Agenda item

Mark Norris, Principal Policy Advisor, introduced the report and set out the programme of work over the next year. The Board were informed of the cross-cutting priorities the Leadership Board had identified and which Boards were requested to contribute: Devolution and the future shape of local government; Housing; Finance; and, Promoting health and wellbeing.

Members welcomed the report and made a number of comments:

• The Board should respond to the Home Office consultation, ‘Reforming the powers of police staff and volunteers’.
• The need to include some proactive campaigning work recognising the social value of work done by local authorities where they are not the direct beneficiaries of the financial savings, which are often experienced by other public sector partners.
• The importance of making the case of locally set fees and charges such as the Late Night Levy.
• Views on the proposals to increase bluelight collaboration should be feed into the LGA.
• The need to include work on modern slavery.
• There was an opportunity to look at the role of the voluntary sector and smaller services in the context of devolution deals.
• Highlighting the increase in violent and knife crime, and the contribution community safety could make to tackling child sexual exploitation.
• The cost of long coroner’s inquests and their pay were having an impact on councils.
• Including cybercrime on the programme.

Action:

Officers to amend the Board Policy Priorities to reflect the Members comments and suggestions.

Decision:

Members agreed the priorities for the next year.