Transcript Local Authority decision making & Governance

Local Authority Decision Making
& Governance
Lynne Dean
DRD, DH-Local Government,
Social Care & Care Partnerships
Organisation at a national level
ADASS
Government
Depts (CLG)
LGID /IDeA
LGA
ACS
Councils with
independent
decision making
powers
Environment
& Housing
Programme
Board
• The LGA is a voluntary membership body
• 422 member authorities representing over 50 million
people and include county councils, metropolitan district
councils, English unitary authorities, London boroughs
and shire district councils, along with fire authorities,
police authorities, national park authorities and
passenger transport authorities.
• These councils spend around £113 billion a year on local
services
• the Voice of Local Government Association in the
national arena.
• www.lga.gov.uk
Local Authority Type
County Council
Transport &Major Roads (non motorway)
Education/Childrens social care
Unitary Councils
Metropolitan District Councils
Adult Social Care
Culture/Museums/libraries/tourism/leisure
Environment, Planning & the economy
Fire & Police & registration
District Council
Housing and local planning
Local roads & lighting
Swimming pools/parks
Rubbish Collection and disposal
ALL
Where does the money come from
33-40% approx National
Formula Grant
• Revenue Support Grant
 Area-based Grant (Not
ringfenced)
 Specific Grants
 Dedicated Schools Grant
• Share of National Non
Domestic Rates
• Capital
60-66% approx locally collected
• Council tax from households
•
Charges for services (&
fines)
Devon:2010-11
6%
10%
60%
24%
Revenue Support Grant
Area Based Grant
Non Domestic Rates
Council Tax
How is the money spent
Devon CC 2010-11 - Total 539.3m NET (excludes Dedicated schools Grant of £373.9m)
7%
4%
Children and Young People
21%
Adult &Community Services
Business and tourism
17%
Improving Knowledge, adult
skills and productivity
Roads, green travel, and
reducing congestion
7%
3%
41%
Waste Disposal , Recycling,
and landfill
Other responsive services to
people and families
Whats in a name- Strategic Depts
ASC: Gross + Net
External Accommodation Based services
£56,719,000
In house Accommodation based services
£20,307,000
External Community Based services
£32,637,000
In House Community based services
£13,368,000
Care management+support
£23,835,000
Total Gross Budget
£146,866,000
Client Contributions, fees, charges,sales
-£37,461,000
Total Net Budget
£109,405,000
ASC: Commissioned +In house services
Devon 2010-11
16%
ExternallyCommissioned
Services
In house Services
23%
61%
Care
management+support
Childrens services
local authority spend
schools spend
The financial context for LAs
• Council Tax increases likely to be nil/low
• Revenue Support Grant (RSG) significant real
terms cuts
• Area Based Grant predicted to reduce by larger
amount than RSG
• Care Charging – most LAs at upper limit of
public tolerance for this
• Increasing demand
Priorities for spend
• The starting point: Rolling forward last
years costs (inc debt repayments)
• Mori polls, public & staff opinions, press
campaigns
• Allocations to schools
• Political priorities
• The art of the possible
• Reserves
Political Accountability
Election
Number of
councillors in each
party
Either
Mayor forms new administration
OR
Majority party forms new
administration- If Hung- coalition or
minority control
Leader is elected by majority Party councillors
Cabinet is selected by leader : Each Cabinet member has a key portfolio
Major is elected either by councillors or by the public
– if the former chairs meetings but a largely ceremonial job
-if the latter Major decides whether or not he wants a cabinet- they are in
control
Scrutiny chairs and membership decided by the leadership of key partiesconvention of ensuring numbers reflect overall balance of councillors
The Council
Chief Executive
and Directors
submit Papers for
decision
They attend in a
support role to
present information
if needed, answer
questions & give
advice
Full Council Meetings
Cabinet Meetings
Overview and Scrutiny
Political Parties
have their own
decision making
processes in
parallel with the
formal council
meetings and exert
party discipline
through whips to
ensure councillors
vote in agreed ways
Making a decision
A decision can be made by
• An officer with powers delegated by the council
to conduct routine business.
• A cabinet member, who will then report to the
cabinet ( must be a public record)
• The cabinet ( sits with public & press present)
• All cabinet decisions can be recalled by Scrutiny
( public and the press present)
Making a Controversial Decision
Director and
Chief Exec
agree a way
forward
Decision
only final
once
agreed at
full council
Chief Exec may
discuss with
leader
Director will
discuss with lead
member
Decision
can be
recalled by
scrutiny
Cabinet
discussionunless
political
balance
unstable
results
usually as
expected
Political
process for
decision
making
agreed
Cabinet reports
written with key
content and
choices for
decision agreed
with lead
member
Consultation
processes
may take
place with the
public & trade
unions
Reports may
be discussed
by majority
party in
advance of
going to
cabinet: may
be further
rewriting