MINUTES OF LOTAG STRATEGY GROUP MEETING

 

16TH OCTOBER 2000

 

Present: John Barkley Chair LOTAG

Sue Charteris DETR - L.G. Modernisation Team

Ross Hendry ALG

Suresh Kamath L.B. Brent

Len Cook L.B. Croydon

Stuart Foster L.B. Haringey

David Bull L.B. Hounslow

Bill Mount R.B. Kensington & Chelsea

Richard Rawes L.B. Merton

Geoff Warren L.B. Merton

Ruth Seager L.B. Newham

Alison Quant L.B. Richmond

Margaret Cooper L.B. Tower Hamlets

Iain Forbes City of Westminster

1. APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from:-

Chris Hamshar R.B. Kingston

Brynn Hodgson L.B. Harrow

Lee Parker L.B. Wandsworth

Dave Renvoize L.B. Redbridge

David Streeter L.B. Richmond

2. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 17TH JULY 2000

Waste Strategy issues were due to be discussed at this meeting but had been deferred until 15th January meeting, when David Streeter will attend to give a presentation.

3. PRESENTATION ON ‘MODERNISING LOCAL GOVERNMENT’

Sue Charteris, Chair of DETR Local Government Modernisation Team, gave a wide ranging presentation on current DETR modernisation initiatives. The key areas of change were around best value and electronic government, democratic renewal, ethics and standards, and community leadership and planning. Sue stressed that these changes were not just structural but were also about efficiency, transparency and openness. The test is whether they are working for local communities in terms of greater efficiency and accountability. Sue stressed a range of good practice across the country, particularly metropolitan boroughs outside of London. Boroughs needed to take advantage of a new range of freedoms post-CCT, such as being able to work across technical boundaries and across boroughs. The nature of these reviews will develop further when the Mayor takes on best value responsibilities next year.

Sue stressed the importance of providing evidence to DETR on good practices and outcomes. She emphasised that the reputation of Councils was affected significantly by such evidence and encouraged boroughs to publicise their approaches to consultation how outcomes had been measured and achieved.

Sue stressed the need for working with Members from the start of review processes and the importance of local decisions being made public. In particular, the new duty of Councils to promote community welfare enabled them to be much more proactive rather than just responding to Government directions. The new community planning process would have significant overlaps with land use planning and Local Agenda 21 plans.

There was a wide-ranging discussion which covered issues such as increased audit bureaucracy, greater costs imposed on Councils and the view that many processes had become more complicated rather than streamlined. Particular issues arose around the necessary culture changes and the difficulty in achieving innovation and risk taking. In many cases, Member structures did not encourage such openness and many decisions were taken behind close doors.

4. GLA STRATEGIES

  1. Timetable for GLA Transport Strategy – Apologies had been provided from GLA representatives who could not attend as discussions on the Mayoral Transport Strategy were at a critical stage. The draft transport strategy should be available on the GLA Web-site from early November, during which time consultation was being carried out with the GLA functional bodies. The draft Strategy should be available from 8th January, with consultation taking place until 31st March and publication by the end of June. The next LOTAG Strategy Meeting on 15th January would be in a good position to have a thorough discussion on the draft.

(b) LIP Guidance Working Group – Some fundamental issues were raised, notably the key elements of the new LIP process. In particular, boroughs’ existing LIP strategies needed to be amended to include their new role as an implementation plan. Four nominations were offered and agreed to take part in the ALG LIP Guidance Working Group: Ruth Seager, Bill Mount, Geoff Warren and Ian Forbes. Richard Rawes offered to assist in resolving any issues with GLA and GoL, should this become necessary.

(c) Other GLA Strategies – The Air Quality Strategy is due to be produced on the same timescale as the Transport Strategy and will also be discussed at the next meeting. Key issues are low emission zones and how these relate to borough air quality management plans. The Mayor’s spatial development strategy was running 2/3 months late but interim planning policies had been produced to summarise the Mayor’s position on a range of planning/transport issues, including out of town superstores, parking standards and waste management facilities.

5.  TRAFFIC REDUCTION AND PARKING

(a) London Parking Supply Study – The study had been circulated as previously indicated to all boroughs. Boroughs were encouraged to contribute further information and updates and also to use the important new database in developing their borough strategies.

(b) Congestion Charging – Ross Hendry reported back on ALG discussions and their response to the GLA congestion charging proposals. These proposals will now form a key part of the transport strategy. Ruth Seager queried the implications for people with disabilities. Ross Hendry agreed to clarify these. (It was subsequently clarified that these concerns had been addressed in the ALG response to the Mayor.)

(c) Report back from Traffic Monitoring Sub Group - In the absence of Lee Parker, it was not clear whether the monitoring sub-group had reconvened. It was still felt important that the group convene one more time in order to complete the traffic-monitoring schedule, including borough data sources.

6. BEST VALUE

Report of sub-group of 14th September was noted.

7. TAG/LOTAG ISSUES

John Barkley reported back on issues of falling membership at national level.

A key London-wide issue was that of skills shortages, exacerbated by loss of many key staff to TfL. The meeting agreed the importance of training initiatives and encouraged boroughs to train staff as part of capital spending projects.

All attendees were encouraged to use their contacts to encourage representatives from other boroughs to attend LOTAG meetings to increase their usefulness in disseminating information and co-ordinating responses.

8. CONTACT LIST

Further amendments were made and revised list is attached to these minutes.

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

LBI fees – Ruth Seager raised the inadequacy fees for LBI work which had been set at 8% by TfL. Richard Rawes agreed to contact Geoff Claxton with a request to take the matter up with TfL directly. Action – Richard Rawes

10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The date of the next meeting is 15th January 2001 – ALG Offices