Executive Board Meeting Friday 21St March 2014, 10.00Am Galileo
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Executive Board Meeting Friday 21st March 2014, 10.00am Galileo Room, Pera Innovation Park, Melton Mowbray AGENDA 1. Apologies 2. Declarations of Interest 3. Minutes of the Executive Board Meeting 6th December 2013 1 Items for decision: 4. EMC Budget 2014/15 11 5. EMC Business Plan 2014/15 20 6. Management Group Terms of Reference in relation to conducts and standards 35 7. Regional Review - The Impact and Response to Migration Patterns in the East Midlands 45 8. Regional Review - Health in the East Midlands 63 Items for discussion: 9. Boosting Economic Growth and Working with LEPs 67 Items for information: 10. Regional Employers’ Board 85 11. East Midlands Improvement & Efficiency Partnership Board – Sector led Improvement and Transformation 91 12. Report of Management Group 94 13. Any Other Business Item 3 EAST MIDLANDS COUNCILS EXECUTIVE BOARD MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 6TH DECEMBER 2013 AT EAST MIDLANDS COUNCILS OFFICES Present: Cllr Jon Collins (Chair) – Nottingham City Council Cllr Paul Bayliss – Derby City Council Cllr Tom Beattie – Corby Borough Council Cllr Roger Begy OBE – Rutland County Council Cllr Robin Brown – Northamptonshire County Council Mayor Tony Egginton – EMC Independent Group Cllr Chris Millar – Daventry District Council Cllr Linda Neal – South Kesteven District Council Cllr Robert Parker- EMC Labour Group Cllr Lewis Rose OBE – Derbyshire Dales District Council Cllr Nick Rushton – Leicestershire CC Cllr David Slater – Charnwood Borough Council Steve Atkinson – Chief Executive, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Judith Spence – Head of Corporate Finance, Leicestershire CC (for item 4b) Jane Todd – Independent Advisor (for item 4C) Allen Graham – Chief Executive, Rushcliffe Borough Council (for item 5) Stuart Young – East Midlands Councils Andrew Pritchard – East Midlands Councils Sam Maher – East Midlands Councils Sarah Short – East Midlands Councils Lisa Hopkins – East Midlands Councils (Minutes) Apologies: Cllr Martin Hill OBE (Vice-Chair) – Lincolnshire County Council Cllr Neil Clarke (Vice Chair) – Rushcliffe Borough Council Cllr Jim Harker OBE - Northamptonshire County Council Cllr Alan Rhodes – Nottinghamshire County Council Cllr Paul Kenny – Boston Borough Council Cllr Anne Western – Derbyshire County Council Ian Curryer – Chief Executive, Nottingham City Council John Sinnott – Chief Executive, Leicestershire County Council Cllr Fiona Martin MBE – EMC Liberal Democrat Group Cllr Rory Palmer – Leicester City Council 1 Item 3 ACTION 1. Apologies and Introductions 1.1 Apologies were received as noted above. 2. Declarations of Interest 2.1 Cllr Jon Collins declared an interest in item 4(d). 3. Minutes of Executive Board Meeting held on 27th September 2013 3.1 The minutes were agreed as a true and accurate record. 4. Reports of EMC Management Group 4a. Update on EMC Performance, Audit Control and Governance 4a.1 Stuart Young, Executive Director East Midlands Councils, introduced this paper. 4a.2 He informed Members that EMC general reserves were £546,000 as at 1st April 2013. Performance against Business Plan is currently on track. 4a.3 In relation to the audit requirements for the Certification Office this is needed to meet statutory requirements. 4a.4 Resolution: Members of the Executive Board: . Noted EMC Management Accounts 1st April 2013 – 31st October 2013. Noted performance against the Business Plan 2013/14. Noted the statutory audit requirements of Certification Office. 4b. Draft Statement of Accounts (Certification Office) presented by Leicestershire County Council 4b.1 Judith Spence, Head of Corporate Finance Leicestershire County Council, introduced this report and informed Members that this is a legal requirement as required by the Certification Office. 4b.2 External Auditors have been appointed to provide EMC’s Statement of Accounts. These accounts do not reflect the EMC Management Accounts that are compiled on a slightly different basis. 2 Item 3 ACTION 4b.3 Judith Spence informed Members that the pension liabilities included in the Financial Statements of Accounts are only an estimate and that more accurate information will be provided by the actuarial assessment. The cost for the production of these accounts is estimated to be between £20,000 and £30,000. This includes auditor’s fees and officer’s time. 4b.4 Cllr Jon Collins tabled a letter from Brian Roberts, Director of Corporate Resources Leicestershire County Council. 4b.5 Questions/Comments 4b.6 Cllr Nick Rushton enquired whether tender documents have been sent out for the accountable body role. Stuart Young confirmed that these documents have been sent out and the deadline for receipt is noon on Friday 13th December 2013. 4b.7 Cllr Robert Parker queried the cost of the audited accounts and stressed the importance of negotiating costs and keeping these to a minimum. Judith Spence confirmed this was the amount expected. 4b.8 Cllr Jon Collins stated the importance of organisational sustainability once the review has been completed and this will need to be looked at in the New Year. 4b.9 Resolution: Members of the Executive Board: . Approved the draft 2012/13 statement of accounts that are subject to external audit. Approved the Treasurer in consultation with the Chairman and Executive Director to make any amendments following the audit. 4c. The Review of East Midlands Councils 4c.1 Cllr Jon Collins introduced this report and informed Members of the need to finalise th proposals prior to the full East Midlands Councils meeting on 7 February 2014. 4c.2 Jane Todd, independent advisor, presented the report’s conclusions and recommendations. 4c.3 Questions/Comments 3 Item 3 ACTION 4c.4 Cllr Lewis Rose commented that EMC needs to better ‘sell its offer’ to the wider membership. 4c.5 Cllr Chris Millar stated that Members need to understand the ‘added value’. The policy brief which now goes to all councillors helps to raise awareness of EMC. 4c.6 Cllr Jon Collins stated that moving forward there is a need to look at the following: . EMC website needs to be more user friendly. Implementation plan on how to take forward the work programme. More seminars and member development sessions to be offered. Member-led – responding to the priorities of its membership. Involving its membership in the policy review work. More member focused organisation. 4c.7 The conclusions and recommendations of the EMC review will be presented at the full EMC meeting on 7th February 2014. The 2014-15 Business Plan should provide the basis of an ‘Implementation Plan’ to be considered and agreed by Executive Board at its meeting in March 2014. SY 4c.8 Cllr Jon Collins tabled a paper from Leicestershire County Council in relation to the pension liabilities. Leicestershire County Council have written to treasurers of 9Cs authorities suggesting the establishment of a pension ‘sub-fund’ within the wider Leicestershire Pension Fund and that pension liabilities would remain with Leicestershire County Council but this liability if jointly covered by other upper-tier councils. 4c.9 Cllr Jon Collins requested that Leicestershire County Council confirm arrangements and asked that liaison is directly through to Leicestershire County Council. 4c.10 Resolution: Members of the Executive Board: . Considered the information contained within the report. Considered, discussed and endorsed the report as completed by the independent advisor. Agreed on the implementation of a new approach, in accordance with the approach outlined in the report and informed by the independent advisor, for communication with the wider membership of EMC. 4 Item 3 ACTION 4d. Accountable Body Arrangements for EMC 4d.1 Cllr Jon Collins left the meeting for this item. 4d.2 Stuart Young, Executive Director East Midlands Councils, introduced this paper and provided background information to members in respect of the accountable body arrangements. 4d.3 There is a need to secure alternative accountable body arrangements from 1st April 2014. There have been two expressions of interest received – Nottingham City Council and Boston Borough Council. To ensure accountability and transparency, a tender process is being run and the deadline for receipt of these tenders is noon on Friday 13th December 2013. 4d.4 Resolution Members of the Executive Board: . Noted the expressions of interest submitted by Boston Borough Council and Nottingham City Council in providing future accountable body arrangements for EMC. Noted the provision of information to both councils that have submitted an expression of interest and the corresponding request that they provide EMC with information that will support our consideration of proposed arrangements. Noted progress on financial, legal and employment matters in anticipation of transferring accountable body arrangements to a new authority. Gave delegated authority to the Management Group to act on its behalf in order to expedite this matter. 5. Welfare Reform 5.1 Allen Graham, Chief Executive Rushcliffe Borough Council, updated Members on this issue and informed members of the key headlines: . There is evidence for a rise in social housing rent arrears and a decline in council tax collection rates – but measures such as the ‘benefit cap’ have had little impact on the East Midlands to date; . The impact of the changes is not even – so far the larger urban areas and coastal towns have faced the most challenges; . Councils need greater local freedom and flexibility to address the under- 5 Item 3 ACTION supply of affordable housing – particularly for smaller properties and one bedroom