Agenda item

Mark Norris, Principal Policy Advisor, introduced the paper setting out the proposals for the Board priorities.

Following the vote to leave the EU, the LGA Leadership Board has identified two priority work areas for the LGA which have relevance for this Board: community cohesion and the legal framework for council enforced regulatory services, given that much of the underpinning legislation is derived from European legislation.

There are 600 items of regulation that apply directly from European regulations and decisions and will cease to have effect when leaving the EU. Particular areas of relevance to the Board are consumer protection regulations, including the majority of food and feed law.

Members made a number of comments:

·         It is important that the LGA’s lobbying is about what is best for local people and not about individual views on EU exit.

·         There is a strong need for the LGA to lobby around retaining consumer protection regulations.

·         There could be a change to food safety regulation, with a shift from councils enforcing regulations to companies having a legal duty to comply and report activity.

·         The expertise of local trading standards services should be utilised to inform the LGA’s work and opportunities for deregulation should be considered.

·         Police and security services must continue to share intelligence and this is something vital to counter-terrorism work.

·         There were concerns that a new legal framework should still ensure standards for the importation of goods at ports, particularly in relation to foot and mouth disease.

·         Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) were posing an increasing cost on councils and the Board’s domestic abuse work should incorporate a strand on DHRs.

Members asked that an update on this work be brought to the November Board meeting.

Decision:

The Board agreed to the priorities and work programme for 2016/17.

Action:

Officers to progress in line with members comments.