Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Paul Carter CBE.

No declarations of interest were made.

Paul Goodchild, Member Services Manager, introduced the report which set out the Leadership Board’s membership, Terms of Reference, and meeting dates for the 2018/19 meeting cycle. It was noted that there are some references to oversight of company structures in the Terms of Reference, and these would be updated following the implementation of the new LGA Company in 2019.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive, proposed that a small working group of Members be convened to consider possible changes to the LGA’s Boards and governance structures on behalf of the Leadership Board. Members endorsed this approach, and would consider recommendations from the group at a future meeting. Any accepted recommendations to change governance arrangements would take effect from the start of the 2019/20 meeting cycle onwards.

Decisions

The LGA Leadership Board:

a)            Noted its membership and meeting dates for 2018/19;

b)            Agreed its Terms of Reference for 2018/19; and

c)            Agreed to establish a working group to consider the LGA’s governance structures.

Action

Officers to establish the working group to consider governance arrangements as agreed.

Sarah Pickup, Deputy Chief Executive, introduced the report which summarised the work that the Leadership Board had undertaken over the previous twelve months from July 2017 to July 2018. This included work on the Autumn Budget, Fair Funding Review and Business Rates Retention, Britain’s Exit from the EU, and Fire Governance.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the report.

Sarah Pickup, Deputy Chief Executive, introduced the report which set out the proposed priorities for inclusion in the LGA’s Business Plan for 2018/19, which would be considered by the Leadership Board in October 2018.

In the discussion which followed Members raised the following points:

·         As the Business Plan for 2018/19 was developed the LGA should consider the language used. The priorities were right, but how the message was presented to Member councils and the public should be addressed. There should be more emphasis on implications for communities, and the impact of particular issues on residents.

·         A key issue for many councils was housing targets, yet there was currently an implication that housing was tagged on to another priority. It was suggested that housing be a singular priority along with infrastructure.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board asked that the above comments be taken into account in drafting the 2018/19 Business Plan for discussion at its next meeting.

Nicola Morton, Head of Local Government Finance, introduced the report which set out updates on progress on Fair Funding Review and Business Rates Retention work since the previous meeting of the Leadership Board. 

Members noted that two separate relative needs assessment and council tax adjustment models had been published, and had been cleared through Group Leaders and the Task and Finish Group on Business Rates Retention and Fair Funding Review. LG Futures had been commissioned to form an analysis of ways in which the transition from the current pattern of funding to the one following the Fair Funding Review and introduction of 75 per cent retention.

Joint work with the Government on the Fair Funding Review was continuing through the technical working group, and the most recent meeting had discussed the Area Costs Adjustment, principles for future transitional arrangements, and treatment of historic supported capital borrowing. A wider consultation on the Fair Funding Review was still expected in autumn 2018. The LGA was currently waiting for a prospectus to be published inviting bids for Business Rates Retention pilots for 2019/20.

It was suggested that the LGA should try to influence the Government in developing the next Business Rate Retention pilot proposals particularly regarding how to make it easier for pilots to happen in two-tier areas. It was highlighted that the LGA was working jointly with the Government through the working group on the content of the Fair Funding Review consultation. MHCLG wanted there to give Councils as long as possible to work out pilots, and the LGA is going to host an event on this following the launch of the prospectus.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the update.

Paul Goodchild, Member Services Manager, introduced the report which set out the annual reports of sixteen of the LGA’s nineteen Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Reports were not included for the Chaired Chief Executives SIG which was dormant, the National Association of Police, Fire and Crime Panels which had recently been established, and the Co-operative Councils Network which would be circulated to Members when it was received. The LGA’s Statement on SIGs was also included for consideration.

It was suggested that the LGA should consider rationalisation of SIGs, as well as LGA Task and Finish Groups, and potentially establish a time limits to their work. It was highlighted that this work could be included in the review of LGA governance structures which had previously been agreed by Members. Members endorsed this approach.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board:

a)    Noted the annual reports of the various Special Interest Groups;

b)    Noted the LGA’s Statement on SIGs; and

c)    Agreed that consideration of SIGs and Task and Finish Groups be added to the work programme of the LGA governance working group.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive, introduced the report which set out the LGA’s main achievements against the Business Plan since the last meeting in June 2018. He drew particular attention to the Exiting the EU Delivery Board which had been announced by the Secretary of State at the LGA Conference in Birmingham, the MHCLG Select Committee report into building safety which had taken the view that the Dame Hackett report should have gone further to ban combustible materials, and the ministerial changes following the latest Cabinet reshuffle. It was also noted that Mencap had won their legal challenge around sleep-in minimum wage payments, which had been supported by the LGA. The Chief Executive also thanked members for their support at the LGA’s Annual Conference. A great deal of positive feedback had already been received, but Members were encouraged to suggest ways the event could be improved in future.

Members noted that the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive had met earlier in the day with the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock MP. His early priorities in the role were the health and social care workforce, use of technology in health and care, prevention, and social care.

Regarding the LGA’s Adult Social Care Green Paper, Sally Burlington, Head of Policy, highlighted that the first draft had been completed, with initial steers already provided by CWB Lead Members and Group Leaders. This paper aims to influence the Government’s Green Paper, the forthcoming Budget, NHS plan, and the Spending Review. The LGA wants to make a positive case for social care and the role of local government. The Green Paper would also aid what the Government was already doing in debating the issues with key stakeholders, and setting out the main options for change. There would be consultation questions on how you pay for what needs to change, and the consultation would include questions on the acceptability of various options.

The Green Paper would be published by the end of July, following which there would be a 8-10 week consultation process, and then a final report. There would be various facilitation methods for the consultation, including influencing discussions at the party conferences in the autumn.

In the discussion which followed Members raised the following points:

·         Feedback which had already been received on the LGA’s Adult Social Care Green Paper had been very positive, particularly from supporting organisations like ADASS and other partners like the Kings Fund. The Green Paper was the sector’s chance to set out what they wanted, and consideration should be given to the media plan for publication and engagement at the party conferences. Members thanked the officers who had completed the draft Green Paper for their time and effort so far.

·         There should be examples in the Green Paper regarding how local government was making changes and reforms itself to add value, and not just asking for more money. As with all LGA work the Green Paper should have cross party consensus, and would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Chairman introduced the Forward Plan, which set out the agendas for the LGA Leadership Board, LGA Executive, and the Councillors’ Forum for the next three months.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board agreed the Forward Plan.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 June 2018.

Decision

The LGA Leadership Board noted the minutes of the previous meeting of the Audit Committee held on 4 June 2018.