Agenda item

An opportunity to consider how effective the Board has been over the past year and its strategic purpose within the LGA governance structure and priorities in the coming year.

A report is attached which is the Annual Board Review for 2014/15.

The report to the Board provided some issues for discussion to support members’ review of the Board and set out a summary of the 2014/15 work programme.

The Board considered that it had met its original purpose and gave their views on how it can develop over the next year. 

Board members raised the following points in the discussion that followed:

·         The existing Board arrangements were working well, ensuring that non-metropolitan areas were able to have an important voice, particularly in relation to the devolution agenda.

·         The City Regions and People & Places Boards had worked well together and there was a collective will to progress issues such as devolution at a strategic level. It was important however not to duplicate the work of other Boards.

·         The Board should have the opportunity to review reports from other Boards where there was an effect on non-metropolitan areas, allowing the Board greater input from its own perspective and provide strategic overview.

The Board suggested other areas for its work programme in 2015/16:

·         Broadband in rural areas, particularly its often very slow speed.

Decision

The Board noted the Annual Review which would be submitted to the LGA Leadership Board.