Updates from the Sector and Sub-National Boards - Spring 2016

29 April 2016

Updates from the ADEPT Sector and Sub-National Boards, Spring 2016

South West

The South West Board meets on a quarterly cycle and is regularly attended by around 20 Councils, Government Departments / Agencies and partners, including LEP Chief Executives and the Institute of Civil Engineers. The agenda is driven by the members and agenda items typically fall into 4 categories:

'Devolution with a Purpose’ – progress with devolution deals and common ‘asks’, particularly around planning, housing and transport; government policy. At our most recent meeting Cathy Miller, Deputy Director, Cities Policy and Delivery (DfT) attended to share thinking on Sub-National Transport Bodies.
Partner challenge – at our recent meeting David Owen, Chief Executive of gfirst LEP shared an analysis of the development of LEPs in the southwest and the relationship with their councils. At our next meeting we are hoping to have a similar session with Local Nature Partnership leads.
Good practice shorts – an opportunity for members to share examples of good practice. At our last meeting we heard from Tracey Crews, Director of Planning at Cheltenham Borough Council, and she told us about their Joint Core Strategy work with Gloucester City and Tewkesbury Borough Councils.
Emergent policy / practice issues – identifying issues that we all need to be aware of and may want to raise nationally through the ADEPT national Management Board. We have a meeting forward programme and try to make sure there is an ADEPT theme running through our gatherings. Our summer meeting will focus on environmental issues; and the autumn meeting is likely to have an energy focus.

Each of the Councils has identified a lead Director and nominated 2 senior management ‘deputies’. This means that we have a wider pool of colleagues who are aware of ADEPT activities and meeting dates and as such we hope to maintain the continuity of attendance at meetings that is so important.

The SW Board has a very active membership driving the agenda and providing good practice support to each other. For more information please contact the Chair [email protected] or call 01452 328470.

South East

SEDEEPT provides an informal network for directors of principal authorities in the South East. The group meets approximately every two months and often invites senior Whitehall officials to attend for specific agenda items. Fourteen authorities, including seven county councils, plus unitary authorities of Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, West Berkshire, Portsmouth and Southampton attend on a regular basis. Most discussions are held under the Chatham House Rule and there are no formal minutes taken.

Over the last two years SEDEEPT’s main focus has been on budget challenges, particularly in terms of delivering highway, transport and environment services, and how best to respond to the changing landscape in relation to the local growth and devolution agenda. The group provides advice to SEEC (South East of England Council’s Group) and has contributed to the Mind the Gap report and the subsequent Missing Links report to the Government, which highlights key strategic transport priorities for the region. SEDEEPT is also keen to work with the area’s LEPs, and is currently planning a joint meeting with the GTV7 LEP group later this summer to assess how the findings of the recent Transport Study commissioned by the LEPs and produced by WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff can be taken forward.

In terms of SEDEEPT’s future focus, it intends to consider Passenger Transport at its meeting in May, including budgetary pressures in relation to bus subsidies and concessionary fares, as well as the likely implications of the forthcoming Buses Bill. The group is also keen to discuss better integration of transport plans with Network Rail and Highways England; and will discuss planning and infrastructure funding later in the year, once the outcome of the CIL review is known.

For more information contact the SEDEEPT Chair [email protected] or Secretary [email protected].

North West

The ADEPT North West Board is at a very fledgling stage and has yet to formally meet. However, as a consequence of hosting the ADEPT National Conference in Manchester, interest is growing. A number of quarterly networking events are planned for the forthcoming year, focusing on themes such as flood management & resilience, waste disposal, economic and housing growth. There are also some ideas for joint events with the LEP Network on strategic infrastructure, particularly HS2, and the RSA on place shaping. There is a lot happening on the Combined Authority, Devolution and Northern Powerhouse fronts. The proposal is to hold the events around the region, so any offers for hosting these would be gratefully received.

We are keen to encourage more LAs and LEPs in the North West to join ADEPT and participate in current policy debates. For more information contact the Chair [email protected] or call 01254 585504.

West Midlands

The West Midlands Board is still forming as a board and developing a consistent work programme. The focus of the last 12 months has been on: • establishing ADEPT representation and involvement in Midlands Connects • a sub-national Transport Board for the East and West Midlands • positioning ADEPT to be a key driver of the Midlands Engine, the Government’s response to the Northern Powerhouse across the East and West Midlands • developing a relationship with West Midlands ADASS to identify opportunities for future collaboration • maintaining a regular dialogue with BIS and DfT • sharing best practice with a particular focus on devolution. For more information contact the Chair [email protected]

Yorkshire & Humber Yorkshire & Humber Board is currently reviewing how to take forward engagement in the area, and whether this is a forum that we could use to enhance all authorities’ ability to achieve Highway Maintenance Efficiency Band 3in conjunction with HMEP. For more information contact the Chair [email protected].

Engineering Board

Local Authorities are responsible for managing and maintaining some 300,000 km of roads. This is 98% of the total road network in England, and by far the biggest infrastructure asset in the public sector. The Engineering Board deals mainly with the technical issues of highways engineering and has the following specialist groups:

Highways Asset Management
Bridges
Soils and Materials Design and Specification
Street Lighting

The specialist groups provide a focus for the regional groupings of practitioners who undertake much of the detailed workload and provide a wide sounding board for consultation, as well as opportunities for dissemination of information and sharing good practice and networking. The Chairs of each Group represent ADEPT members on their respective UK subject Boards. The Chair of the Engineering Board represents ADEPT on the Department for Transport’s UK Roads Liaison Group. The Board provides a focus for contacts from various bodies in the industry and government on a variety of subjects covering strategies and policies, technical, research, funding, etc.

More recently the Board has engaged with major topics including development and roll out of the Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme and related documents, Well-Managed Highways Infrastructure guidance, DfT Asset Management Self-assessment, and Climate Adaption and resilience. There is ongoing dialogue between Board members and Department for Transport and attendance of senior officials from the Department at the Board meetings is now a regular feature. Other representatives from the highways sector attend to engage regarding various topics.

The Board meets 3 times a year, twice in London and has one provincial meeting involving site visits. This year we are hoping to visit the new Mersey Gateway bridge in Autumn.

If you would like to join the Engineering Board please contact the Chair [email protected] or Secretary [email protected].

Planning, Housing & Regeneration Board

PHR Board met on Friday 8th April. A wide ranging discussion was held, centred on three specific items. 1. A scoping discussion on a proposed workshop with DCLG on the future of Town Centres, as part of a series of joint ADEPT/DCLG workshops to lead into the ADEPT Conference this November. DCLG's lead for Town Centres joined the Board to discuss the challenges and opportunities of our urban centres, and how we might reimagine the role of our centres in promoting good growth, place making and improved local economies. 2. BIS updated on the recent Budget announcements and took soundings from Board members on key aspects of local growth policy and funding. The Board reflected on the welcome continuation of the Local Growth Fund and the opportunities offered by further devolution across the country, while setting some challenges to implementation and cross Whitehall working in the pursuit of local growth. 3. Colleagues from the Local Government Association (LGA) joined the Board to consider the future of devolution and significant joint LGA / DCLG papers due out shortly on the future of business rate retention. Board members shared their hopes, aspirations and fears about the future funding landscape and ADEPT will be coordinating views across its membership and Boards to feed in our important voice to a critical debate about the very future of local government funding. The Board also reflected on its current policy work and consultation responses together with the usual round table update from each Board member, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of leading place services across the country. Simon Neilson was thanked for his efforts as chair for the past two years. The Board welcomed Peter Geraghty as the new chair. For more information contact the Chair [email protected].

Transport Board

Much of the Board's current attention is focussed on two pieces of primary legislation, one enacted and one pending.

Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 This Act sits behind the ongoing agreement of devolution deals between Government and numerous parts of the country. It is also the enabling legislation behind the creation of Sub-national Transport Bodies (STBs), initially Transport for the North and potentially Midlands Connect and others. These will become influential in determining priorities for the Department for Transport (DfT), Highways England and Network Rail as well as taking on operational challenges such as smart ticketing and rail franchising. The Transport Board will be seeking to play a key role in facilitating the engagement of local authorities in the creation and operation of STBs. It will also be seeking to ensure that those parts of the country not covered by these are not placed at a disadvantage in the influencing of policy or in the allocation of resources.

Buses Bill Intended to receive Royal Assent in 2017, this legislation will enable significant changes in the influence brought to bear by local transport authorities on the provision of bus services. Government’s intention is to stimulate growth in the commercial provision of services, through the improvement of passenger experience and through enabling a range of governance models. Subject to the passage of the legislation, franchising of services will be possible in areas with, and with powers exercised by, an elected mayor (because of the clear geography and accountability which this brings). Registration of services would also take place locally and administration of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) would also be devolved. In other areas enhanced partnership models are intended, supported by the introduction of a Strategic Bus Plan. Issues such as powers to register services and administration of BSOG would be determined case-by-case. The Transport Board expects to be involved in further discussion with DfT over details of the Bill as it progresses, with the objective of maximising the ability of all local transport authorities to protect and enhance bus services in difficult financial circumstances.

For more information contact the Chair [email protected] or Secretary [email protected].

Environment Board

At the Environment Board our vision is to ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH. As Local Authorities we play an essential role, cross cutting Central Government departments and representing local communities.

We work to demonstrate the financial impact of disregarding the environment; showcasing professional expertise as well as providing an opportunity to discuss, explore and influence national policy and a network of knowledge, support and leadership.