REPORT TO PERFORMANCE AND POLICY REVIEW
DATE: 28th February 2005

Future Relationship with the LGA and the WLGA

SUMMARY:

  1. Members will recall that at meetings of the Authority held last year in March and May, update reports were received on the review of the relationship between the WLGA and LGA. Discussions between the LGA and WLGA have now been concluded and a new Welsh Corporate Membership has been agreed with the LGA. Attached at Appendix A (PDF, 363kb) is a copy of a report that will be considered by the WLGA Council at its meeting on the 25th February which sets out the key components of the new arrangements.
     
  2. This new membership with the LGA will attract a reduced subscription fee to the LGA; a Service Level Agreement governing specific lobbying and representation on non-devolved policy areas and full access to LGA events, information products and publications. Annex B of the attached report sets out the areas that would be covered by the SLA and includes the development of national initiatives in the Fire and Rescue Service. The new Welsh corporate membership would naturally result in reduced voting rights although Welsh members would retain the right to vote on the Chair, Vice Chair and Deputy Chair. Savings made from LGA Membership would be reinvested in the WLGA to enhance and expand services covering Westminster and Cardiff based functions. A comparison between the Membership options is set out in Annex A of the report.
     
  3. In view of the devolvement of policy responsibility for the Fire and Rescue Service in Wales to the National Assembly for Wales, Members might consider that there is a need to consolidate and strengthen its relationship with the WLGA. Whilst the current relationship with both the LGA and WLGA has served the Authority well, there is now possibly a need to re-focus on how the interests of this Authority could be better met. For example, the WLGA is probably better placed to lobby on behalf of the Fire and Rescue Service with the Welsh Assembly Government. Similarly the WLGA would ensure a better awareness within Welsh Local Government of the specific issues facing Welsh Fire and Rescue Services. In mainstreaming the Service within the broader local government family the WLGA might also be able to assist in this process.
     
  4. If the Authority were to agree to the new arrangements, direct linkages into the LGA would be maintained and it is envisaged that the Authority would retain its membership of the LGA Fire Forum and therefore the valued relationship developed since 1996. Attendance at the LGA Fire Forum would enable an Authority representative to meet with Authorities in England in a discussion forum thereby maintaining a tangible link with the development of the fire and rescue agenda in England. Members might also wish to note that membership can be reviewed on an annual basis.
     
  5. Also attached at Appendix 2 is a letter from the LGA seeking an indication of this Authority’s intentions for the year beginning April 2005 in respect of its membership of the WLGA and the LGA.

IMPLICATIONS:

OPERATIONAL RISK None
COMMUNITY RISK None
TRAINING None
H.R None
FINANCE None. There will be no additional costs to the new arrangements.
I.T/COMMS None
EQUALITY & DIVERSITY None
HEALTH & SAFETY None
LEGAL None

RECOMMENDATION:

That Members (1)determine whether they wish to adopt the new membership arrangements which will reduce voting rights and weightings in the calculation of political balance with the LGA but improve Welsh specific service provision from the LGA and services from the WLGA, and, (2) review the arrangements in twelve months.

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT:

Reports to the Authority: 29th March 2004 and 17th May 2004 and attached papers.

Report Author and Designation

Judith Morris

Telephone number/Extension

4460

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