LGA Governance

Terms of Reference for the Culture, Tourism and Sport Committee  

Purpose 

1. To lead, develop, deliver and promote all policy activity within the areas delegated to the Culture, Tourism and Sport Committee by the Strategic Policy Oversight Committee (SPOC) on behalf of the LGA Board. 

Key responsibilities  

2. The Committee is responsible for delivering its work programme with regards: 

1. Leisure   

2. Parks 

3. Sport and physical activity 

4. Social prescribing  

5. Libraries   

6. Heritage 

7. Archives 

8. Culture and creative industries 

9. Tourism 

10. Other related services. 

3. The Committee will fulfil its purpose by:  

1. Developing, agreeing and promoting the interests of the LGA to Government, Parliament, partners, and the press, in relation to its areas of responsibility. 

2. Operating as the centre of a network connecting to all member councils and drawing on the expertise of key advisors from the sector; 

3. Engaging with and developing a thorough understanding of member councils’ priorities through engagement with Special Interest Groups, regional networks, service networks, the Councillors’ Forum, and other means of wider engagement;  

4. Engaging people with lived experience and experts from partner organisations outside of local government; 

5. Contributing to the development and delivery of the LGA Business Plan; 

6. Considering improvement issues coordinated by the Improvement Committee as appropriate; 

7. Representing and lobbying on behalf of the LGA including making public statements on its areas of responsibility; 

8. Building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders. 

4. The Committee may: 

1. Establish Task and Finish groups to support the delivery of strategic objectives, in line with Section 18 of the Governance Framework; 

2. Appoint members to relevant outside bodies in accordance with the Political Conventions;  

3. Appoint member champions from the Committee to lead on key issues. 

Political Composition 

5. 18 members determined proportionately.  

Lead Members 

6. The responsibilities of lead members are set out in section 19 of the Governance Framework.  

Meetings 

7. Meetings to be held five times a year.  

8. Meetings will be conducted in line with the Governance Framework. Facilities will be provided for in person and remote attendance.   

Quorum 

9. A quorum shall be one third of members provided that representatives of at least three political groups represented on the committee are present. 

Reporting  

10. Reporting on to the SPOC through alert, advice, assure (AAA) reports as per the Governance Framework, contentious issues may be escalated to LGA Board.  

General 

11. In discharging its responsibilities, the Committee will have regard to: 

1. LGA’s purpose, vision, goals, values and behaviours, defined in the strategic framework.    

2. The LGA’s overall strategy and business plan and risk appetite. 

3. The performance and long-term sustainability of the LGA as the national membership body for local authorities.  

4. The reputation of the LGA, in particular with its membership and its funding bodies. 

5. The importance of ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the LGA’s internal governance and wider work to support the sector.  

Officer support 

12. An officer from Member Services will support the administration and governance of the Committee meetings. 

13. A Principal Policy Adviser will act as Lead Officer for the Committee, with responsibility for supporting the Committee to fulfil its responsibilities set out in the Governance Framework and Terms of Reference, working with officers across the LGA as appropriate. 

14. An Assistant Director will oversee the delivery of objectives, reporting to the Director of Strategy and Policy as the SPOC Lead Officer.