Agenda and minutes

No declarations were made. 

The apologies were noted as listed at Appendix A.

Eamon Lally (Principal Policy Adviser) introduced the item which summarised the key announcements in the Government’s Housing White Paper ‘Fixing our broken housing market’ and the LGA’s response to it.  In doing so, he highlight a number of elements which the LGA welcomed, as well as those areas where it would like to see more ambition.

In the following discussion, comments included:

·         Members welcomed certain elements of the Paper, and commended the impact of LGA lobbying on its contents; however there were still significant areas of concern and questions raised about the impact of the proposals on house building. 

·         The Board identified a number of concerns and issues for specific focus in the LGA’s lobbying.  These included: the availability of affordable housing; risks around housing needs assessments; democratic accountability within a streamlined planning process; greater flexibilities for HRA; opposition to nationally imposed rent levels; a fast-tracked approach to establishing local development corporations for delivering housing growth but opposition to extending right to buy to housing delivered through such vehicles; concern about the implications of a 5-year frequency for reviewing local plans; ability to retain 100 per cent of Right to Buy receipts; that the duty to prevent homelessness be expanded to partners; greater incentives for authorities to build; greater emphasis on the particular housing requirements of the older population; tensions in the paper between high density developments and protecting green belt and the importance of keeping responsibility and decision-making local not central.

·         There was a debate about the role of local government in supporting Government to meet national housing targets, with differencing views expressed about the manner in which the sector’s role is presented.

·         The Board emphasised the importance of keeping a keen focus on the subsequent Government regulations and guidance, as well as developments relating to previous announced forced sale of 'higher value' council homes. In doing so, Members suggested the LGA work in conjunction with the National Housing Federation.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board discussed the Housing White Paper and agreed that their comments inform the LGA lobbying activity and formal response to the White Paper.

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 reported the latest membership position, and outlined some areas which were likely to feature in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget.  

In the following discussion, comments included:

·         Members asked that research be undertaken to understand the impact of the business rates revaluation across the county and particularly the impact on public services.   Should additional funding be made available to mitigate the impact of the revaluation, Members emphasised the need for assurances that this would not impact on local government funding and expressed reservations that it would be time limited. 

·         In the event that additional funding be made available for adult social care, Members emphasised the importance of analysing any proposal in detail to ensure any short term solutions do not impeded the drive to ensure long term financial stability.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the Chief Executive’s report for March 2017.

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

Members asked that regular updates on the Government’s Fair Funding Review be added to the Forward Plan for future Leadership Board meetings. 

Decision

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

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

Decision

The Leadership Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 January 2017.

Paul Brack (Strategic Finance Manager) introduced the report which asked the Leadership Board to agree and recommend the LGA’s budget for 2017-18 to the LGA Executive.

In the following discussion, comments included:

·         Members questioned the current position with regard to government funding.

·         A number of amendments to the presentation of the budget were requested, including: the incorporation of the previous year’s budget totals set against the new proposed budget; and the inclusion of staffing totals. 

Decisions

That the LGA Leadership Board agreed:

       i.        the LGA’s budget for 2017-18 (subject to the above amendments) for recommendation to the LGA Executive;

      ii.        to delegate approval to make necessary budgetary adjustments to reflect the final grant notification from DCLG to the LGA Chairman and Group Leaders, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive; and

     iii.        that the budget for 2017-18 is published once the DCLG and Department of Health funding is confirmed.

Paul Brack (Strategic Finance Manager) introduced the report which asked the Board to note the LGA’s investment performance for the year to December 2016.

The report was agreed without further comment.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the annual report on the LGA’s Treasury Management performance.

The Chairman introduced the report which updated on the LGA’s Brexit work.

Cllr David Simmonds CBE (Chairman of the Brexit Task Group) provided an update on the activities of the Brexit Task Group.

There followed a detailed confidential discussion.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board agreed that their comments inform the LGA’s Brexit work.

Cllr David Hodge CBE took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

Sarah Pickup (Deputy Chief Executive) introduced the report which updated on the LGA’s work on further business rates retention, including the Local Government Finance Bill and the DCLG consultation on further business rates retention.

There followed a detailed confidential discussion.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the report and agreed that LGA Political Group Leaders and lead members of the Task and Finish Group on Business Rates retention sign off the final response to the consultation.

David Holdstock (Director of Communications) introduced the report which updated on progress with arrangements for the 2017 LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition.

In the following discussion, comments included:

·         Members discussed the importance of a gender balance of speakers, as well as the need to be mindful of representation more broadly across the whole programme. 

·         Members asked that adult social care be reflected prominently in the programming to maintain attention on the issue.

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board:

      i.        approved the emerging programme and activities; and

     ii.        agreed that their comments inform its further development.   

To follow.   

Rebecca Cox (Principal Policy Advisor) introduced the report which outlined the scope of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s inquiry into local government scrutiny and sought Members’ views on the LGA’s key lines of response.  

There followed a detailed confidential discussion.

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board agreed:

      i.        the LGA’s proposed lines of response to the Committee’s inquiry into overview and scrutiny in local government, subject to inclusion of their comments; and

     ii.        that the Heads of Political Group Office clear the LGA’s final response.

Verbal update at the meeting.

Claire Holloway (Head of Corporate Services) provided a verbal update on the refurbishment of Layden House and Local Government House development projects which remained to timescale.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the updates.