Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

The Leader presented the report to Members.

He advised Members that the report sought the support to bring forward the first stage to enable the Leicestershire to demonstrate that they could work as a combined authority and that all nine Councils needed to agree.

He highlighted to Members the three areas that were to be proposed which were transport, planning and skills. He stated that as the district grew all nine authorities would need to work together to ensure that the transport infrastructure was in place, that there was the opportunity for local residents to continue to improve on their skills for a better quality of life and that the neighbouring authorities talked to and co-operated with each other as to where housing and development would take place.

He informed Members that there were a number of proposals across the Country, but he was committed to the Leicestershire model, adding that should the proposal go ahead it would almost certainly provide a financial injection to the district and that following recent consultations there was strong support for a combined authority, but it did not mean that each authority would lose its own sovereignty.

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that Leicestershire didn't have an option as both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire were already attempting to combine.

Councillor R D Bayliss agreed with Councillor T J Pendleton adding that there was no reason not to.

Councillor A V Smith stated that she was happy with the proposals and that it was the way forward.

The Chief Executive advised Members that the Government required a governance review and scheme to be drawn up and that the proposals would benefit the district post 2028 in locating were future development should go. She informed Members that this was due to the urban areas of the County being unable to take any further housing, adding that it would allow the authority some control on the volume, speed and area of growth. She highlighted to Members that they were being asked to recommend the delegation of authority to herself in consultation with the Leader to make minor amendments to the submission. She assured that anything that was more substantial would go back to Members. She also assured Members that a joint scrutiny committee would be established with one non executive member from each authority nominated to ensure that appropriate scrutiny of decisions.

 
Councillor R Blunt advised Members that the recommendations were identical to those going to Council.

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor A V Smith and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet recommend to Council that it:

1.    Approves the scheme for the Combined Authority;

2.    Approves the Governance Review;

3.    Authorises the publication of the Scheme and its submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government;

4.    Authorises the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader, to make any final amendments to the Scheme and Governance Review prior to their submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government in December 2015 or January 2016;

5.    Authorises the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader, to enter into discussions with the Department for Communities and Local Government and such other Government departments and other persons as are considered necessary by the Chief Executive to agree the terms of the order establishing the Combined Authority and to approve the final form of the order on behalf of the District Council; and

6.    Authorises the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader:

(I)            To negotiate, agree and execute all ancillary documents in support of the operation of the Combined Authority, including (without limitation) the constitution of the Combined Authority; and

(ll)        To take all decisions and actions necessary to enable the establishment of the Combined Authority.

Reason for decision:To ensure North West Leicestershire District Council can benefit with the other local authorities in Leicestershire, from increased autonomy and funding to support strategic economic, transport and planning decisions.