Thursday, 31 October 2019 12.30 pm
Westminster Room, 8th Floor, 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ
Guidance notes for members and visitors 18 Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ
Please read these notes for your own safety and that of all visitors, staff and tenants.
Welcome! 18 Smith Square is located in the heart of Westminster, and is nearest to the Westminster, Pimlico, Vauxhall and St James’s Park Underground stations, and also Victoria, Vauxhall and Charing Cross railway stations. A map is available on the back page of this agenda.
Security All visitors (who do not have an LGA ID badge), are requested to report to the Reception desk where they will be asked to sign in and will be given a visitor’s badge to be worn at all times whilst in the building.
18 Smith Square has a swipe card access system meaning that security passes will be required to access all floors. Most LGA governance structure meetings will take place on the ground floor, 7th floor and 8th floor of 18 Smith Square.
Please don’t forget to sign out at reception and return your security pass when you depart.
Fire instructions In the event of the fire alarm sounding, vacate the building immediately following the green Fire Exit signs. Go straight to the assembly point in Tufton Street via Dean Trench Street (off Smith Square).
DO NOT USE THE LIFTS. DO NOT STOP TO COLLECT PERSONAL BELONGINGS. DO NOT RE-ENTER BUILDING UNTIL AUTHORISED TO DO SO.
Open Council Open Council, on the 7th floor of 18 Smith Square, provides informal meeting space and refreshments for local authority members and officers who are in London.
Toilets Unisex toilet facilities are available on every floor of 18 Smith Square. Accessible toilets are also available on all floors.
Accessibility If you have special access needs, please let the meeting contact know in advance and we will do our best to make suitable arrangements to meet your requirements.
Every effort has been made to make the building as accessible as possible for people with disabilities. Induction loop systems have been installed in the larger meeting rooms and at the main reception. There is a parking space for blue badge holders outside the Smith Square entrance and two more blue badge holders’ spaces in Dean Stanley Street to the side of the building. There is also a wheelchair lift at the main entrance. For further information please contact the Facilities Management Helpdesk on 020 7664 3015.
Guest WiFi in 18 Smith Square WiFi is available in 18 Smith Square for visitors. It can be accessed by enabling “Wireless Network Connection” on your computer and connecting to LGA-Free-WiFi. You will then need to register, either by completing a form or through your Facebook or Twitter account (if you have one). You only need to register the first time you log on.
The LGA also offers the Govroam network, a Wi-Fi network which gives Members seamless roaming internet access across multiple public-sector locations if you have also signed up for this service. This network is enabled throughout our Westminster building and allows Members and staff from other authorities who are part of the Govroam network to seamlessly connect to our Wi-Fi.
Further help Please speak either to staff at the main reception on the ground floor, if you require any further help or information. You can find the LGA website at www.local.gov.uk
Councillors' Forum 31 October 2019
There will be a meeting of the Councillors' Forum at 12.30 pm on Thursday, 31 October 2019 Westminster Room, 8th Floor, 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ.
Please note: The Political Group meetings will be held prior to this, as follows:
11.00am Conservative Westminster Suite (8th floor) 11.00am Labour Bevin Hall (Ground floor) 11.00am Liberal Democrat Beecham Room (7th Floor) 11.00am Independent Eaton and Cockell (7th Floor)
A sandwich lunch will be available at 1.15pm in Victoria Room (8th Floor).
Attendance Sheet: Please ensure that you sign the attendance register, which will be available in the meeting room. It is the only record of your presence at the meeting.
Political Group meetings: The group meetings will take place in advance of the meeting. Please contact your political group as outlined below for further details.
Apologies: Please notify your political group office (see contact telephone numbers below) if you are unable to attend this meeting.
Conservative: Group Office: 020 7664 3223 email: [email protected] Labour: Group Office: 020 7664 3263 email: [email protected] Liberal Democrat: Group Office: 020 7664 3235 email: [email protected] Independent: Group Office: 020 7664 3224 email: [email protected]
Location: A map showing the location of 18 Smith Square is printed on the back cover.
LGA Contact: Thomas French 020 7664 3041 / [email protected]
Carers’ Allowance As part of the LGA Members’ Allowances Scheme a Carer’s Allowance of £9.00 per hour or £10.55 if receiving London living wage is available to cover the cost of dependants (i.e. children, elderly people or people with disabilities) incurred as a result of attending this meeting.
Social Media The LGA is committed to using social media in a co-ordinated and sensible way, as part of a strategic approach to communications, to help enhance the reputation of local government, improvement engagement with different elements of the community and drive efficiency. Please feel free to use social media during this meeting. However, you are requested not to use social media during any confidential items.
Councillors' Forum – Membership 2019/2020
Councillor Authority
Conservative ( 39) Cllr James Jamieson (Chairman) Central Bedfordshire Council Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE (Vice Warwickshire County Council Chairman) Cllr Robert Alden Birmingham City Council Cllr Philip Atkins OBE Staffordshire County Council Cllr Kevin Bentley Essex County Council Cllr Paul Bettison OBE Bracknell Forest Borough Council Cllr Morris Bright MBE Hertsmere Borough Council Cllr Abi Brown Stoke-on-Trent City Council Cllr Nick Chard Kent County Council Cllr Janet Clowes Cheshire East Council Cllr Steve Count Cambridgeshire County Council Cllr Andrew Day Warwick District Council Cllr Geoff Driver CBE Lancashire County Council Cllr Peter Fleming OBE Sevenoaks District Council Cllr John Fuller OBE South Norfolk District Council Cllr Peter Golds CBE Tower Hamlets Council Cllr John Hart Devon County Council Cllr Mark Hawthorne MBE Gloucestershire County Council Cllr Teresa Heritage Hertfordshire County Council Cllr Ian Hudspeth Oxfordshire County Council Cllr Rory Love OBE Folkestone & Hythe District Council Cllr Paul Middlebrough Wychavon District Council Cllr Colin Noble Suffolk County Council Cllr William Nunn Breckland Council Cllr Tim Oliver Surrey County Council Cllr Teresa O'Neill OBE Bexley Council Cllr John Pennington Bradford Metropolitan District Council Cllr Roger Phillips Herefordshire Council Lord Gary Porter CBE South Holland District Council Cllr Andrew Proctor Norfolk County Council Cllr David Renard Swindon Borough Council Cllr Byron Rhodes Leicestershire County Council Cllr Linda Robinson Wychavon District Council Cllr Nicholas Rushton Leicestershire County Council Cllr Glen Sanderson JP Northumberland Council Cllr David Simmonds CBE Hillingdon London Borough Council Cllr Linda Taylor Cornwall Council Cllr Michael Wilcox Lichfield District Council Cllr Katrina Wood Wycombe District Council
Substitutes
Labour ( 38) Cllr Nick Forbes CBE (Senior Newcastle upon Tyne City Council Vice-Chair)
Cllr Tom Beattie Corby Borough Council Cllr Judi Billing MBE Hertfordshire County Council Cllr Simon Blackburn Blackpool Council Cllr Judith Blake CBE Leeds City Council Cllr Peter Box CBE Wakefield Metropolitan District Council Cllr Anntoinette Bramble Hackney London Borough Council Cllr Muhammed Butt Brent Council Cllr Graham Chapman Nottingham City Council Cllr Clare Coghill Waltham Forest London Borough Council Cllr Doina Cornell Stroud District Council Cllr Amy Cross Blackpool Council Cllr James Dawson Erewash Borough Council Cllr Georgia Gould Camden Council Cllr Kate Haigh Gloucester City Council Cllr Paulette Hamilton Birmingham City Council Cllr Richard Henry Stevenage Borough Council Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe Bradford Metropolitan District Council Cllr Simon Henig CBE Durham County Council Cllr Helen Holland Bristol City Council Sir Stephen Houghton CBE Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Cllr Farah Hussain Redbridge London Borough Council Cllr Peter John OBE Southwark Council Cllr Brigid Jones Birmingham City Council Cllr Naushabah Khan Medway Council Sir Richard Leese CBE Manchester City Council Cllr Iain Malcolm South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Cllr John Merry CBE Salford City Council Cllr Dhanisha Patel Bridgend County Borough Council Cllr Michael Payne Gedling Borough Council Cllr Alice Perry Islington Council Cllr Darren Rodwell Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council Cllr Bryony Rudkin Ipswich Borough Council Cllr Timothy Swift MBE Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Cllr Sharon Taylor OBE Stevenage Borough Council Cllr Richard Watts Islington Council Cllr Anne Western CBE Derbyshire County Council Cllr Debbie Wilcox Newport City Council
Substitutes Cllr Clyde Loakes Waltham Forest London Borough Council Cllr Peter Marland Milton Keynes Council Cllr Shabir Pandor Kirklees Metropolitan Council Cllr Leigh Redman Somerset County Council Mayor Marvin Rees Bristol City Council Cllr Shama Tatler Brent Council Cllr Sian Timoney Luton Borough Council Cllr Alan Waters Norwich City Council Cllr Andrew Western Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
Independent ( 11) Cllr Marianne Overton MBE Lincolnshire County Council (Vice-Chair) Cllr Sue Baxter Bromsgrove District Council
Cllr Wayne Davies Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Cllr Rosemarie Harris Powys County Council Cllr Phelim MacCafferty Brighton & Hove City Council Cllr Colin Mann Caerphilly County Borough Council Cllr Sarah Rouse Malvern Hills District Council Cllr Carolyn Rule Cornwall Council Cllr Helen-Ann Smith Ashfield District Council Cllr Clive Woodbridge Epsom and Ewell Borough Council Cllr Paul Woodhead Cannock Chase District Council
Substitutes Cllr Mike Haines Teignbridge District Council Cllr Ian Stephens Isle of Wight Council Cllr Claire Wright Devon County Council
Liberal Democrat ( 12) Cllr Howard Sykes MBE (Vice- Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Chair) Cllr Alan Connett Devon County Council Cllr Mark Cory Colchester Borough Council Cllr Ruth Dombey OBE Sutton London Borough Council Cllr Liz Green Kingston upon Thames Royal Borough Council Cllr Richard Kemp CBE Liverpool City Council Cllr Heather Kidd Shropshire Council Cllr Adele Morris Southwark Council Cllr Bridget Smith South Cambridgeshire District Council Cllr Paul Tilsley CBE Birmingham City Council Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson CBE Portsmouth City Council Cllr Chris White Hertfordshire County Council
Substitutes Cllr Keith House Eastleigh Borough Council Cllr Anita Lower Newcastle upon Tyne City Council Cllr David Neighbour Hart District Council
Agenda
Councillors' Forum
Thursday 31 October 2019
12.30 pm
Westminster Room, 8th Floor, 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ
Please note that Councillors' Forum meetings will now be filmed for publication on the LGA website. Members are asked to be in their seats for the start of the meeting at 12.30pm.
Item Page
1. Chairman's Welcome and Declarations of Interest
2. Debate: Delivering More Homes and Better 1 - 4 Communities
3. Chairman's Update 5 - 8
4. LGA Board Chair Reports
a) Children and Young People Board - Cllr Judith 9 - 12 Blake CBE
b) City Regions Board - Sir Richard Leese CBE 13 - 14
c) Community Wellbeing Board - Cllr Ian Hudspeth 15 - 18
d) Culture, Tourism and Sport Board - Cllr Gerald 19 - 20 Vernon-Jackson CBE
e) Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport 21 - 26 Board - Cllr David Renard
f) Improvement and Innovation Board - Cllr Peter 27 - 30 Fleming OBE
g) People and Places Board - Cllr Kevin Bentley 31 - 32
h) Resources Board - Cllr Richard Watts 33 - 36
i) Safer and Stronger Communities Board - Cllr 37 - 40 Simon Blackburn
5. Digest of the last meeting 41 - 45
Date of Next Meeting: Thursday, 23 January 2020, 12.30 pm, Westminster Room, 8th Floor, 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ
Agenda Item 2
Councillors Forum 31 October 2019
Delivering more homes and better communities
Purpose of report
For information.
Summary
This paper provides background to the LGA Councillors’ Forum housing session.
Recommendation
That the LGA Councillors’ Forum notes this report as background.
Action
As directed by Members.
Contact officer: Jo Allchurch
Position: Senior Adviser – Housing, planning and homelessness
Phone no: 07900 931045
Email: [email protected]
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Councillors Forum 31 October 2019
Delivering more homes and better communities
Background
1. Local and central government have a shared ambition to deliver a step change in the supply of new homes to meet demand. This needs to happen in a way that helps new communities to forge and existing communities to grow sustainably.
2. Whilst the challenges of delivering new homes vary across the country, every council needs to be playing its role in helping to address the unmet needs of the people they represent.
3. To coincide with the 1 year anniversary of the lifting of the Housing Revenue Account cap, this session aims to stimulate discussion on what more councils, as local leaders of place, could be doing to incentivise delivery of new homes, influence the location and type of housing, and ensure appropriate infrastructure.
4. The session will be chaired by Councillor James Jamieson, Leader, Central Bedfordshire Council and LGA Chair and the Forum will hear from the following speakers before opening up to the floor for discussion:
4.1. Councillor James Jamieson, Leader, Central Bedfordshire Councill and LGA Chair
4.2. Councillor Bridget Smith, Leader, South Cambridgeshire District Council and deputy chair, LGA Safer & Stronger Communities Board
4.3. Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and vice-chair, LGA Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board
4.4. Natalie Elphicke OBE, Chief Executive, Housing & Finance Institute
Suggested questions for discussion
5. How, as local leaders of place, should councils be stimulating supply of new homes?
6. What more can councils and the LGA do to support sharing of best practice and build capacity and expertise in the sector?
7. How can government support councils’ ambitions to do more?
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Councillors Forum 31 October 2019
Appendix A
Biographies
Councillor Darren Rodwell
Darren became the Leader of Barking & Dagenham Council in 2014. Since then, he has established the borough as one of the most important growth opportunities in London and the Council has won numerous awards, including LGC Council of the Year for 2018.
Since 2016, Darren has served on the London Councils Executive – first as the Executive Member for the City Development and now as the Executive Member for Housing and Planning. In his current role he has prioritised the delivery of truly affordable housing in the capital, fire safety, reducing homelessness and reducing the use of a temporary accommodation.
Darren is also a member of the Homes for Londoners Board, the Skills for Londoners Board, Arts Council England, the Arts Council for London and the Create London Board. Natalie Elphicke OBE
Natalie Elphicke has advised central and local governments over a number of years and has served as an independent adviser to HM Government. This has included the influential Elphicke-House Report 2015 on the role of local authorities in housing supply which re-set the direction of government policy in this area. As well as on the development of the new national strategy for estate regeneration.
She has just been appointed the New Homes Quality Champion, responsible for spearheading the introduction of a New Homes Ombudsman and associated housing quality reforms.
Natalie has worked on practical delivery of housing and finance for over two decades and across the housing and finance industries, with housing associations, councils, central and devolved governments as well as investors and developers.
At the Institute Natalie leads the work on the Housing Business Ready programme to improve skills and housing delivery for councils. Its ground-breaking Housing Business Ready Springboard programme is delivered in partnership with the LGA and is in its second year.
Councillor Bridget Smith
Bridget was born in and spent her early years in Durham, but also lived in Sierra Leone in West Africa and eventually in Belfast during “The Troubles”. She left Ireland to take A levels in Bristol, subsequently reading psychology at Durham University. After graduating, she
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trained for the new profession of Hearing Therapist, eventually entering the health service as a practitioner at Manchester Royal Infirmary. After 2 years, she moved to the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Cambridge to undertake a 3-year DHSS-funded research project in communication techniques for adults with acquired deafness. At the culmination of this project, she remained at the University to study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education. Once qualified, Bridget taught for 3 years at her local Middle School, specialising in IT and music. She then became Head of Upper School at a large Cambridge Primary School.
Bridget took time out from work to look after her 3 sons born between 1990 and 1998. However, in 1996 her eldest son developed a serious medical condition which necessitated Bridget becoming a carer until he was 18. During this time she wrote and had published 2 books, did some part-time work as a music tutor and sports coach and established and ran a very successful community development charity. She is currently a carer for her elderly mother.
Whilst a carer for her son, Bridget became more interested in local politics and in campaigning for improvements to local community support provision. Her charity was responsible for the Parish Council acknowledging that the rapidly developing village needed to commit to a state of the art community facility. Bridget was then employed to project manage and to raise the required £2.3 million to deliver the scheme. At the same time, she succeeded at a by-election in becoming the local District Councillor. The success of the resultant award-winning Gamlingay Eco Hub project encouraged Bridget to work as a consultant in community development and fundraising.
After serving in a wide range of roles as a District Councillor, Bridget became Liberal Democrat group leader in 2014. Since becoming Leader of the Council in May 2018 she has also become a Board member of the Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Combined Authority Board.
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Councillors’ Forum 31 October 2019
Chairman’s Update
This report covers the Chairman’s activities from 31 July until 31 October 2019.
LGA and Ministerial/Parliamentary business
31 July Luke Hall MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Local Government and Homelessness) 31 July EU Exit Delivery Board with MHCLG Secretary of State 14 Aug RT Hon Robert Jenrick MP (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government) 14 Aug Tom Walker (Director General, Decentralisation and Growth, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) 22 Aug Liam Booth-Smith (Special Adviser to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street) 23 Aug Luke Hall MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Local Government and Homelessness) 23 Aug RT Hon Rishi Sunak MP (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) 03 Sept HCLG Committee – Private Roundtable 04 Sept RT Hon Matt Hancock MP (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care) 17 Sept RT Hon Theresa Villiers MP (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) 18 Sept RT Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP (Secretary of State for Education) 18 Sept Jeremy Pocklington (Director General, Housing & Building Safety) 18 Sept Melanie Dawes CB (Permanent Secretary) 15 Oct Local Government EU Exit Delivery Board meeting with MHCLG Secretary of State 22 Oct Kevin Foster MP & Cllr Ruth Dombey 22 Oct RT Hon James Brokenshire MP 22 Oct Luke Hall MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Local Government and Homelessness) 23 Oct RT Hon Matt Hancock MP (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care)
Meetings with organisations and individuals
19 July Meet Councillor John Hart, Chair of SW Councils and Leader of Devon County Council 25 July Australian Government Officials 25 July (American Business) Chris Hasbrook, Vice President and General Manager of the Building and Life Safety Technologies Division of UL 25 July Anne Longfield, Children's Commissioner and Emily Frith, Head of Policy and Advocacy 31 July Cllr Kevin Bentley Deputy Leader Essex County Council 14 Aug Sean Hanson - Chief Executive, Local Partnerships 21 Aug Interview with LGC 22 Aug Ageing better - Anna Dixon Chief Exec & Carol Black
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Councillors’ Forum 31 October 2019
04 Sept BBC Television Interview 05 Sept Sir Michael Lyons non-executive chairman of the English Cities Fund and Participle Ltd 06 Sept Newcastle Regional Leaders Roundtable Meeting 11 Sept Cllr. Paul Carter CBE - Leader of Kent County Council 12 Sept Round Table with UN-habitat Director - Maimunah Mohd Sharif 17 Sept National Association of Local Councils - Chair Sue Baxter 17 Sept Martin Swales, President of SOLACE and Chief Executive, South Tyneside Council 18 Sept Public Sector Executive Interview 25 Sept Harry Phibbs – Conservative Home 30 Sept Mark Vlessing CEO – Pocket Living 30 Sept Nicholas Harris, Chief Executive and Sue Shirt, Executive Director – Stonewater 30 Sept Kat Henderson, Chief Executive – National Housing Federation 30 Sept Craig McWilliam, Chief Executive Officer, Grosvenor 30 Sept Carol Matthews (CEO), John Glenton (Executive Director Care and Support) & Hugh Owen (Director of Strategy and Public Affairs) – Riverside 01 Oct Brian Berry, Chief Executive – Federation of Master Builders 09 Oct Victor Da Cunha, Chair - Homes for the South West 22 Oct Jonathan Carr West – LGIU 30 Oct Anne Longfield, Children's Commissioner for England 30 Oct Steve Collins, Chief Executive – Rent Plus
Events and speaking engagements
10 July Future of Children's services lunch, House of Commons 15 July LGIU APPG Summer Reception, House of Commons 19 July South West Leaders Meeting – Speaking 17 Sept Local Partnerships 10th Birthday, House of Lords 25 Sept National Housing Summit - Opening & Q&A alongside Kate Henderson (Chair – Homes England) & Simon Dudley (NHF & Homes England) 25 Sept BBC 3 - People Awards 29 Sept Conservative Home Drinks Reception on the Northern Powerhouse with the Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse and MHCLG – Conservative Party Conference 29 Sept Chairman’s Reception – Conservative Party Conference 29 Sept Conservative Councillors Association Panel – Conservative Party Conference 30 Sept Policy Exchange Fringe Panel- at Conservative Party Conference - 'How can new build homes be green, beautiful and high quality?' 30 Sept Localis Fringe Event 'Nothing Left to Loose, Reframing the Housing Debate' – Panel – Conservative Party Conference 30 Sept LSE Conservative Party Fringe Debate - ‘Pathways to Prosperity: Can all UK Regions Thrive?’ – Conservative Party Conference 30 Sept Dinner with Cratus – Conservative Party Conference
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Councillors’ Forum 31 October 2019
01 Oct Centre for Policy Studies - Panel Discussion, 'Fixing the Care Crisis: Solving Social Care', in association with the charity Independent Age – Conservative Party Conference 09 Oct Peopletoo - Discussion Workshop: Embedding Social Value in All Council Activities 14 Oct County APPG Parliamentary Reception, House of Commons 22 Oct Food Standards Agency Parliamentary Reception – House of Commons 29 Oct National Association of Local Councils – Annual Conference – Speaking
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Agenda Item 4a
Councillors’ Forum
31 October 2019
Children and Young People– report from Cllr Judith Blake CBE (Chair)
Children’s services
Adoption and Special Guardianship
1. Councillor Susie Charles attended a meeting of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board on 15 October, where a range of issues were discussed including kinship care, improving adopter recruitment especially among BAME communities and the modernising permanence programme.
Children going missing
2. In September, the APPG for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults published its report into children going missing from out-of-area care placements. I have written to the Chair of the APPG, Ann Coffey MP, to raise my concerns over the language used in the report publicity, which described councils as "recruiting sergeants" for county lines gangs and implied children in out-of-area placements would inevitably have poor outcomes. Ann has agreed to meet with me to discuss how we might work together going forward to address the findings of the report.
Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Steering Group
3. The Board, alongside the Community Wellbeing and Safer & Stronger Communities Boards have set up a cross-board steering group on children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, which has now met twice. Their role will help to shape and develop a strong position for the LGA on how councils can improve the mental health of our younger generations. ISOS Partnerships have been commissioned to undertake the research, including carrying out field visits to councils up and down the country. We hope to see the findings launched at this year’s National Children and Adult Services Conference.
Special Educational Needs and Disability
4. I have spoken to the press in response to a range of reports over the last three months on SEND, including the announcement of £700 million in additional funding for council high needs budgets, as well as the failed judicial review of SEND funding and the Local Government Ombudsman’s report on the provision of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
5. I have emphasised that while the additional funding is welcome, both the judicial review and findings of the LGO’s report show that the SEND system continues to be under significant pressure and that the forthcoming review of the SEND system, also announced as part of the spending round, must be used to get a clear picture of what is driving the increased demand for support and what can be done to address it.
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Councillors’ Forum
31 October 2019
Children’s Health
6. In July, the LGA held their annual conference on childhood obesity, showcasing innovative whole council approaches to tackling childhood obesity and sharing the latest research and findings from experts. Over 90 delegates attended.
7. In July, Councillor Cook attended the national Youth Voice event and spoke on the theme of ‘Moving to Independence’, outlining the support councils offer to young people and the importance of increase young people’s independence and helping them access meaningful employment and good quality housing.
8. In October we briefed MPs ahead of a debate on the reduction of health visitor numbers (that is due to take place on Wednesday 23 October). Our briefing highlighted the need for a properly resourced, integrated workforce plan for the Healthy Child Programme and the LGA’s commitment to working with the NHS and Health Education England to improve the recruitment and retention of qualified health visitors. We highlighted the impact of reductions to the public health grant since 2015 on delivery of the Healthy Child Programme and the positive work councils have done to ensure children receive the help they need despite financial challenges.
Parliamentary Work
9. We have submitted evidence to the Justice Committee's inquiry into children and young people in custody. We highlighted the success of Youth Offending Teams in reducing youth offending, and flagged the significant reductions to the central government grant for YOTs that could threaten this success. We also called improvements in the safety of young offender institutions and secure training centres, and better coordination between the secure estate and councils to make sure young people were well supported when leaving custody.
10. A debate was held in Parliament on 24 July looking at the role and sufficiency of youth services. We briefed MPs ahead of this debate, highlighting the need for sufficient funding to provide young people with the services that they needed, and pointed out that a wide range of services impacted on outcomes for young people, including housing and health and wellbeing services. We also called for some of the existing funding for the National Citizen Service to be devolved to councils to provide year round youth services.
11. We briefed parliamentarians on issues around unregulated accommodation for a debate in Parliament on 15 October. We highlighted reasons for a rise in the use of unregulated provision, including a shortfall in suitable places in registered children's homes, and outlined the ways in which councils assured themselves that placements were suitable for young people. We also emphasised that councils, providers and partners including the police all needed to work together to ensure the safety of young people in all accommodation, especially where these young people may be vulnerable to exploitation.
Key Points
12. We will be issuing an updated position paper for the Bright Futures children's social care campaign at NCASC in November. This will build on the work that we've already done
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Councillors’ Forum
31 October 2019
through the campaign and outline where we will be concentrating our efforts for the next year. We will particularly be looking at early help and making sure children are at the centre of policy making.
13. There has been a lot of coverage recently over councils' use of unregulated accommodation and out-of-area placements for children in care. We are working with Ofsted, the Department for Education and the Association of Directors of Children's Services to identify ways forward. This includes a piece of work to develop a nationwide sufficiency statement for children's social care placements so that we can spot the gaps and understand what provision needs to be developed in the coming years, so that we can support councils to develop this.
Press Releases
14. Since the last forum, I have commented in the following LGA press releases on behalf of the Board: 14.1 LGA responds to Children's Commissioner's manifesto
14.2 LGA responds to National Audit Office's SEND report
14.3 LGA responds to YMCA Report on youth services spending
14.4 LGA responds to Local Government Ombudsman report on education, health and care plans
14.5 LGA responds to Grandparents Plus report on kinship carers
14.6 LGA responds to HMI Prohibition report on children leaving custody
14.7 LGA responds to Education Policy Institute report on unexplained pupil exits
14.8 LGA responds to Ofsted report on home education
14.9 LGA responds to Secretary of State for Education announcement on adoption
Contact officer: Ian Keating Position: Principal Policy Adviser Phone number: 0207 664 3032 E-mail: ian.keating @local.gov.uk
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Agenda Item 4b
Councillors Forum 31 October 2019
City Regions Board - report from Sir Richard Leese CBE (Chair)
Devolution
1. Since the introduction of devolution deals, the City Regions Board has continued to build the case for greater devolution in those areas with a devolution deal and advance the case for devolution to be available to all areas that want it.
2. At its September meeting, the Board agreed its 2019-20 work programme1 which will include a range of activity to progress the LGA’s work on devolution, including:
2.1. Working with the People and Places Board to influence the national devolution agenda, including the devolution white paper announced in the Queen’s Speech.
2.2. Undertaking research to demonstrate the impact of devolution on devolution deal areas since 2014.
2.3. Pursuing a programme of Parliamentary activity, including through select committee evidence and the APPG on reform, decentralisation and devolution, for which the LGA is the secretariat. The work plan for the APPG developed over the summer includes a focus on key issues for the Board such as fiscal devolution and skills and employment. Urban cost pressures 3. In the previous board cycle, the Board undertook work to explore how fiscal devolution might address cost pressures arising particularly in urban areas, to exemplify the case for wider reform across councils in England. Over the summer, the LGA has engaged with Core Cities, Key Cities and London Councils to consider how this work can be advanced and the Board will consider a proposal for further work in this area as its next meeting. Devolution support 4. The Board has continued to oversee the LGA’s devolution support offer in partnership with the People and Places Board. During the reported period, the LGA were represented at MHCLG roundtables on the future role of cities in economic growth and convened several meetings of the combined authority senior officer networks. Employment and skills
5. The Board will continue to work with the People and Places Board to take forward the LGA’s lobbying work on skills and employment over the coming board cycle. This will include an enhanced policy focus on youth participation, an issue discussed at the Board in September.
1 http://lga.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g4253/Public%20reports%20pack%2017th-Sep- 2019%2013.00%20City%20Regions%20Board.pdf?T=10
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6. To highlight the importance of good careers advice and guidance and to make a case for improvements to the system, the LGA issued a press release ahead of the GCSE results day in August. This coincided with quarterly data release showing a spike in NEET figures, which gained traction from national press.
Industrial Strategy and local growth
7. Over the coming cycle, the Board will continue to seek to ensure the key elements of Government’s national economic strategy – Local Industrial Strategies, UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the LEP Review, fit with the priorities and ambitions of urban areas and that councils are well placed to support sustainable and inclusive growth.
Climate change
8. At its first meeting of the current cycle, the Board discussed the LGA’s developing work on climate change and the role of urban authorities in tackling this agenda, within the context of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The Board will continue to provide insight from urban areas to inform the LGA’s wider climate change activity.
Contact officer: Rebecca Cox Position: Principal Policy Adviser Phone no: 020 7187 7384 E-mail: [email protected]
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Councillors’ Forum
31 October 2019
Community Wellbeing Board – report from Cllr Ian Hudspeth (Chair)
Conferences, meetings and external events
Reform and funding of adult social care
1. On 23 October, LGA Chairman, Cllr James Jamieson, and I met the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, to discuss a range of issues, with long term funding for adult social care and public health, and the Government’s commitment in the Queen’s Speech to bring forward proposals to reform adult social care, high on the agenda.
Public health
2. On 21 October I met with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care, Jo Churchill, and discussed the vital contribution of public health to the Government’s prevention agenda.
NHS Assembly
3. On 5 September I attended the NHS Assembly at the NHS Expo in Manchester
The role of the voluntary sector in health and wellbeing
4. On 15 July Cllr Richard Kemp contributed to a panel discussion on the role of voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE) in helping councils address their financial challenges at a national event organised by University of Sheffield, DCMS, and Bristol and Plymouth councils.
5. On 30 July, Cllr Claire Wright represented the CWB at an NHS England national workshop on the role of VCSE in integrated care systems.
Childhood obesity
6. On July 17th, I chaired our annual conference on childhood obesity, showcasing innovative whole council approaches to tackling childhood obesity and sharing the latest research and findings from experts. Over 90 delegates attended.
Scrutiny of health services
7. On 18 July, I gave the keynote plenary address at the Centre for Public Scrutiny national conference on health scrutiny and assurance.
8. On 9 October, Cllr Richard Kemp took part in a panel discussion on autonomy and accountability of NHS providers at the NHS Providers annual conference in Manchester.
Housing and health
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9. Councillor Linda Thomas spoke at a King’s Fund conference on housing and health on 26 September.
Suicide Prevention
10. Councillor Richard Kemp attended the National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group on 21 October.
Autism
11. Cllr Jackie Meldrum attended the Autism Strategy Executive Group on 13 September.
Integrated commissioning
12. On 19 September I took part in a panel discussion on the local government role in integrated commissioning at the Health Service Journal Integrated Care Summit.
CWB Away Day
13. On 27 September the CWB had its annual away day, an informal meeting of the board in which we hear from leaders in health, wellbeing and adult social policy. This year, we had a strong showing from a wide range of speakers including, Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England and Julie Ogley, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services.
Children and Young People’s Mental Health
14. The Board, alongside the Safer and Stronger Communities and Children & Young People Boards have set up a steering group on children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, which has now met twice. They will help to shape and develop a strong position for the LGA on how councils can improve the mental health of this age group. ISOS Partnerships have been commissioned to undertake the research, including carrying out field visits to councils up and down the country. We hope to see the findings launched at this year’s National Children and Adult Services Conference.
Media
15. The following is a selection of some of the media releases we have put out over the last few months covering the Board’s remit:
15.1. We responded to the NHS digital report into rising social care requests
15.2. We responded to the Health Foundation report on young people's future health
15.3. We commented on the Care Quality Commission State of Care report and the Queen’s Speech social care announcement
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15.4. We highlighted the work of local Adult social care services in helping cut half a million unnecessary hospital bed days in the last two years.
15.5. We responded to the National Child Measurement Programme statistics on overweight and obese children and Chief Medical Officer's report on childhood obesity
15.6. We commented on the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) report on extra social care costs for smokers
15.7. Response to latest childhood vaccination coverage statistics
15.8. We commented on the Defence Committee Report into Armed Forces support 'shortcomings'
15.9. We responded to the Independent Age report on free personal care for older people and the Carers UK report on unpaid carers
15.10. We called on the Government to expand the £210m NHS nurses’ training fund to include public health workers
15.11. All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism report calls for better support and services for people with autism in England.
15.12. We responded to the latest Government statistics on suicide , HIV , drug-related deaths and tuberculosis.
15.13. We responded to the evidence based review into NHS Health Checks by the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock.
15.14. We responded to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that the NHS will receive a cash injection of £1.8 billion.
15.15. We responded to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines aimed at improving the wellbeing of unpaid adult carers.
15.16. We responded to the Prime Minister’s announcement on creating a new Office for Veterans’ Affairs.
15.17. We issued a press release warning about the increase in the use of image and performance enhancing drugs
15.18. We responded to the publication of the Government’s green paper on prevention.
15.19. We issued a press release highlighting the LGA’s analysis which shows that the number of children and young people being treated for Type 2 diabetes has rocketed by nearly 50 per cent in just five years
15.20. We responded to the Public Health England announcement that the HPV vaccine will be extended to boys from September 2019.
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15.21. We responded to new analysis by the Alzheimer’s Society on how much people with dementia have had to pay for their care since the social care green paper was first announced in March 2017.
15.22. We publicised the LGA report which highlights how health and wellbeing boards are making a real difference through a wide range of initiatives, including reducing hospital admissions and time spent in hospital, reducing demand for GP appointments, helping thousands of smokers to quit, imposing restrictions on fast food outlets near schools, and reducing unemployment, poverty and poor housing.
Contact officer: Mark Norris Position: Principal Policy Adviser Phone no: 02076643241 Email: [email protected]
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Culture, Tourism and Sport Board – from Cllr Gerald Vernon- Jackson CBE (Chair)
LGA responses 1. Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson responded to the launch of the ‘We are Undefeatable’ Campaign by Sport England and sixteen national health charities. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the value of physical activity to those with long-term health conditions; and the LGA has agreed to support the campaign. Cllr Vernon-Jackson also responded to new research into the value of public parks to our communities.
2. The announcement that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will invest £250 million in cultural infrastructure, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson responded saying the Government is right to recognise that culture is one of the key things that places need if they are to thrive.
3. Responding to the Government’s new fund for local organisations tackling loneliness, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said Councils are ideally placed to lead on social prescribing and tackling loneliness in partnership with voluntary sector organisations, and this funding will help them deliver these vital services.
4. As the Government announced its heritage preservation campaign, announced today, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said We are pleased that the Government has recognised the importance of local heritage. Preserving heritage sites – war memorials, ancient castles and houses - contributes to local priorities by boosting economies, attracting visitors, developing workforce skills and fostering community cohesion.They also play an important role in the regeneration of our town centers and high streets, which councils across the country are leading on.
Tourism Alliance 5. Cllr David Jeffels represented the LGA at a meeting of Tourism Alliance, discussing the implementation of the tourism sector deal. Board Publications 6. At the LGA annual conference, the Board launched two publications:
6.1. Making the most of your museums’ provides advice and best practice for councils wishing to ensure their local museums are delivering against corporate objectives such as economic growth and wellbeing, as well as being entrepreneurial and efficient.
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6.2. ‘Supplying skills for the visitor economy’ sets out the role of councils in creating a pipeline of skills for the local visitor economy, as well as making recommendations for Government, LEPs, and local education providers for taking a ‘Work Local’ approach to skills provision. The recommendations are illustrated by case studies of six areas with an important local visitor economy.
Contact officer: Ian Leete Position: Senior Adviser Phone number: 02076643143 E-mail: [email protected]
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Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board – report from Chairman Cllr David Renard
Conferences Meetings and External Events
1. Cllr David Renard meet with George Freeman MP, Minister of State for Transport on 22 October 2019 to discuss a range of issues including buses, future of mobility, decarbonisation of transport; devolution; and funding.
2. Cllr Darren Rodwell chaired the Housing Advisers Programme (HAP) Learning Event on 15 October 2019. This event brought together councils from across the country to hear about the learning and good practice from those that had been supported in 2018/19 HAP programme.
3. Cllr Adele Morris participated in a panel discussion at the launch of the Localis report on Clean Growth on 22 October 2019.
Publications, statements, press releases, and other correspondence
4. Environment Bill – was published on 15 October and the LGA provided a briefing for member councils setting out the main provisions and reiterating our positions on various elements of the Bill. The LGA has also prepared a 2nd Reading briefing for parliamentarians. These briefings are available on the LGA’s website.
5. Long-term delivery of social and affordable rented housing inquiry - We submitted written evidence to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry into the long-term provision of social and affordable housing. Our submission outlined the savings that the Government could make nationally by investing properly in social housing at scale. We also called for the scrapping of permitted development rights, the reform of right to buy and for councils to have certainty over rent setting. The LGA will give oral evidence to the Inquiry on 5 November.
6. Joint work with the National Housing Federation – we have worked with the National Housing Federation (NHF) and PlaceShapers to support our members to form partnerships where this can benefit all parties. We have published a series of case studies from across the country to share best practice and information about the types of partnership that can work.
7. Parliamentary briefings - we have briefed MPs ahead of the following debates: British house building industry; Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and homelessness
8. Survey of planning departments – the LGA and MHCLG commissioned the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) to carry out a survey of planning departments. 120 councils responded providing a rich picture of how departments of various shapes and sizes view their skills, capacity and longer-term outlook. A high-level overview of the results have been published and more detailed studies have been sent to participating councils.
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9. Social housing regulation and rents policy- we responded to the Regulator of Social Housing consultation on a proposed new Rent Standard from 2020. In it we reiterated our concerns that applying the Rent Standard to local authorities is a step back from giving them local control over income. We also raised concerns that whilst the Rent Standard describes a process that allows the Regulator to grant an exemption to private registered providers where the Rent Standard would risk their financial viability, there is no mention of exemptions or flexibility for local authority landlords.
10. Private rented sector – MHCLG has published two consultations. The first sought views on widening access to a register of rogue landlords and property agents. The second related to implementation of the Government’s decision to reform tenancies by removing the option of Section 21 evictions. The LGA has responded to both consultations, and our responses are published on our website
11. All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing in the North – we responded to the APPG’s inquiry into property standards in the North’s Private Rented Sector (PRS), outlining a number of approaches that councils are taking to improve quality of the PRS, and making the case for new powers and sustainable funding that would enable them to do more.
12. Specialist Supported Housing - The LGA, Association of Directors of Adult Social Care (ADASS), NHS England and NHS Improvement, supported by the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN), have published a joint briefing for clinical commissioning groups (CCG), local authority learning disability commissioners and Directors of Housing in response to the Social Housing Regulator’s statements and findings related to a number of specialist housing providers. The regulator is concerned about the long-term financial viability of specialist supported housing (SSH) providers who rely solely or heavily on the lease-based model of housing supply. Following a roundtable in September we will issue further advice on how commissioners approach the situation and what type of solutions and reassurance may be available to them regarding this much needed type of accommodation.
13. Accessible Housing – the Chancellor announced in the Spending Round that MHCLG will consult on mandatory accessible housing standards in building regulations, ensuring new properties are built with good accessibility standards to reflect the needs of older and disabled people. We agree that new homes should be accessible or easily adaptable for people of all ages and needs and it is vital that national rules incentivise the building of accessible homes. We will be responding to the consultation.
14. Working together with housing associations – Following a series of regional events held with the National Housing Federation, the LGA and NHF have jointly published a report, “Housing associations and local authorities working together to end homelessness”, which highlights good practice in joint working around housing delivery and homelessness prevention. This report is now available on our website.
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15. Councils in charge: making the case for electric charging investment – published in August 2019 this guide is intended for councillors to help them understand the current landscape for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and engage with their officers, colleagues and the wider public with more confidence.
16. Press releases – We have issued a number of proactive press releases generating substantial national and trade media coverage: Bus journeys fall by more than 300 million in five years Climate change goals hinge on funding and powers for local areas; housing crisis – spending on B&Bs for homeless rockets since 2010; boom in barns converted into homes fuels rural fears; right to buy rules undermining council efforts to boost housebuilding; a primary school’s worth of children face becoming homeless this summer
17. We have also made public statements on the following: Queen's Speech: LGA responds to Environment Bill; CIEH environmental health campaign; funding for councils to improve air quality; responding to Public Works Loans Board rate rise; responding to latest house building statistics; responding to ONS figures on the number of deaths of homeless people; responding to government planning announcement; responding to launch of No Homeless Veterans Campaign; responding to NHF ‘State of the nation’ housing crisis report; responding to New Economics Foundation research on affordable homes; responding to Homes for Later Living report; responding to latest homelessness statistics; responding to Crisis’ Cover the Cost campaign to prevent homelessness; responding to new planning rules showing how developers’ cash is spent on communities; responding to Children’s Commissioner report on homeless children; responding to the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) review; responding to HCLG Committee report on modern methods of construction; responding to government planning proposals; responding to PAC report on planning and housing market; responding to Prime Minister’s housing announcement; responding to calls to repeal Vagrancy Act; responding to local government homelessness commission report; responding to Habinteg’s accessible homes report; responding to affordability report by Affordable Housing Commission; LGA responds to Waste and Resources Strategy consultation response from DEFRA; LGA responds to RAC report on driver fines for idling engines
Upcoming publications events and other highlights
18. Climate Change – the LGA has written to the Secretaries of State for MHCLG, BEIS and DEFRA, seeking a cross Whitehall/LGA task force to address the delivery issues of meeting net zero carbon emissions. The LGA is also running a Leadership Essentials event on climate emergency in November.
19. Compulsory purchase – we are running a technical masterclass for local authorities on understanding compulsory purchase orders and compensation in November. We also undertook a joint LGA/Shelter survey of local authorities earlier in the year to identify challenges around the use of compulsory purchase powers to acquire land for residential development. A report on the findings will be published in the Autumn.
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20. Probity in planning – we have commissioned an update to the 2013 Probity in Planning guide for councillors and officers which will be published in November. This useful resource will support councillors to get involved in discussions on plan making and on applications, on behalf of their communities in a fair, impartial and transparent way.
21. Future Homes Standard consultation – the government has published a consultation which looks at how the government’s commitment to reducing emissions can be achieved through new homes building guidance. This is the first of a number of consultations. It focuses on energy efficiency and ventilation. The aim is to bring the Standard in 2025, but there will be revisions to the Part L and F standards proposed to be implemented in 2020. One of the proposals is to remove the ability of local planning authorities to set higher energy efficiency standards than those in the Building Regulations. We will be responding to the consultation.
22. National design guide – the government has published a national design guide which is a high level document that includes examples of best practice design and outlines the considerations that will feed into a proposed National Model Design Code, to be consulted on early in 2020. We will be responding to the consultation.
23. Local Homelessness Strategies – our guidance for local authorities on formulating, delivering and governing local homelessness strategies has now been completed, and is due for publication in the Autumn. This is intended to support local authorities, as well as inform Government work to reform the structures that support partnership working and accountabilities in homelessness.
24. Leadership essentials homelessness– the LGA has launched a leadership essentials programme focusing on homelessness. It is aimed at leaders, deputy leaders, and relevant portfolio holders, and is designed to support political leadership in reducing the risks and levels of homelessness in local areas. The session will take place in December 2019.
25. Out of area placements – The LGA is nearing completion of its protocol, outlining the actions to be taken by councils when moving households from one council area to another. This work was carried out by a steering group, comprised of local housing authorities and children's services, to develop an approach whereby the LGA could add value in supporting positive working between councils in a way that best supports families and services.
26. Housing Adviser Programme (HAP) update – We launched the 2019/20 programme in July and are now funding 14 successful projects, supporting more than 70 councils to meet their local housing need via direct grant funding through which councils can secure specialist expertise. The projects are diverse and wide ranging, covering our key themes of housing supply, housing strategy, homelessness and planning. We also ran an event for councils to embed and share learning from projects funded in 2018/19.
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27. Housing Springboard programme – We will soon be launching a programme of masterclass events, developed and delivered by the Housing & Finance Institute to investigate the different options available to them in order to enable housebuilding. It brings councils together with industry experts to provide business, technical and leadership support relevant to their needs.
28. Leadership essentials housing – the LGA has launched a leadership essentials programme focusing on housing. It is aimed at leaders, deputy leaders, and relevant portfolio holders, and is designed to help participants develop their leading role in shaping the local housing market to meet the needs of people and places. The session will take place in January 2020 and is now fully booked.
29. Traffic Regulation Orders reform – The Government is examining the legislation in this area and how it could be reviewed. The LGA has called for the publication requirements for Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) to be reformed. Councils are currently required to publish each TRO in a local newspaper. This requirement applies even if authorities don’t have a local newspaper and also means that publishers can charge a premium for public notices. The LGA has repeatedly lobbied the government to update the requirements to allow online notifications. The LGA will participate in this review and encourage the Government to make the necessary changes.
30. Bus strategy – The Government has announced its intentions to produce a national bus strategy in order to provide a focal point for its policies and investments in the bus industry. It is an acknowledgement from Government that there is a need to produce more joined up support to address the reduction of patronage and services in the bus industry. The LGA has longstanding asks connected to supporting the bus industry:
30.1. Closing the concessionary fares gap which is £652m a year according to LGA analysis.
30.2. Devolving Bus Services Operators Grant (BSOG) to councils.
30.3. Allowing councils outside London to enforce moving traffic offences. Our findings of the recent survey of councils on Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 can be found here.
31. Pavement Parking – The Department for Transport has completed a review of pavement parking but has not yet published the results. Currently in London there is a default ban on pavement parking but councils can choose to allow it in designated areas. The position is the opposite in the rest of England, it is default allowed except in areas where it is specifically banned. The LGA has called for the law to be harmonised across England with the London position being used. The LGA is also calling for simplification of the process to create exemptions. The Transport Select Committee has made the same call and DfT is obliged to respond to this by November. We will expect their response to include details of the Government’s intended course of action.
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32. ANPR for cycle lanes – The Department for Transport’s cycle safety review proposed allowing ANPR enforcement against cars parking in cycle lanes. This is currently not allowed as a legacy of the ban on parking tickets being issued by CCTV. The Government has now announced its intention to allow CCTV enforcement for these contraventions, but it has not yet proposed the required amendments to the secondary legislation.
33. High streets and town centre funding – The Spending Round confirmed a £3.6 billion Towns Fund, which includes a £1bn increase in investment for the Stronger Towns Fund and a £325m increase in funding for the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF). Following this announcement, an additional 50 places were announced that would be invited to work with the Government to develop a business case to access FHSF money and more recently, 100 towns were announced where the Government want to work with local areas to develop town deals with up to £25 million available in each town. A prospectus setting out the application process is expected soon. The LGA continues to support member councils on their town centres and high streets upcoming events include:
33.1. Two 2 day residential learning events on 3/4 December at Warwick University and 30th/31st January in Loughborough for lead councillors under the Leadership Essentials programme
33.2. A joint conference with Revo, who are a membership organisation for commercial property owners in February 2020.
Contact officer: Eamon Lally Position: Principal Policy Adviser Phone number: 0207 664 3132 E-mail: [email protected]
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Improvement and Innovation Board – from Cllr Peter Fleming OBE (Chairman)
LGA membership survey 2019
1. The LGA's Perceptions Survey is an annual survey of member authorities. It is conducted to measure: councils’ engagement with the LGA and its offer; their view of the LGA and specifically their views on and experiences of the support and resources it offers relating to sector-led improvement. The LGA will be contacting councils as part of telephone perceptions survey and I would be grateful if you could take part if contacted.
Public notices
2. We as a Board are asking the Government to look again at the issue of Public Notices and the burden these have on councils, significantly, the financial implications. As part of this work, we will assessing the impact of this statutory requirement and investigating how it could be done better to ease the financial burden on councils. The survey is still active and I encourage all members of the Forum to ensure their councils participate.
Commercial skills training
3. I hosted the Commercial skills for officers alumni conference on 14 October, the pilot event of the alumni support offer to officers that have taken part in the Commercial skills for officers training. This was a national event at Smith Square with speakers and commercial surgeries across a range of commercial themes.
Leadership Essentials
4. I would also like to remind members of the LGA’s brilliant Leadership Essential Courses, which are aimed at both experienced and newly elected Councillors. New programmes have been launched for 2019/20 that include audit committees, building safety, and creating better high streets and town centres. Further information on booking on to these can be found here. New Cyber Self-Assessment Tool 5. In partnership with the sector, the Board has developed a new online self-assessment tool which builds on the previous stocktake. This is designed to support local authorities in evaluating their cyber security on an ongoing basis. The tool will help local authorities to: assess what arrangements are currently in place, identify good practice within the council or shared service, and identify risks and areas for improvement. The tool is now open and will close at the end of November 2019. Following this it will be available twice a year.
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Member Peer Conference 6. The LGA’s Member Peer Conference is taking place on 14th November in Milton Keynes. The Conference is an opportunity to update member peers on our latest Sector-Led Improvement (SLI) offer, thank them for their continued contribution, provide opportunities to grow their skills as member peers and to network with party political and cross-party colleagues. Over 100 member peers are expected to attend. CfPS Governance Review 7. The Centre for Public Scrutiny is working with a range of bodies to enhance councils’ understanding of how they can diagnose and reduce the risk of failure in corporate governance, and what success factors can point the way to greater strength in this area. The Vice Chair and I will be taking part in the interview stages of this work, and the LGA will providing resources for the research. Further information can be found here. Sector Led Improvement 2018/19 report 8. The LGA published its Sector Led Improvement (SLI) report for 2018/19 in August. This is required by MHCLG as part of the Memorandum of Understanding for the delivery of SLI. The report demonstrated the substantial impact that SLI has had and showcased the main areas in which the LGAs SLI offer has helped council to improve and innovate. Transformation and Innovation Exchange 9. Over the past few months, members of the board have formed an editorial board for the Transformation and Innovation Exchange (TIEx) This new resource brings into one place a range of case studies, guidance and other resources about transformation, innovation and efficiency. It also includes a self-assessment tool for councils to help identify areas for further improvement. The editorial board has helped refine and simplify the efficiency model and user interface of the tool and comprises. Members of the editorial Board include Cllr Ron Woodley (Former deputy Chair of the IIB); Cllr Vince Maple (Member of the IIB); Cllr Paul Bettison OBE – (Former Member of the IIB); Cllr Joy Allen (Member of the IIB); Mayor Dave Hodgson MBE (Member of the IIB); and myself.
Identifying local services helpful to combatting loneliness 10. Work is underway with a number of pilot areas to identify and publish information about local and hyper-local services that are especially helpful to lonely people. This project was approved by the IIB last year and forms part of the national strategy to combat loneliness. The work is funded with a grant of £150,000 from DCMS. Back office processes, a data standard and online tools are in development to support the discovery of local services matched to citizens’ needs, eligibility and locality. Learning is being captured to support wider take-up in future years. Press and external communications 11. Since the last Forum, I have commented on the following LGA press releases and external communications on behalf of the Board:
9.1 LGA responds to Ombudsman report on complaints 2018-19
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9.2 Councils save more than £100 million through LGA sector-led improvement
9.3 #CouncilsCan: social media initiative promotes local services ahead of the spending round
12. A reminder that our Sector Led improvement work is also detailed in the LGA’s First magazine.
Contact officer: Dennis Skinner Position: Head of Improvement Phone number: 02076643017 Email: [email protected]
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People & Places Board – report from Cllr Kevin Bentley (Chairman)
Devolution
1. Making a strong case for more devolution outside of urban areas has been a key focus for the People and Places Board since its inception. Devolution to non-metropolitan areas will remain a central focus for the Board over the coming year, as reflected in the Board’s work programme agreed in September.1
2. The Board will continue to advance the views and priorities of non-metropolitan England to shape the national devolution debate and influence government policy development. In particular, the Board will seek to provide a strong voice for non-metropolitan England in supporting the LGA’s wider work on the government’s devolution white paper, announced in the Queen’s Speech.
3. Key activity in support of this will include:
3.1. Pursuing a programme of Parliamentary activity, including through select committee evidence and the APPG on reform, decentralisation and devolution, for which the LGA is the secretariat. The APPG held its first meeting of the current cycle in July, which focused on the future of non-metropolitan England.
3.2. Commissioning research that will seek to explore how greater control of financial and fiscal levers might operate in non-metropolitan England. Localis have been appointed to deliver this research and will be presenting at the next Board.
3.3. Working with the City Regions Board to steer the LGA’s wider devolution policy development and campaigning activity.
Digital connectivity
4. Louise Lancaster, Joint Head of the Barrier Busting Task Force in the DCMS Digital Infrastructure team presented to the Board on the Government’s consultation to reform planning regulation to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage. At the time of writing, a formal submission to the consultation is with the Board for clearance.
5. The LGA has launched a councillor’s guide to digital connectivity. The guide, drafted in consultation with mobile network operators and broadband providers, explores how councillors can help better connect local areas and includes hints, tips and case studies from those who have undertaken work to help improve their communities’ connectivity.
1 http://lga.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g4258/Public%20reports%20pack%2011th-Sep- 2019%2011.00%20People%20Places%20Board.pdf?T=10 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ www.local.gov.uk Telephone 020 7664 3000 Email [email protected] Chief Executive: Mark Lloyd Local Government Association company number 11177145 Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government company number 03675577
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Rural Land Management
6. The findings of the Board’s research on councils’ role in the future of rural land management have provided an excellent platform on which to engage Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The LGA is now a member of several DEFRA land management policy sounding groups and will feedback progress to the Board.
Employment and skills
7. The Board will work with the City Regions Board to take forward the LGA’s lobbying work on skills and employment over the coming board cycle. This will include an enhanced policy focus on youth participation, an issue that was discussed by the Board in September.
8. To shine a light on the importance of good careers, advice and guidance and make a case for improvements to the system, the LGA issued a press release ahead of the GCSE results day in August. This also coincided with NEET quarterly data release showing a spike in figures, which gained some traction from national press.
Local growth
9. Over the coming year, the Board will continue to seek to ensure the key elements of Government’s national economic strategy – Local Industrial Strategies, UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the LEP Review, fit with the priorities and ambitions of non- metropolitan authorities and that councils are well placed to support sustainable and inclusive growth. An MHCLG official has been invited to the next meeting of the Board to discuss the Stronger Towns Fund and its application to towns in non-metropolitan areas.
Contact officer: Rebecca Cox Position: Principal Policy Adviser Phone no: 020 7187 7384 E-mail: [email protected]
18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ www.local.gov.uk Telephone 020 7664 3000 Email [email protected] Chief Executive: Mark Lloyd Local Government Association company number 11177145 Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government company number 03675577
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Resources Board – report from Cllr Richard Watts (Chair)
Local Government Finance
2019 Spending Round
1. Ahead of the September Spending Round we stepped up our lobbying supporting the case for local government as part of our #Councilscan campaign. This included continuing to press the need to meet the funding gap facing councils, a major survey of councils and the savings they have made since the last spending review (the results of this are still being analysed) and analysis of variations in costs of children’s services between councils to show that these can be explained by external factors.
2. On 4 September, the Chancellor delivered the 2019 Spending Round setting out funding for government departments and public services for 2020/21, which included a funding package of more than £3.5 billion for councils. On the day of the announcement, we issued a briefing providing a summary of the key announcements alongside our view on the proposals, and a media statement which has been widely covered.
3. With the full Spending Review now expected to be in 2020 we are continuing our work preparing for it by building the case for local government and gathering evidence of how local government is a ‘good investment’ by generating savings in public spending.
Business rates retention and fair funding review
4. The implementation of further business rates retention and the Fair Funding Review has been postponed to April 2021. We will continue to work with the Government to ensure they are introduced in a transparent way through extensive consultation with local government. The political Task and Finish Group on these two reforms, which I chair, will continue to meet to discuss the LGA’s own policy direction on this.
5. Following the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government consultation on business rates retention last year, we commissioned LG Futures to prepare an Excel based illustrative model showing how the proposed alternative system might work. The model is illustrative because it is based on currently available data and decisions have still to be taken on the data to be used and how authorities may be rewarded under the scheme.
Audit issues 6. In September, Resources Board again discussed the issue of delays to the completion of external audits of local authorities for 2018/19. On the Board’s behalf I wrote to the Local Government Minister at MHCLG to highlight the issue and seeking assurances that local authorities will not be penalised for delays beyond their control. We are now calling for the audit deadline to be put back in subsequent years. I also wrote to the Welfare Delivery Minister at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to seek assurance that councils would not be penalised for delays to the audits of councils’ housing benefits claims.
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7. Earlier in the year we responded to the National Audit Office (NAO) consultation on the principles of the new Local Audit in England Code of Practice. The NAO has now published its response to the consultation, which agreed with many of the points we made, and also launched a consultation on the draft of the new code. The Board will be asked to agree a response to the consultation on the draft code at its next meeting.
8. The Secretary of State announced a review of the audit framework that will look at the effectiveness of current audit arrangements, the transparency of reporting, whether auditors are making full use of reporting powers and the gap between taxpayers’ expectations and what auditing delivers. The review, led by Sir Tony Redmond, is also seeking views on the quality of local authority financial reporting and external audit. Following consideration by Leadership Board and the Improvement and Innovation Board of the broader issues, the next Resources Board will consider a detailed response to the review.
Public Works Loans Board
9. In October, HM Treasury announced a 1 per cent increase in the Public Works Loans Board’s (PWLB) interest rate for new loans. This could cost councils an extra £70 million in the next 12 months. Officers have discussed the issue with officials from HM Treasury and MHCLG and we have expressed concerns over the impact this will have on the financial viability of capital schemes, including vital council house building projects, as these may have to be cancelled. Councils will be looking for ways of safeguarding their capital programmes and may wish to consider the revised offer from the UK Municipal Bonds agency.
Workforce
Tackling recruitment and retention challenges
10. The 2019 Memorandum of Understanding with MHCLG gives the workforce team an objective to “identify the 5 occupations with the most significant recruitment and retention problems and target advice and support on those areas”. The team used the annual workforce survey to identify the occupations and has developed the following list: Planning;Social work; Legal; Information and Communications Technology; and Building Control.
11. We are pleased to be able to report that the main focus of our work will be a £1m plus contract that has been agreed with Government Equalities Office to run a series of ‘returner’ programmes targeted at getting people who have formerly worked in certain hard to recruit professions back into work. Starting later this year we will be running two return to social work programmes, one aimed at those who have been out of the profession for less than five years and one for those who have been out for 5-10 years; a return to IT programme, return to planning and a lighter touch return to legal programme. We will keep members up to date with the programmes as they develop.
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Councillors’ Forum
31 October 2019
Pay negotiations for mainstream staff
12. UNISON, GMB and Unite (the three trade unions representing the main bulk of the local government workforce) lodged their 2020 pay claim on 24 July. The claim is for a 10% pay increase, an additional day’s leave and a two-hour reduction in the working week. Councils in each of the nine English regions, plus Wales and N Ireland were consulted at regional pay consultation briefings during September and October. Each event was led by colleagues from the LGA’s Workforce team. Eight of the eleven elected members of the National Employers’ Side attended at least one event (Cllrs Roger Phillips, Richard Wenham, Sian Timoney, Sharon Taylor OBE, Keith House, Goronwy Edwards, David Poole and John Hussey).
13. Each event was well attended by members and officers from most councils in each region. Attendees’ views were sought on the unions’ claim as well as broader issues including the timing of when a pay offer might be made. On this point specifically, there is a consensus that the level of uncertainty currently pertaining to national politics is such that the National Employers should await the outcome of the much anticipated General Election. Not least because of the two main parties’ policy positions on the level of the National Living Wage in the short to medium term which could have a direct impact on lower pay in the sector.
14. The National Employers will be meeting on 5 November in order to receive feedback from each of the eleven pay consultation briefings and to consider next steps.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
15. The LGA conference on equality, diversity and inclusion was suggested by Cllr Taylor as part of her role as “LGA Champion” on these issues in local government. The event was held on 1 October with speakers from across all public services sharing good practice and was attended by over 100 delegates. Cllr Taylor chaired the day and ran a session at the end asking for pledges of what delegates would do in their councils to improve or raise the profile of equality and inclusion issues in their council. LGA collected this information and will work with Cllr Taylor to plan next year’s activities for this strand of work. Under Cllr Taylor’s guidance we have spent this year on activities to raise the profile of workforce equality, diversity and inclusion issues with councils so that they will be taking account of it in their transformation and workforce plans. For example case studies, articles in First magazine by Cllr Taylor, twitter campaigns to join in equalities issues like mental health awareness week and gender pay gap reporting. We hope the information gathered from the event will enable us to develop more ways of working directly with councils to help them be more inclusive employers, e.g. by developing a disability passport, carers passport and guidance on gender neutral language in the recruitment process.
Apprenticeships 16. The team launched the second phase of the Apprenticeships Accelerator Programme (AAP) to councils in June. This programme provides on-site consultancy support to help councils spend their apprenticeship levy getting the best Return On Investment. AAP is grant funded for a second year by the Education & Skills Agency. Following an open application process there are 34 projects covering 37 councils that will receive support in 2019/2020.
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Workforce data improvements
17. As part of a programme of improvements to availability of workforce data we have launched an infographic document with handy statistics.
EU Funding and Successor Arrangements
18. Resources Board lead members received an update from MHCLG who reiterated the deal and no deal preparations for the European Regional Development Fund aspect of the European Structural and Investment Fund. They also outlined the situation for European Territorial Cooperation funds.
19. The LGA continues to lobby for current EU funding to be spent locally and for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to be a localised, place based fund as part of the LGA’s wider preparedness work for the UK’s exit from the EU. Through membership of the Growth Programme Board and press work, we continue to highlight the impact of a gap between the end of the ESIF programme and the delayed start of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Contact officer: Sarah Pickup Position: Deputy Chief Executive Phone no: 02076643109 Email: [email protected]
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Councillors’ Forum 31 October 2019
Safer & Stronger Communities Board– Councillor Simon Blackburn (Chair)
Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Conference
1. In October, I chaired a LGA conference on tackling anti-social behaviour. The event focused on sharing best practice with officers and elected members and discussing different approaches to tackling anti-social behaviour locally. We had a wide range of local government speakers, as well as representatives from the Home Office, and we were joined by our guest speaker Dame Vera Baird, the new Victim’s Commissioner. The LGA will continue to promote best practice examples and case studies and we continue to update community safety teams regularly.
Fire Services Management Committee
Strategic Resilience Board
2. Cllr Ian Stephens, Chair of the Fire Services Management Committee, and Cllr Les Byrom from the Committee, attended the Strategic Resilience Board. A range of issues were discussed including Brexit, industrial action and flooding.
LGA/NFCC Awaydays in July and October
3. The Lead Members of the FSMC met with the Chair and senior officers of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) in July and October to discuss issues affecting the service, including the Spending Review and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services recommendations for the service. These are informal meetings and will be happening regularly throughout the year.
Senior Sector Group
4. Cllr Ian Stephens, Chair of the Fire Services Management Committee, Cllr Nick Chard, Deputy Chair of the Fire Services Management Committee, and Cllr Richard Chattaway, member of the Fire Services Management Committee, attended the Senior Sector Group where the spending round and the future Spending Review were discussed.
Her Majesties Inspectorate for Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Chiefs and Chairs event
5. Cllr Nick Chard, Deputy Chair of the Fire Services Management Committee, attended the events where results and recommendations from the second tranche of inspection reports were discussed. The State of Fire and Rescue report was also discussed and is expected in December.
HMICFRS External Reference Group
6. Cllr Ian Stephens, Chair of the Fire Services Management Committee, and Fiona Twycross, Vice- Chair of the Fire Services Management Committee, attended the Group. Key issues for the sector were discussed including the second cycle of inspections expected next year.
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Agenda Item 4i
Councillors’ Forum 31 October 2019
National Fire Chiefs Council Strategic Engagement Group
7. Cllr Ian Stephens, Chair of the Fire Services Management Committee, attended this meeting with senior NFCC officials and officers from across the devolved services. The Group discussed up- coming programmes for improvement and some projects for sign-off.
FGM
National FGM Centre Advisory Group
8. In October, Cllr Anita Lower on behalf of the SSCB chaired the National FGM Centre’s Advisory Group. The Group heard from the Centre on the issues facing the Centre on funding. The Centre’s funding from DfE is due to end in March 2020, members made a number of suggestions for further work on this issue and have called for an extraordinary meeting on the 3 December to discuss this further.
Licensing, Regulation and Water Safety
Trading standards
9. In October I met with Lord Toby Harris, Chair of National Trading Standards (NTS) to hear about key issues for the organisation. Discussions focused on the forthcoming consumer White Paper, funding for NTS’s work at ports as well as priorities for the next year.
Mental Health in the Community
Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Steering Group
10. The Board, alongside the Community Wellbeing and Children & Young People Boards have set up a cross-board steering group on children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, which has now met twice. Their role will help to shape and develop a strong position for the LGA on how councils can improve the mental health of our younger generations. ISOS Partnerships have been commissioned to undertake the research, including carrying out field visits to councils up and down the country. We hope to see the findings launched at this year’s National Children and Adult Services Conference.
Media Roundup
11. Since the last Forum, I have given comments in the following press releases on behalf of the Board:
11.1 LGA responds to introduction of Domestic Abuse Bill to Parliament
11.2 LGA responds to new legal duty to tackle serious violent crime
11.3 800 per cent increase in child modern slavery referrals made by councils
11.4 Queen's speech: LGA responds to serious violence bill
11.5 LGA responds to Domestic Abuse Bill and new statutory duty on councils
11.6 LGA responds to report recommending new approach to tackling extremism
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11.7 Toxic skin lightening creams warning amid industry boom
11.8 LGA responds to CIEH environmental health campaign
11.9 LGA responds to Prime Minister's pledge to include Domestic Abuse Bill in Queen's Speech
11.10 LGA responds to latest knife crime figures
Contact officer: Mark Norris Position: Principal Policy Advisor Phone no: 020 7664 3241 Email: [email protected]
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Agenda Item 5 Councillors’ Forum
31 October 2019
Note of last Councillors' Forum meeting
Title: Councillors' Forum
Date: Thursday 18 July 2019
Venue: Westminster Room, 8th Floor, 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ
Attendance An attendance list is attached as Appendix A to this note
Item Decisions and actions
1 Chairman's Update
Cllr James Jamieson welcomed members to the meeting and reminded members to sign in to the register.
2 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Kwasi Kwarteng MP
Cllr Kevin Bentley gave an introduction on the work that the LGA has done for preparing for Brexit and then Cllr Kevin Bentley introduced Kwasi Kwarteng MP.
Kwasi Kwarteng MP updated the Councillors Forum on the work that the government has carried out since the last meeting that Kwasi Kwarteng MP attended back in January 2019. Kwasi Kwarteng MP highlighted the following points The withdrawal agreement is still the best deal that has come to parliament. Talks with the opposition were positive however, there is still not an agreement on how the UK will leave the EU. There is excitement around a new government that will be formed after the Conservative Leadership election. The EU is mistaken on how serious the UK is on leaving the EU, even with a no deal. However, the government’s stance is still to leave with a deal. Both leadership candidates are serious about leaving, with a deal but also leaving by 31 October 2019, as agreed in the extension. Government departments are still working on no deal preparations and are working to ensure stability after leaving the EU. Local government is being heavily consulted and James Brokenshire MP is ensuring local government’s voice is heard in the Brexit process.
Kwasi Kwarteng MP thanked the Councillors Forum for the invitation and stated that local government and the LGA has always been a helpful friend in leaving the EU.
Members made the following comments When will the government repay local government for no deal planning, as many
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authorities have spent millions. Ferry companies are not being open about preparations with ports within local government and with government departments The M25 is a concern with the preparations for no deal planning The shared prosperity fund and local enterprise partnerships need to ensure they are engaging with local government and small businesses.
Kwasi Kwarteng MP There is no current timeline for repaying local authorities for no deal planning. UK ports are in a very strong place for leaving the EU despite the current issues local councils are facing. There should be better conversations between government departments and local councils on local issues, including the M25. However, do always write to Brexit ministers on general issues affecting local authorities, No deal is not the choice of the government and the shared prosperity fund will reflect that to all stakeholders in business The Shared Prosperity will see local government have a greater say in spending, but this is a debate that is still in going
Cllr Kevin Bentley No deal refunds for local government will be raised with James Brokenshire MP. The Shared Prosperity fund will go through local government and will be for the benefit of the UK.
Cllr Kevin Bentley thanked Kwasi Kwarteng MP for attending Councillors’ Forum
3 Chairman’s update
Cllr James Jamieson reported on the new plans for Councillors Forum, including video recording of meetings and Board Chairs to report on board progress.
Members agreed the update.
4 LGA Boards & Portfolio Chair's Reports
Board Chairs and Lead Members gave updates on the following boards:
Children and Young People Board: A briefing was issued ahead of a debate on free schools. The briefing highlighted councils’ key roles in improving schools and our recent analysis that council-maintained schools receive better Ofsted ratings, and improve more quickly, than other types of schools. City Regions Board: The LGA launched Work Local at its Annual Conference in July 2019, in partnership with the City Regions Board. Community Wellbeing Board: The report reflecting on ‘one year on’ from the LGA’s green paper for adult social care wellbeing was published. Culture, Tourism and Sport Board: The Board launched the museums handbook at the culture-led regeneration workshop. It has been received well by the sector and so far been downloaded over 270 times. Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board: Members of the LGA’s EEHT Board held a seminar with senior representatives from Network Rail to discuss their transformation to become a more customer focussed, service driven organisation that puts passengers first.
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Improvement and Innovation Board: The LGA will be asking the Government to look again at the issue of Public Notices. As part of this work, we will assessing the impact of this requirement and investigating how it could be done better. People and Places Board: The Post-Brexit England Commission published its final report on the future of non-metropolitan England at LGA Annual Conference 2019. Resources Board: The board has continued its engagement with the Government and the sector ahead of the 2019 Spending Review. Together with MHCLG, the board has continued to host a series of officer roundtables to support and influence Government's future decision making on funding for the sector. Safer and Stronger Communities Board: The LGA responded to final report on Draft Domestic Abuse Bill.
Members noted the board reports.
5 Digest of the last meeting
Members agreed the notes.
Appendix A -Attendance
Position/Role Councillor Authority
Chairman Cllr James Jamieson Central Bedfordshire Council Vice-Chairman Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE Warwickshire County Council Vice-Chair Cllr Howard Sykes MBE Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Vice-Chair Cllr Marianne Overton Lincolnshire County Council MBE
Members Cllr Robert Alden Birmingham City Council Cllr Peter Fleming OBE Sevenoaks District Council Cllr Kevin Bentley Essex County Council Cllr Nick Chard Kent County Council Cllr Steve Count Cambridgeshire County Council Cllr Peter Golds CBE Tower Hamlets Council Cllr Ian Hudspeth Oxfordshire County Council Cllr Peter Jackson Northumberland Council Cllr Rory Love OBE Folkestone & Hythe District Council Cllr Oonagh Moulton Merton London Borough Council Cllr Colin Noble Suffolk County Council Cllr Roger Phillips Herefordshire Council Cllr Nicholas Rushton Leicestershire County Council Cllr Peter Box CBE Wakefield Metropolitan District Council Cllr Michael Payne Gedling Borough Council Cllr Tom Beattie Corby Borough Council Cllr Judi Billing MBE North Hertfordshire District Council Cllr Simon Blackburn Blackpool Council Cllr Graham Chapman Nottingham City Council Cllr Simon Henig CBE Durham County Council Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe Bradford Metropolitan District Council Cllr Helen Holland Bristol City Council Cllr Peter John OBE Southwark Council Page 43 Agenda Item 5
Cllr John Merry CBE Salford City Council Cllr Sharon Taylor OBE Stevenage Borough Council Cllr Richard Watts Islington Council Cllr Debbie Wilcox Newport City Council Cllr Heather Kidd Shropshire Council Cllr Colin Mann Caerphilly County Borough Council Cllr Alan Seldon Herefordshire Council Cllr Clive Woodbridge Epsom and Ewell Borough Council Cllr Alan Rhodes Nottinghamshire County Council
Apologies Cllr Paul Carter CBE Kent County Council Cllr David Simmonds CBE Hillingdon London Borough Council Cllr Nadeem Ahmed Pendle Borough Council Cllr Sean Anstee CBE Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council Cllr Philip Atkins OBE Staffordshire County Council Cllr Morris Bright MBE Hertsmere Borough Council Cllr Abi Brown Stoke-on-Trent City Council Cllr Geraldine Carter Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Cllr Neil Clarke MBE Rushcliffe Borough Council Cllr David Finch Essex County Council Cllr John Fuller OBE South Norfolk District Council Cllr Charlotte Haitham Wokingham Borough Council Taylor Cllr Mark Hawthorne MBE Gloucestershire County Council Cllr Linda Haysey East Herts Council Cllr Matthew Hicks Suffolk County Council Cllr Donna Jones JP Portsmouth City Council Cllr Rebecca Knox Dorset County Council Cllr Joanne Laban Enfield Council Cllr Teresa O'Neill OBE Bexley Council Cllr Roy Perry Hampshire County Council Cllr Andrew Proctor Norfolk County Council Cllr Lynn Riley Cheshire West and Chester Council Cllr Glen Sanderson JP Northumberland Council Cllr Martin Tett Buckinghamshire County Council Cllr David Williams Hertfordshire County Council Cllr Nick Forbes CBE Newcastle upon Tyne City Council Cllr Anne Western CBE Derbyshire County Council Cllr Judith Blake CBE Leeds City Council Cllr Anntoinette Bramble Hackney London Borough Council Cllr Clare Coghill Waltham Forest London Borough Council Cllr Amy Cross Blackpool Council Cllr Julie Dore Sheffield City Council Cllr Tudor Evans OBE Plymouth City Council Cllr Kate Haigh Gloucester City Council Cllr Paulette Hamilton Birmingham City Council Cllr Richard Henry Stevenage Borough Council Sir Stephen Houghton Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council CBE Cllr Sabia Hussain Slough Borough Council Cllr Brigid Jones Birmingham City Council Cllr Roger Lawrence Wolverhampton City Council Sir Richard Leese CBE Manchester City Council Cllr Vince Maple Medway Council Cllr Alice Perry Islington Council Cllr Bryony Rudkin Ipswich Borough Council Page 44 Agenda Item 5
Cllr Rishi Shori Bury Metropolitan Borough Council Cllr Timothy Swift MBE Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Cllr Linda Thomas Bolton Council Cllr Sian Timoney Luton Borough Council Cllr Iain Malcolm South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Vacancy Labour Cllr Keith Aspden North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service Cllr Abigail Bell Hull City Council Cllr Alan Connett Devon County Council Cllr Jon Hubbard Wiltshire Council Cllr Paul Tilsley CBE Birmingham City Council Cllr Chris White Hertfordshire County Council Vacancy Liberal Democrat Group Cllr Wayne Davies Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Cllr Carolyn Rule Cornwall Council Cllr Chris Townsend Surrey County Council
Page 45 LGA location map
Local Government Association Bus routes – Millbank 18 Smith Square 87 Wandsworth - Aldwych London SW1P 3HZ 3 Crystal Palace - Brixton - Oxford Circus Tel: 020 7664 3131 Fax: 020 7664 3030 For further information, visit the Email: [email protected] Transport for London website Website: www.local.gov.uk at
Public transport Cycling facilities uary 10 minute is well served by The nearest Barclays cycle hire 18 Smith Square Broad Sanctuary walking public 46 Page transport. The nearest racks are in Smith Square. Broadway distance mainline stations are: Victoria Cycle racks are also available at Broadway . Please and Waterloo: the local 18 Smith Square Greateat CCollege St Strutton Ground ge S rutton Ground telephone the LGA tto underground stations are 5 minute St James’s Park (Circle and on 020 7664 3131. walking distance District Lines), Westminster Horseferry (Circle, District and Jubilee Lines), Central London Congestion and Pimlico (Victoria Line) - all Charging Zone Road about 10 minutes walk away. 18 Smith Square is located within the congestion Buses 3 and 87 travel along charging zone. Millbank, and the 507 between
Millbank Victoria and Waterloo stops in For further details, please call Horseferry Road close to Dean 0845 900 1234 or visit the website Bradley Street. at www.cclondon.com Bus routes – Horseferry Road Car parks 507 Waterloo - Victoria Abingdon Street Car Park (off C10 Canada Water - Pimlico - Great College Street)
Victoria Local Government 88 Camden Town - Whitehall Horseferry Road Car Park House - Westminster - Pimlico - Horseferry Road/Arneway Clapham Common Street. Visit the website at