Agenda item

The Chairman and Rebecca Cox introduced the report summarising the LGA’s devolution support to councils. Rebecca Cox stated that the LGA’s support is demand led and that the LGA is currently engaged with approx. half the devolution deals in the sector and is keen to engage with the second half going forward. She further invited the board to express their views on the work programme, and how the LGA support offer aligns with the devolution agenda.

Members made the following comments:

·      The LGA has a valuable role to play in sharing information and lessons learnt between devolution areasespecially in the following areas:

-       Different mayoral models

-       How oversight and scrutiny works in devolved settings

-       How LEPs are engaging with devolution deals

-       Devolution of health and social care.

·      Lobbying for the transfer of skills funding should be prioritised by the LGA.

·      The focus of devolution should be on how it will improve the lives of residents and communities. Developing successful devolution deals takes time – authorities must lay the foundations for success.

·      How to ensure non-executive members were aware of the LGA’s work and support offer on devolution

·      The combination of the era of austerity and devolution in local government presents a challenging environment for councillors. What will the role of councillors in a devolved setting be?

Decision

Members noted the work on the LGA’s devolution support offer to councils.

Action

Officers will feed the boards comments back to the City Regions and People and Places Boards.