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FOR
DECISION
THE LIBRARY
ASSOCIATION
POLICY &
RESOURCES COMMITTEE
POLICY
ADVISORY GROUPS
Introduction
1. The Policy & Resources
Committee has considered previously the formation of Policy
Advisory Groups as part of its discussions on the Draft Corporate Plan.
Policy Advisory Groups (PAGS) are conceived of as free-standing groups focusing
on developing specific areas of LA policy - much of their work will be undertaken
by electronic means, although one or two meetings may be necessary
2. PAGS are regarded as
being necessary because:
- The current LA committee
system, with its strong sectoral basis, is unable to deal effectively with
the increasing number of cross-sectoral issues that lie at the heart of the
current government’s agenda;
- The LA is predominantly
reactive on most national policy issues. We need to try and get ahead of the
policy agenda so that we can shape and influence the nature of the agenda
itself as well as commenting on the infilling detail of individual proposals;
- The LA fails to exploit
and engage the talents of some of its leading members. We hope that PAGS will
attract new people into the heart of LA policy-making as the commitment will
be limited in time and those appointed to PAGS will have a known interest
and expertise in the subject areas concerned.
LA
Corporate Plan
3. The draft Corporate
Plan identifies no less than nine priority areas of policy development (see
section on “Extending Spheres of Influence”). These are: social policy (including
social inclusion); lifelong learning (including employability); education;
competitiveness and the Knowledge Economy; health; “Better Government”; cultural
policy; devolution and regionalism; and the information age.
4. It is not feasible
to form PAGS for each area. The workload would be too great. However it would
be beneficial to undertake a few pilot PAGS in the first instance to iron out
an effective methodology. There is room for debate as to which policy priority
areas should be included in the pilots. We recommend:
- Social Inclusion - This
is an area where the Government is investing a large amount of time to develop
policy and programmes. A national neighbourhood development strategy is to
be launched on 6 April; DCMS is developing best practice guidance for all
its service areas (including “Libraries for All”); and white papers on both
rural and urban issues are expected during the year.
- Regionalism and Devolution
- All Regional Development Agencies have published their first economic development
strategies and the LA needs to address the policy areas they concentrate on
- knowledge economy; ICT development; creative industries etc. Other aspects
of the regional structure include Regional Cultural Consortia; Regional Chambers;
and a number of new sub-regional bodies such as Learning and Skills Councils
and the Small Business Service. This policy area has been highlighted by a
number of the LA’s committees and has formed part of the discussion in many
of the presentations given by the Chief Executive.
- Cultural Policy - This
is at the heart of the DCMS agenda and a “joined up” approach across all cultural
agencies is evidenced by the creation of MLAC (and other cultural bodies)
and the emphasis being given to the development of cultural plans at both
local authority and regional level
5. Concentration on these
three policy areas does not mean the other areas will be neglected. Work will
be continuing on the lifelong learning agenda for instance (with both the Adult
Learners and Libraries Subcommittee and the sectoral committees making significant
inputs) , and the office and other committees are picking up aspects of the
other policy areas as well. However we do have to begin somewhere.
The
Nature of PAGS
6. It is envisaged that:
- The Chief Executive
in consultation with the Chair of Policy and Resources Committee will appoint
the Chair of each PAG;
- The Chair of each PAG,
in consultation with the Principal Policy Adviser, will appoint other members
of the PAG. At the discretion of the Chair they may include representatives
from other bodies and disciplines;
- Although it is likely
that PAGS will meet at least once (to brainstorm policy area) and possibly
twice (to approve a final report), it is expected that much of the work will
be carried out by electronic means;
- PAGS will produce a
report that will be sent to the Policy and Resources Committee for consideration.
Depending on the policy area concerned there may be involvement of other committees
as well. This must be judged separately for each PAG;
- PAGS will report within
the calendar year.
Other
Developments
7. Subject to the decision
of the Policy and Resources Committee on the policy areas to be addressed by
pilot PAGS, potential chairs for the recommended PAGS have been approached
with the agreement of the Chair of P & R. At this stage Terry Turner, Director
of Cultural Services at Norfolk CC, has agreed to chair the Social Inclusion
PAG if established, and a university librarian is considering whether to become
Chair of the Regionalism PAG. In the case of cultural policy it is proposed
that the Libraries and Arts Working Party, suitably enhanced, undertakes this
wider remit. At any rate it would be sensible to await the outcome of the proposed
Strategic Stakeholder Symposium involving representatives from the libraries
and arts communities before formally establishing this PAG. It is hoped the
symposium will take place in June.
Conclusion
8. The Policy & Resources
Committee is invited to consider the recommendations in paragraph 4 and the
outline of how PAGS will work in paragraph 6.
Guy Daines
Principal Policy Adviser
Tel: 020 7255 0632
E-mail: guy.daines@la-hq.org.uk
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Financial Considerations
The costs of PAGS will
be contained within the overall budget for Committees.
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Equal Opportunities
Considerations
The Social Inclusion PAG
will cover most equal opportunity issues. Other PAGS should ensure that equal
opportunities dimensions are included in their deliberations and reports.
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International Considerations
These PAGS are concerned
with domestic issues. However most of these issues have at least an EU dimension.
The PAGS concept could also be used for international issues.
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Regional/Home Country
Considerations
The PAG on regionalism
will directly cover this. All PAGS will need to consider how to deal with the
Home Nations. In many cases this will most appropriately be left to the Branch
of the Association in the country concerned. However even in these cases
it is likely that The Association would benefit from an awareness of the differences
and a knowledge of best practice in all parts of the UK.
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