Agenda item

Dennis Skinner – Director of Improvement

The Chair invited Dennis Skinner (DS), Director of Improvement, to introduce the report.

DS briefly set out the purpose of, and background to, the Board including its Terms of Reference and broad priorities for the year ahead – (i) Improvement and Assurance framework for local government; (ii) Peer Support and Development; (iii) The Office for Local Government; and (iv) Wider Sector-led Improvement programmes including Leadership, Transformation and Finance. The Equalities Advocate for the Board had yet to be confirmed by the LGA Political Group Offices.

It was confirmed that Cllr James Hakewill was a substitute Board member for the Independent Group.

Members’ comments and questions:

·       It was suggested that the Terms of Reference should more explicitly reflect the Board’s role in advocating for improvement and innovation on behalf of the sector. With the Board’s agreement, DS agreed to strengthen the Terms of Reference to reflect this.

·       Members felt very strongly that in the current financial climate, the Board needed to focus on championing innovation and best practice in member councils, as well as challenging those councils that were more risk averse. The Chairman agreed and referred to the new Transformation workstream that the LGA had launched following renewed emphasis on this in the DLUHC Grant Determination Letter.

Decision:

Improvement & Innovation Board:

1.     Noted the Board’s membership

2.     Agreed the Board’s Terms of Reference, with strengthened wording around the Board’s advocacy role

3.     Agreed the Board’s priorities for the coming year, with a particular emphasis on promoting innovation.

Action:

Officers to amend wording of Terms of Reference