Agenda and minutes

The Chairman congratulated members that had been reappointed to the Leadership Board for 2017/18 and welcomed those members that had been newly appointed. 

No declarations were made.

Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr Sean Anstee (Conservative) and Cllr Lib Peck (Labour). 

The Chairman moved the report which set out the Leadership Board’s Terms of Reference, membership and meeting dates for 2017/18. 

The report was agreed without further comment.

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board:

i.      agreed its Terms of Reference for 2017/2018; and

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

Mark Lloyd (Chief Executive) introduced the report which updated on the work of central and local government following the Grenfell Tower Fire.  He provided a summary of the current situation, along with an overview of the activities of the LGA since the fire. These included contributing to the Terms of Reference of the Independent Inquiry, pressing Government to undertake ‘system’ testing, calling for an urgent and immediate review of building regulations; and pressing for the release of confidential fire test data from private companies.

A detailed discussion followed in which members discussed: the nature and scale of the challenges; the immediate and long term sector-wide and LGA responses; the Government’s response and wider media coverage; implications beyond council owned properties; potential remedial work and financial implications; and civil resilience and emergency response protocols.  The Board also expressed their gratitude to local government staff, LGA staff and the LGA Chairman, for their hard work, long hours and flexibility in response to events. 

It was noted that this will also be discussed at the LGA Executive the following day. 

Decisions

That the Leadership Board:

i.      noted the LGA’s work to date;

ii.     agreed that their comments shape the priorities for future work; inform LGA  discussions with Government; and influence the initial meeting between lead members of the Fire Services Management Committee, the Safer and Stronger Communities Board, the Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board and the National Fire Chiefs Council.

David Holdstock (Director of Communications) summarised the report which set out the key legislation affecting local government in the 2017 Queen’s Speech and sought Leadership Board’s view on Bills the LGA should prioritise.

In the following discussion, Members made the following comments:

·         It was noted that new, less legislative focused lobbying approaches would be required, including consideration of how the LGA frames its asks.

·         The Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill was highlighted as a Bill of significant importance and therefore warranted a higher prioritisation.

Decision

That the LGA Leadership Board approved the suggested priority Bills for the LGA in the 2017/19 parliamentary session as set out in the report, with the amendment that the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill be categorised as ‘medium prioritisation’.

Sarah Pickup (Deputy Chief Executive) updated on the LGA’s work on further business rates retention and the fair funding review, reflecting on the implications of the absence of a Local Government Finance Bill in the Queen’s Speech for the LGA’s work programme.  She drew attention to the areas where the Working Group had recommenced its work and invited Members to provide a general steer, with particular reference to the timing of the results of the fair funding review.

In the following discussion, comments included:

·         Cautious optimism was expressed that further business rates retention could be progressed given the pressing need to close the £5.8 billion funding gap.  Within this context, a Member expressed support for the implementation in 2019/20 as previously proposed by Government.  

·         With reference to a new distribution methodology, Members discussed progress made by the Joint Working Group and asked for an update at the next meeting. Specific issues included support for a simple, fair formula; taking into account the strength of councils’ tax bases; the vulnerability of certain areas to shocks; public health funding; and support for the principle of ‘uplift’ as opposed to ‘winners’ and ‘losers’.

·         In discussing the Fair Funding Review, the importance of a needs baseline assessment of all local authority functions, based on a comprehensive analysis of demand was emphasised.

·         Members highlighted the importance of understanding the impact of proposed fair funding reforms on local residents, as well the consequences for councils. 

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the report and agreed that their comments inform LGA activity on further Business Rates Retention and the Fair Funding Review.

Action

That the next meeting of the Leadership Board receive an update on the activities and recommendations of the LGA-DCLG Technical Working Group considering redistribution. (Sarah Pickup).

Claire Holloway (Head of Corporate Services)briefly introduced the timetable and process for agreeing the LGA’s new business plan for 2017/18.  She invited Members’ views on the priorities and campaigns for inclusion in the plan that would be submitted to the September Board meeting for agreement.

Member agreed to feed in their views outside of the meeting.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the report and agreed to feed in their comments to inform the development of the 2017/2018 Business Plan.

Action

A draft 2017/18 LGA Business Plan to be submitted to the September Leadership Board meeting for comment. (Claire Holloway).

The Forward Plan was agreed subject to the addition that the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union be invited to a future Councillors’ Forum meeting.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board agreed the forward plan.

Action

Invite the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union to a future Board meeting. (Ian Hughes).

Mark Lloyd 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 drew attention to the current membership position; engagement activities with the newly elected combined authority mayors; sector wide financial savings secured through the national scheme for auditor appointments; the challenging situation with regards to the prioritisation of ‘delayed transfers of care’ within the £2 billion of the Better Care Funding; and the recent schools funding announcement.

In discussing the schools funding announcement, Members expressed serious concerns and emphasised the importance that there be no detrimental impact on schools and councils given that the £1.3 billon funding was being diverted from other parts of the Department for Education’s budget.

Decision

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

Mark Lloyd introduced the report which summarised the work of the Leadership Board over the past 12 months.  In particular, he drew attention to recent decisions taken by the General Assembly, recommended by the Leadership Board, regarding the LGA’s company structures.

The report was agreed without further comment.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the report.

Claire Holloway briefly introduced the report which invited Members to review the annual reports of the LGA’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs).

Members recorded their thanks to those SIGs that had submitted annual reports and noted the two reports were yet to be received. 

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board noted the annual reports of the LGA’s Special Interest Groups.

Actions

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

Claire Holloway introduced the report which summarised the LGA’s performance against its Business Plan and internal priorities from 1 October 2016 to 31 March 2017.

The report was agreed without further comment.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board approved the 6 month monitoring report.

David Holdstock gave an overview of the LGA’s integrated communications activity, and progress with corporate LGA campaigns, in the period April 2016 to March 2017. 

The report was agreed without further comment.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted communications activity for the period April 2016 to March 2017.

The Leadership Board noted the minutes of the previous meeting of the Audit Committee held on 14 July 2017.

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

The Leadership Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 June 2017.

The Leadership Board noted the minutes of the previous Commercial Advisory Board held on 29 June 2017.

Verbal update.

Claire Holloway provided a verbal update on the refurbishment of Layden House and Local Government House development projects including an update on timescale and costs.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the update.