LGA Governance


Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Smith Square 1&2, Ground Floor, 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ. View directions

Contact: Amy Haldane  07867 514938 Email: /amy.haldane@local.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome, Apologies and Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

The Chairman gave thanks to former councillors Nick Forbes and Rosemarie Harris who had served on the Executive Advisory Board for a number of years.

 

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Shabir Pandor and Cllr Houghton.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

LGA Political Balance pdf icon PDF 171 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive, introduced the report which set out the definitive figures for the LGA’s proportionality for 2022/23. The report set out the new proportionality and its implications for the distribution of seats amongst the political groups on the LGA’s governance structures.

 

Decision

That Executive Advisory Board endorsed the proportionality figures for 2022/23 meeting year.

 

Action

Political groups to agree the allocation of places across all LGA structures.

3.

Lobbying Document pdf icon PDF 362 KB

Minutes:

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive, introduced a report summarising the LGA’s lobbying headlines. Mark highlighted the LGA’s work in supporting councils through the following issues:

 

  1. Homes for Ukraine scheme
  2. Extension of right to buy scheme
  3. Cost of living pressures
  4. Integrated Care Systems
  5. Adult Social Care
  6. Planning
  7. Nitrates in the water stream

 

 

In the subsequent discussion members raised the following concerns:

 

  • Home Office response times moving on new arrivals from bridging hotels, particularly Afghans
  • Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Dedicated Schools Grant
  • Fragility in Children’s Services and an exodus of trainee social workers
  • Capacity in the Adult Social Care sector
  • Unaccompanied Children arriving from Ukraine
  • Risk of mass swimming pool closures due to increased costs

 

Decision

 

The Executive Advisory Board agreed to note the report.

4.

Queen's Speech pdf icon PDF 235 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced Mel Haslam (Acting Head of Public Affairs and Stakeholder Management) to introduce the report and answer any questionson the item.

 

The 2022 Queen’s Speech was delivered on 10 May and set out the Government’s legislative agenda for the coming parliamentary session. The Speech was comprised of 38 Bills, the highest number announced for a parliamentary session since 2005.

 

Much of the legislation centred around the Government’s 12 Levelling Up ‘missions’, which Ministers had already committed to enshrining in law in February 2022.Government also announced a wide range of proposals of interest to local government, including measures relating to devolution, planning, housing, council tax, education, energy, mental health, data reform, public procurement, local audit and post-Brexit regulation.

 

The LGA published a briefing circulated to councillors, chief executives, parliamentarians and external stakeholders in the week the speech was delivered providing an overview of the key Bills of interest to local government and setting out an initial LGA view. This can be found in annexe A.

 

The LGA also responded to a number of the key Bills in the media and promoted its priorities on social media. The Chairman hosted a virtual briefing event for Vice-Presidents.

 

Mel sought approval on the Bills the LGA should prioritise, based on the organisation’s business plan and advocacy priorities, for the purpose of its lobbying.

 

Mel highlighted the LGA’s high and medium priority Bills;

 

High priority

 

  • Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill
  • Schools Bill
  • Renters Reform Bill
  • Social Housing Regulation Bill

 

Medium priority

 

  • Energy Security Bill
  • Transport Bill
  • Draft Mental Health Act Reform Bill
  • Online Safety Bill
  • Modern Slavery Bill
  • Draft Victims Bill
  • Draft protect Duty Bill
  • Animal Welfare (Kept Animals Bill)
  • Non-Domestic Rating Bill
  • Procurement Bill
  • Data Reform Bill
  • Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill

 

Decision

The Executive Advisory Board agreed the recommended prioritisation of the LGA’s legislative lobbying for the next parliamentary session.

 

Action

Take forward the LGA’s legislative lobbying.

 

5.

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse - code of practice for councils pdf icon PDF 294 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The chairman introduced Louise Smith (Senior Adviser) to introduce the report and answer any questionson the item.

 

Decision

The Executive Advisory Board approved the code of practice for consultation without comment.

 

Action

Officers to publish the code of practice and publicise to councils.

 

6.

Equalities Advocates pdf icon PDF 150 KB

Minutes:

The chairman introduced Rupinder Parhar (Senior Adviser) to introduce the report and answer any questionson the item.

 

Decision

The Executive Advisory Board agreed to note the proposed update on the progress of board Equality Advocates work and the next steps outlined from paragraph 16 of the report.

 

Action

Equalities Advocates to meet more regularly. Officers to report back to a future meeting of the Executive Advisory Board.

 

7.

Civility in Public Life - Abuse and intimidation of councillors

Minutes:

The chairman introducedJess Norman (Senior Adviser) to address the Executive Advisory Board in confidential session.

 

Decision

The Executive Advisory Board agreed to the recommendations set out in paragraphs 8-14, subject to recommendations 1 and 3 being strengthened via the political group leaders.

 

8.

National Living Wage

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Naomi Cooke, Head of Workforce to address the Executive Advisory Board in confidential session.

 

Decision

The Executive Advisory Board agreed to approve public raising of the impact of the projected increases in the National Living Wage on councils.

 

9.

2022 Cost Pressures Update

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Cllr Shaun Davies, Chair of the Resources Board, to address the Executive Advisory Board in confidential session.

 

Decision

The Executive Advisory Board agreed to note the cost pressures analysis.

 

10.

Minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes:

The Executive Advisory Board agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday 10 March 2022.