA Governance


Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Rooms A&B, Ground Floor, Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street, London, EC1M 5LG. View directions

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

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

No declarations were made. 

 

The apologies were noted as listed at Appendix A.

2.

Autumn Statement 2016 pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Minutes:

Sarah Pickup (Deputy Chief Executive) introduced the report which outlined the key announcements in the 2016 Autumn Statement with implications for local government.  In doing so, she highlighting the notable omission of measures relating to adult social care and noted that the Local Government Finance Settlement was expected to be announced the following week.   

 

There followed a number of detailed discussions, including:

 

·         Whilst it was noted that there were some wins for the sector - such as pay to stay becoming voluntary and the delay to the sale of higher value voids - Members’ emphasised the importance of keeping the pressure on the later and the need to continue to make case for greater devolution of funding to local areas.

 

·         Members were united in expressing serious concerns regarding the impact of changes to the New Homes Bonus (NHB), the reductions in the Education Services Grant (ESG) and Public Health funding and the late publication of the Local Government Finance Settlement.

 

·         The Board expressed disappointment and frustration that the need to address the long terms financial stability of adult social care funding had not been recognised, despite appeals by the sector and a broad coalition of public and voluntary sector partners.  Members discussed how to target the LGA’s communications effectively to maximise traction, suggestions included: communicating the human impact to the public as well as Government;  emphasising the cumulative impact on public sector budgets and services – particularly mental health and joint NHS Sustainable Transformations Plans; and conducting analysis of council activity to address care providers’ monopoly in certain cases.

 

Decision

The Leadership Board noted the content of the report and agreed that their views inform the LGA’s lobbying.

3.

Communications Report: April - September 2016 pdf icon PDF 540 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

David Holdstock (Director of Communications) introduced the report which set out the LGA’s Communication performance for the six month period April – September 2016 for the Board’s review. 

 

The Board commended the LGA’s communications output, with particular reference to #OurDay and the positive reputation of local government leaders in a IPSOS Mori Trust poll.  There followed a lengthy discussion in which Members asked a number of questions and highlighted several themes for further consideration.  These included:

 

·         Maximising the use of all media outlets - such as tabloids as well as opinion informing platforms - and tailoring the LGA’s message accordingly. 

 

·         Focusing the LGA’s lobbying messages around human interest stories that resonate with the public, with terminology that relate to every day experiences.

 

·         Refining where possible the LGA’s lobbying message, whilst recognising the complexity of many of the LGA’s positions.

 

·         Utilising regional and local media opportunities by sharing cross party LGA media briefings with a wider audience so that members could utilise LGA lines in their own localities and use a local story to illustrate.

 

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board:

 

       i.        noted he communications performance from April– September 2016; and

 

      ii.        agreed that their comments inform the LGA’s future communications activity.

4.

Management Accounts Report: Period 6 September 2016 pdf icon PDF 440 KB

Minutes:

Paul Brack (Strategic Finance Manager) introduced the report which summarised the LGA’s financial performance from April to September 2016 for the Board’s review.

 

In the following discussion, Members raised concerns regarding the LGA’s supplier payment performance and questioned the viability of the 96% target. They emphasised the importance that LGA demonstrate best practice in its internal processes.   

 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the LGA’s financial performance for the first six months of the financial year.

 

Action

Share the LGA’s Scheme of Delegation with Cllr David Hodge.  Paul Brack

5.

Six Month Performance Monitoring Report: April - September 2016 pdf icon PDF 717 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Claire Holloway (Head of Corporate Services) introduced the report which sets out the LGA’s performance against its business plan and internal priorities from April to September 2016.

 

In the following discussion, Members asked for further details on councils’ HRA Borrowing levels across the sector and suggested that the traffic light for the 19th graduate intake should be green.  The Board commended the LGA’s staff sickness record and asked that in future it be presented alongside averages for the private as well as public sector. 

 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the report and agreed that their comments inform future performance reporting.

 

Actions

·         Future performance reports to include private sector sickness averages for benchmarking. (Donna Gallagher/Chris Harding)

·         Details of councils’ HRA Borrowing levels across the sector to be shared with Members. (Donna Gallagher)

6.

LGA Outside Body Appointments pdf icon PDF 378 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

LGA Chairman moved the report which listed the outside bodies to which the LGA appointed members for the 2016/17 meeting cycle. 

 

Members discussed the feedback mechanisms in place to ensure that LGA activity on outside bodies was utilised to maximum effect. 

 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the list of outside bodies and representatives which the LGA had appointed to the 2016/17 meeting year.

 

Action

Provide further detail on the role of the ‘CFOA Waste and Recycling Working Group’ to Cllr David Hodge. Frances Marshall

7.

Chief Executive's report pdf icon PDF 375 KB

Minutes:

Mark Lloyd (Chief Executive) moved the report which set out the LGA’s main achievements against the business plan priorities since the last meeting.  In doing so, he drew attention to LGA the support in the run up to the 2017 Combined Authority Mayoral elections, the High Court’s decision on the HIV treatment PReP case, and LGA activity on the Bus Services Bill.  

 

A Member commended the breadth of LGA activity and asked for further information on councils undertaking Prevent scrutiny.

 

Decision

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

 

Action

Share information on councils undertaking Prevent scrutiny with Mayor Dorothy Thornhill.  Mark Norris

8.

LGA Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 94 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

The following items were identified for inclusion in future agendas:

 

·         The Secretary of State for Education be invited to attend a future Councillors’ Forum meeting.

 

·         A Minister from the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) be invited to attend a future LGA meeting.  

 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board agreed the forward plan with the inclusion of the above items.

 

Confidential

The following items were considered in the confidential section of the meeting.

9.

Note of the last meeting

Minutes:

Decision

The Leadership Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 October 2016.

10.

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 17 October 2016.

11.

LGA Brexit Update

Minutes:

Cllr David Simmonds CBE (Brexit Task Group Chairman) introduced the report which updated on the Brexit Task Group’s work and asked for a steer on how the LGA promotes and defends the local government position as the UK develops its negotiation strategy for leaving the EU.

 

There followed a confidential discussion.

 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board agreed the local government “asks” and forward plan of work.

12.

Internal Lending and Borrowing Update

Minutes:

Paul Brack (Strategic Finance Manager) introduced the report which sought the Board’s agreement on external borrowing for the LGA’s property redevelopment projects.

 

Decisions

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

13.

Local Government House Refurbishment

Minutes:

Claire Holloway (Head of Corporate Services) introduced the report which updated on the Local Government House development.

 

There followed a confidential discussion.

 

Decisions

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

14.

Update on the Fair Funding Review

Minutes:

Sarah Pickup (Deputy Chief Executive) introduced the report which summarised DCLG’s progress to date on business rates retention reform and particularly the Fair Funding Review.


There followed a confidential discussion. 

 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the report.