Agenda item

This paper presents the LGA Review Report in response to the Council Motion of 9 October 2014 and asks Members to consider a way forward in addressing the report’s recommendations.

Members gave consideration to the Local Government Association (LGA) Review Report which had been prepared in response to a Council Motion of 9 October 2014. 

A verbal report from the LGA had been given at the previous meeting and Members were now asked to consider the written report and to agree the next steps in addressing the recommendations detailed in the LGA report. 

Officers drew Members’ attention to recommendations r and k within the LGA report. It was acknowledged that the Joint Standards Committee would also have a role to play in addressing some of the recommendations. 

Copies of proposed recommendations were tabled for Members’ consideration [these are included with the online agenda papers for this meeting]

Members agreed on the importance of putting in place an Action Plan which addressed the governance issues within the LGA review, the Peer Review and the Organisational Development Plan.  It was agreed that Group Leaders should be involved in the development of the action plan.  Members requested that the draft action plan be presented to the Audit and Governance Committee for consideration at their next meeting and should include proposed actions, outcomes and timescales.  Members agreed that they would also need to put in place arrangements for the monitoring of the plan.

Members also gave consideration to the establishing and membership of a cross party working group to progress some specific recommendations d-k.  It was agreed that the membership of this working group should comprise Group Leaders and a representative of the Independent Members.

It was agreed that all Members of Council should have knowledge of the LGA review report and that the Action Plan should make reference as to how this would best be achieved, for example this may involve a meeting for all Members facilitated by a representative from the LGA.

Resolved:  (i)      That the Local Government Association (LGA)

                             report be received.

                   (ii)      That, in line with the LGA recommendation

(recommendation r),  officers be instructed to develop one overall action plan that links the governance issues covered within the LGA Review, Peer Review and Organisational Development Plan.  This is to be reported back to the February meeting of the Audit and Governance Committee, with a view to the committee reviewing, amending, approvingand considering how best to monitor this plan, and that Group Leaders be involved in the development of this report. The action plan to set out clearly the proposed action, responsibility and, where possible, the measure of success. (It was noted that a number of recommendations may be best placed being considered elsewhere e.g. Joint Standards Committee).

                   (iii)     That, as part of this action plan, in line with

recommendation (k) of the LGA report, a cross party working group be established to take forward some specific recommendations (recommendations d-k).  This work to commence immediately.

                   (iv)    That the membership of the Cross Party

Working Group be Group Leaders and a representative of the Independent Members.  For the avoidance of doubt, the report of the Cross Party Working Group is to be reported back to the Audit and Governance Committee as part of resolution (ii) above.

(v)     That the LGA review report be formally circulated to all Council Members.

Reason:     To progress work in addressing the recommendations arising from the LGA review.