Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

David Holdstock, Director of Communications, summarised the report which set out the key legislation affecting local government in the 2016 Queen’s Speech and sought the LGA Executive’s approval on Bills the LGA should prioritise.

In the following discussion, Members made the following comments:

·         The Executive endorsed the Leadership Board’s decision to prioritise the Policing and Crime Bill ahead of the Counter-Extremism and Safeguarding Bill, as the former was more relevant to local government.

·         Members commented on specific aspects of the following Bills:  Digital Economy Bill, Local Growth and Jobs Bill, Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill, Policing and Crime Bill, Counter Extremism and Safeguarding Bill and the Wales Bill.

·         It was noted that the Leadership Board had discussed Councils’ concerns regarding planning permissions and the actions of developers which impacted on local government. The possibility of calling for financial penalties or incentives to encourage developers to build homes more quickly would be looked at in more detail, as there were opportunities to work closely with industry and the government on this area.

·         The Executive endorsed the prioritisation of Bills as outlined in the report.

Decision

That the LGA Executive approved the suggested priority Bills for the LGA in the 2016/17 parliamentary session.

Claire Holloway, Head of Corporate Governance, introduced the report which provided an overview of the areas reviewed and work undertaken by the Audit Committee in 2015/16. She highlighted that the Committee had approved the report on 6 June 2016, subject to the inclusion of the following additional wording:

“The Audit Committee are particularly pleased with the work the LGA has undertaken to reduce spend on ICT and corporate costs through provision of IT services by London Borough of Brent and bringing other services back in-house. The direction of travel is very positive, and the Committee are satisfied that the Leadership Board will continue to take the programme of work forward and keep it under close review.”

The LGA Executive endorsed the report and thanked the Audit Committee for their work in 2015/16.

Decision

The LGA Executive agreed the Audit Committee Annual Report, which would subsequently be presented to the LGA General Assembly on 5 July 2016.

Action

Audit Committee Annual Report to be presented to the LGA General Assembly.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive, introduced the report and highlighted that three Motions had been submitted by local authorities as potential items for debate at the 5 July 2016 General Assembly.  The LGA Executive were asked to agree which Motions should be submitted to the General Assembly for debate.

The report recommendations were agreed without further comment. 

Decisions

The LGA Executive agreed that:

       i.        the ‘Public Health’ Motion be referred to the LGA General Assembly for discussion;

      ii.        the Motion on ‘Duty to keep land and highways clear of litter’ be referred to the Environment, Economy, Housing & Transport Board; and

     iii.        the ‘Action on low pay’ Motion be referred to the Resources Portfolio.

Action

Officers to submit the Motions to the relevant LGA governance structures in accordance with the LGA Executive’s decision.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive, introduced the report which set out the revised LGA proportionality for the 2016-17 meeting year and its implications for the distribution of seats amongst the political groups on the LGA’s governance structure. He also highlighted that the Leadership Board had asked that a Task and Finish Group be set up to consider changes to the LGA Constitution in light of recent discussions on political balance and more generally, and changes would be reported to the General Assembly in 2017.

The LGA Executive noted the agreed proportionality arrangements for the 2016/17 meeting year and endorsed the proportionality figures.

Decision

The LGA Executive endorsed the proportionality figures for 2016/2017 meeting year.

Actions

Political Groups to agree the allocation of places across all LGA structures, and a Task and Finish Group be set up to review the LGA Constitution.

Cllr David Hodge, Leader of the Conservative Group, drew attention to the Leadership Board’s discussion regarding the governance review at the previous meeting. The Leadership Board had agreed that the Portfolio governance model not be continued and that the Resources Portfolio and Community Wellbeing Portfolio, who had been trialling the new way of working, revert back to the Board mode of operating.

It had also been suggested that a report to the Leadership Board setting out the cost implications of the option of holding up to 5 Board meetings per cycle be considered in due course. The LGA Executive endorsed this approach.

Decision

The LGA Executive noted the minutes of the Leadership Board meetings held on 6 April and 8 June 2016.

Decision

The LGA Executive agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2016.

Cllr Claire Kober, Chair of the Resources Portfolio, introduced he report which provided an update on the development of proposals for the localisation of business rates and the work the LGA had done in this area. Member and officer level groups had been subsequently met to consider the proposals in more detail.

Members noted that the Queen’s Speech on 18 May had included an announcement of the Local Growth and Jobs Bill which would provide the legislative framework for local authorities to retain business rates. A consultation paper was expected to be published in the summer which would seek Councils’ views on how the scheme could operate, particularly those which would require legislation to implement.

Following discussion, The Executive agreed that more work was required on outcomes and modelling of localisation of business rates, and that pilots should be undertaken in different local authority areas, encompassing all varieties of Councils. This was particularly important in areas where the County was involved in a Devolution deal and Districts were not, or vice versa. The LGA should continue to resist additional burdens from government departments, and consider in more detail how the potential increase in appeals would impact upon Councils.

The Business Rates Task and Finish Group would continue to take this work forward, and further update reports would be considered by the Executive in due course.

Decision

The LGA Executive noted the report.