Agenda and minutes

No declarations were made.

Cllr Claire Kober, Chair of the Resources Portfolio, introduced the item which presented the LGA’s formal submissions to the 2015 Spending Review process and set out the proposed programme of engagement and media work in support of this. Submissions had been sent to the government but would be published over the following 6-8 weeks to maximise media coverage. A further report on ‘unintended consequences’ was still in preparation.

In the discussion which followed, Members made a number of comments including:

·         That the submissions provided a good evidence base for lobbying work on the Spending Review. It was requested that Members be made aware of when the reports would be published in advance.

·         That ‘Prevention – a shared commitment’ would build on the good work that the LGA had led on sustainable investment for adult social care, and that it was important for the LGA to ensure that the transformation fund was in place to provide confidence to partners.

·         Sales of high value council housing would significantly impact upon councils who had invested in improvements to housing stock, and on forward building programmes.

·         The LGA would lobby against any policy to reduce housing benefit as this would have a negative impact on councils’ ability to provide good housing stock for residents to ensure that families had a good quality of life in all respects.

·         The government had a lack of appreciation of how reduction in housing benefit would impact upon provision of temporary accommodation.

·         References relating to housing for veterans were welcomed. 

·         One member commented that the ‘service for the future’ report on the fire service lacked ambition. Areas such as equality and diversity in the fire and rescue service should be addressed outside of the Spending Review submission.

·         On care provided by the voluntary sector, it was highlighted that many charities which had taken over services from councils were struggling to provide cost effective services and this could increase with further reductions in funding. The voluntary sector also had a key role in transformation.

·         The Chairman asked that a timeline for the publication of submissions and associated communications be circulated to members. 

Decision

The LGA Executive endorsed the 2015 Spending Review submissions and the engagement strategy.

Action

Circulate a timeline for the publication of Spending Review submissions and associated communications to the LGA Executive. 

Sir Richard Leese, Chair of the City Regions Board, and Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Chair of the People and Places Board, introduced the report which summarised current issues around devolution, such as the government’s ability to match the ambitions of groupings of councils who were submitting bids, and the LGA’s offer of support to councils who had come forward with a wide variety of ambitious proposals. Fiscal and constitutional reinforcement of devolution was vital for it to succeed in the longer term and the process would not be simple. Although the LGA did not favour a ‘one size fits all’ approach it was in the interest of councils to look at streamlining the process and increasing Whitehall’s appetite to negotiate ‘at scale’. 

In the discussion that followed Members made a number of comments, including:

·         Some councils who had signed devolution deals had found engagement with some government departments to be difficult.

·         Contact with member local authorities and other relevant organisations on devolution should be maintained, and two-way communication should be improved. Communication to member councils could be made through the People and Places and City Regions Boards, or more centrally from the LGA.

·         Early thinking about the place of combined authorities in the LGA should be undertaken given the number of combined authorities was expected to increase over the next twelve months.

·         That devolution alone would not be enough to close the funding gap.

·         The LGA should help councils which were starting to formulate ideas and share best practice amongst bids. It was important for the LGA to maintain a focus on the outcomes and benefits to local residents ahead of process and structure.

·         It was suggested that the City Regions and People and Places Boards may wish to consider lessons learned from the formation of Local Economic Partnerships.

·         Consideration should be given to the different approaches to devolution and the different approaches to scrutiny of these. The government was interested in economic growth and public sector reform, and this placed importance on the local coordination of services.

Decision

The LGA Executive’s comments on devolution deals to be taken into account by the LGA’s Boards, in particular the City Regions and People and Places Boards, when considering devolution at forthcoming meetings.

Action

Early thinking about the place of combined authorities in the LGA should be undertaken given the number of combined authorities was expected to increase over the next twelve months.

Laurence Meehan, Head of Campaigns and External Communications, introduced the item which considered the achievements and activity of the LGA’s campaign ‘Investing in our nation’s future, the first 100 days of the new government’.  The first 100 days of the new government had ended, but the campaign would continue to impact upon current campaigns on the Spending Review and Devo Next. The success of the campaign would be seen over the life of the parliament when it was clear what legislation would be brought forward.

In response to a question it was confirmed that letters of congratulation had been sent out to the new leaders of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, and the new leadership teams of each party would meet LGA representatives at the forthcoming party conferences. Engagement with all parties on ongoing campaigns would continue through the Chairman and political group offices.

Decision

The LGA Executive noted the outcomes of the campaign ‘Investing in our nation’s future, the first 100 days of the new government’.

The LGA Chairman moved the report which asked the LGA Executive to note its Membership and Terms of Reference for 2015/16. A list of all appointments to the LGA’s Board and Portfolios for 2015/16 was also included for information.

The report was agreed without comment.

Decision

The LGA Executive noted its Membership, Terms of Reference and the appointments to the LGA’s governance structures for 2015/16.

The LGA Chairman moved the report which included the 2014/15 annual reports of each LGA Board/Portfolio. The reports outlined the work each Board/Portfolio had overseen during the previous meeting cycle and outlined key achievements.

The report was agreed without comment.

Decision

The LGA Executive noted the Boards’/Portfolios’ achievements and reflections on the 2014/15 meeting year.

Decision

The LGA Executive noted the minutes of the LGA Leadership Board meetings held on Wednesday 15 July and Wednesday 16 September 2015.

Decision

The LGA Executive agreed the minutes of the LGA Executive held on Thursday 11 June 2015.

Decision

The LGA Executive noted the dates of Councillor’s Forum and LGA Executive for 2015/16.