HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
COUNTY COUNCIL
TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER AT 10.30 A.M.
Agenda Item No.
5(a)
EXECUTIVE REPORTS TO COUNTY COUNCIL
LEADER OF THE COUNCIL
This report is made by the Leader of the Council and, together with separate
reports from each member of Cabinet, comprises the report under Standing
Order 6(2)(h).
1.
Cabinet decisions
1.1
There will have been two Cabinet meetings (25 October and 29
November) since the last meeting of the County Council. No items of
business were presented by the Leader at the October meeting and he
will report orally on any he presents to the November meeting.
2.
Hertfordshire Commitments
2.1
On 18 October, the Leader participated in a round table discussion
(hosted by Hertfordshire Community Foundation) with Nick Hurd MP,
Minister for Civil Society to discuss government policy with regard to
civil society and the Big Society.
2.2
On 19 October, the Leader formally opened the new Hertfordshire
Enterprise Academy at the Bio Park, Welwyn Garden City. The
Academy is a joint venture with Exemplas, the University of
Hertfordshire and EEDA and aims to help Hertfordshire residents to
start their own businesses, providing business support and personal
development to equip people from across the county with confidence,
skills and choices for employment and entrepreneurship.
2.3
Later on 19 October, the Leader attended his first meeting since taking
up his appointment as a Governor of the University of Hertfordshire
(serving in a personal capacity).
2.4
On 21 October the Leader attended the Herts Chamber of Commerce
Annual Dinner. Discussion revolved around the prospects for the LEP
proposal and more generally around delivering desired economic
growth in the County.
2.5
On 25 October, the Leader joined the Chairman and other Members at
the tree planning ceremony at the front of County Hall. A Wollemi Pine
was presented to the Council by Richard Walduck, OBE, JP, DL in
memory of all those who had served on the County Council. Mr
Walduck’s parents had each served as County Councillor Councillors.
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2.6
On 26 October, the Leader accepted a dinner invitation from the Right
Reverend Dr Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans. Discussions with the
Bishop and other guests ranged widely, including the Big Society and
housing growth post RSS.
2.7
On 27 October the Leader spoke at the AGM of the St Albans Citizens’
Advice Bureau, congratulating the Bureau on its work and commenting
on the outlook for voluntary sector organisations in the context of the
comprehensive spending review and Big Society.
2.8
On 28 October, central government approved Hertfordshire’s proposal
for a Local Enterprise Partnership based on the county’s boundaries
which resulted from considerable work by the Leaders, officers and
partners.
2.9
On 29 October the Leader spoke at a working breakfast with the
Housing Minister Grant Shapps, MP. A key part of the discussion was
the implications of the New Homes Bonus, future housing numbers and
the funding of necessary infrastructure.
2.10
Later on 29 October, the Leader attended an informal meeting with the
Leader and Committee Chairman of Broxbourne Borough Council to
discuss matters of mutual interest, including the localism pilot.
2.11
On 8 November the Leader chaired a meeting of Casework
Appointment and Appeals Committee which considered and agreed a
new Chief Officer structure for the council reflecting the departure of
the Directors of Strategy & Partnerships and of Children Schools &
Families. This reduction in the number of senior posts had been
anticipated by the Leader in introducing the Transformation debate at
the previous meeting of the Council. On a comparable basis, these
changes will see the pay bill (including on-costs) for this senior group of
officers fall by more than a third since 2007.
2.12
On 10 November the Leader attended a reception by Warner Bros. to
celebrate their recent acquisition of Leavesden studios. The acquisition
will see around £100 million of new investment in the studios and the
creation of 2000 new jobs.
2.13
On 12 November the Leader addressed the Hertfordshire Forward
annual conference, the theme of which was the Big Society in
Hertfordshire. The Leader’s presentation gave delegates an overview
of the financial context that public services post Comprehensive
Spending Review and the challenges and opportunities for the
voluntary and community sector.
2.14
On 15 November the Leader and Chief Executive met with Stelio
Stefanou and Amanda McIntyre, Chairman and Director respectively of
the Stefanou Foundation which is seeking opportunities to support
vulnerable people in Hertfordshire.
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2.15
On 16 November the Leader and Executive Member for Resources
gave a presentation to community leaders on the budget challenge
faced by the Council and responded to questions and feedback.
2.16
On 17 November the Leader spoke at a conference organised by the
Local Government Chronicle and New Local Government Network
(NLGN) showcasing the Council’s leading-edge partnership work and
its importance in responding to financial and service pressures.
2.17
On the evening of 17 November, the Leader attended a performance of
Britten’s War Requiem in Westminster Cathedral by the Parliament
Choir, at the invitation of the choir’s sponsors, BT.
2.18
On 26 November the Leader will speak at the County Council’s
Leadership Forum which is an annual opportunity to address all senior
managers the strategic objectives and direction of travel for the
organisation in the coming year.
3.
Regional Commitments
3.1
In his capacity as Chairman of the East of England Local Government
Association (EELGA), on 14 October the Leader met with the Minister
of State for Business and Enterprise, Mark Prisk MP where the
business focussed largely on the Local Enterprise Partnership bid and
associated economic development issues.
3.2
On 21 October the Leader introduced and attended a workshop event
sponsored jointly with the Strategic Health Authority on the pending
NHS reforms including, the challenges of the Liberating the NHS White
Paper, the future of Health and Wellbeing boards and the embedding of
democratic legitimacy into health provision.
3.3
On 9 November the Leader met with Chris Parkhouse and Pat Smith,
Chairman and Chief Executive of EEIDB which supports business
development in the ‘region’. The discussion focussed on the LEP and
the future of business support.
3.4
On 16 November the Leader met Sarah Murray, Team Leader of the
East of England Brussels Office. Discussions focussed on the role the
Brussels Office can play on behalf of councils in the region and in
relation to the LEPs.
3.5
On 19 November the Leader will chair the EELGA Management
Committee and the Eastern Region Transition board. Representatives
of the emerging LEPs will be invited to join the meeting and, in
accordance with view expressed at EELGA, will soon take the local
government seats on the Board.
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4.
National commitments
4.1
On 14 October and again on the 11 November the Leader attended the
LG Group Executive and Councillors’ Forum meetings. Key papers for
discussion at these events included Big Society and the
Decentralisation and Localism Bill at the October Executive meeting,
Police Accountability at the October Forum, and the Spending Review,
Self regulation and Place-based budgeting at the November Executive
meeting. At the November Councillors’ Forum Leaders heard a
presentation from DCLG Minister of State, Greg Clark MP, about
decentralisation.
4.2
On 3 November the Leader chaired the Executive of the County
Councils’ Network (CCN). The Health White Paper, Regional, Subregional and planning policy and new performance management
arrangements for Local Authorities were the substantive items on the
agenda. The Executive also received papers providing an update
regarding the proposals for concessionary transport.
4.3
On 17 November the Leader attended the earlier part of the LG
Improvement Board away day, before leaving to attend to other
commitments mentioned in this report. Decentralisation, sector selfregulation and place-based productivity were three substantive items
on the agenda.
4.4
Later on 17 November the Leader met with Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles MP. As well as
covering CCN issues, the Leader took the opportunity of raising a
number of issues relevant to Hertfordshire.
4.5
On 22 and 23 of November the Leader will be presiding over his first
CCN conference as the Network’s Chairman. The conference will be an
opportunity to discuss all current policy issues and will be attended by
many Councillors from across the country. Because of parliamentary
and ministerial duties, the Secretary of State’s address will be given by
his Parliamentary Private Secretary, Stephen Hammond MP, but the
Secretary of State will attend and speak at the Conference Dinner.
5.
Forward Plan – December 2010 to March 2011
The Leader will invite the County Council to receive the updated
Forward Plan dated 15 November 2010.
Robert Gordon, DL
Leader of the Council
November 2010
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