Minutes:
The Chairman invited the following Board Chair’s to discuss their written reports;
a. City Regions Board – Cllr Sir Richard Leese CBE
In his update Sir Richard noted the following points:
- Concerns were expressed on the progress of work around devolution with continued poor communications from the Government to local authorities.
- Richard also noted that the Levelling Up Fund was taking a Parliamentary constituency-based approach rather than one focused on communities & local authority boundaries. He emphasised it was important to support the effective work taking place at a local level. He also outlined concerns with the centralised bidding processes on UKSPF trial.
Decision
The members of the Councillor’s Forum noted the report.
b. Culture, Tourism & Sport Board – Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson CBE
In his update Gerald noted the following points:
- The Board had been considering post-pandemic planning for large events with Sports England and the Arts Council.
- Gerald expressed concerns that the end of the Furlough Scheme would have a major impact on arts, hospitality and leisure facilities. He felt the risk of closure was facing many venues was very high.
- A meeting had been organised with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (Oliver Dowden MP) to discuss the relationship with local government.
Decision
The members of the Councillor’s Forum noted the report.
c. Improvement & Innovation Board – Cllr Peter Fleming
In his update Peter noted the following points:
- Noted the agreement of the Improvement Grant for 2021/22.
- Welcomed the work of LGA officers and members on delivering more than 300 peer improvement programmes.
- Urged members to attend the cyber security webinar on 16/6/21.
In response to the update, a view was expressed on the importance of raising awareness among local authorities of effective cyber security arrangements given the emergent global risks.
Decision
The members of the Councillor’s Forum noted the report.
d. Resources Board – Cllr Sharon Taylor OBE
In her update Sharon noted the following points:
- Recorded thanks to Richard Watts as the previous Chair of the Resources Board for his work on behalf of the LGA and the local government sector.
- Major areas of work for 2021/22 included the 2021/22 Spending Review and Busines Rates.
- On Workforce the 2021/22 Local Government Pay negotiations were underway.
- The Environmental Health and Social Work Together programmes had provided a key recruitment resource for member authorities.
- A new Exit Payment consultation was expected from the Government in coming months.
- Cllr Nick Chard (Kent County Council) gave a brief update on Fire Pay negotiations with a 1.5% offer accepted by the Unions.
Decision
The members of the Councillor’s Forum noted the report.
e. Safer & Stronger Communities Board – Cllr Nesil Caliskan
In her update Nesil noted the following points:
- Evidence had been presented to the House of Commons committee on the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill, calling for a public health focus on tackling the causes of crime.
- The Board had engaged with the Unauthorised Encampments & Offensive Weapons review.
- Evidence had been given to the APPG on Domestic Abuse following the passage of the Domestic Abuse Act.
- The Fire Commission held a special meeting to discuss the White Paper to pass fire governance to Police & Crime Commissioners.
In the subsequent discussion members raised the following points:
- A view was expressed on the benefits of combining the role of Fire Authorities with Police & Crime Commissioners in the delivery of blue light services.
- An update on coterminosity on fire services where local authority and PCC boundaries do not match exactly. Nesil explained that this was still under review.
- A question was raised on the protection of women and girls in public spaces and progress on work with the Police. Nesil explained that the LGA made specific asks on culture change to deliver greater protections.
- Concerns were noted on the OFSTED report into sexual harassment and sexualisation of girls in schools. It was suggested that the LGA could have an important input to this discussion across a range of Boards. Nesil agreed that the LGA should have input to this matter and suggested it could link into other work on exploitation and human trafficking.
Decision
The members of the Councillor’s Forum noted the report.
f. Children & Young People Board – Cllr Antoinette Bramble
In her update Antoinette noted the following points:
- Recorded thanks to Baroness Blake as the previous Chair of the Children & Young People Board for her work on behalf of the LGA and the local government sector.
- The Board has been considering new priorities for the 2021/22 meeting cycle and diversifying the National Curriculum. It also heard from Dame Rachel De Souza (Children’s Commissioner for England) on The Big Ask survey of children’s feelings about potential barriers to the future outcomes.
- Noted that the Lead Members from the Children & Young People and Community Wellbeing Boards would be meeting with Andrea Leadsom MP on Early Years Healthy Development Review.
Decision
The members of the Councillor’s Forum noted the report.