Agenda item

The Chair briefly outlined the report which updated on work being undertaken to develop the sector-led improvement offer with respect to financial issues and asked for Members’ guidance. 

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

·        Members emphasised the importance that the pool of ‘Peers’ and ‘Associates’ include a diverse and broad range of experience and skills.  To this end, they suggested that the selection criteria be broader than exclusively CIPFA qualifications, so as to include those candidates that possessed the requisite skills and experience, but were not CIPFA qualified.

·        It was suggested that a more sophisticated manner of neutrally assessing and classifying authorities’ financial sustainability be developed.  

·        Members noted the importance of joining up this work with the LGA’s wider activities on devolution.

Decision

That the Board’s views inform the development of the LGA’s approach to financial issues within sector-led improvement.