NUNEATON AND BEDWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL
Report to: Cabinet, 18th June 2002
From: Environmental Services Director
Subject: General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)

Portfolio: Health and the Environment (Councillor P. Henry)

1. Purpose of the Report

1.1 To raise awareness of the issue of GATS and the potential
implications that the World Trade Organisation's (WTO)
decisions on GATS will have on Local Authority powers and
freedoms, particularly in respect of procurement, regulatory
activities and land-use planning.

2 Recommendations

2.1 It is recommended that the Authority write to the Minister of State
For Trade and the Minister for Local Government.

i) To ask for further and formal opportunities to be consulted
prior to an further GATS commitments being agreed

ii) To inform them of the Authority's concerns about the possible
impacts of GATS on local authority freedoms in procurement,
planning and other decision making.

iii) And to ask for clarification on key questions as shown below:

* Which services does the EU and UK Government intend to
offer up as part of the GATS negotiation and what impact
assessment has been done on this?

* Will additional public services be required to open up
to global private sector markets?

* What assessment has been done on the impacts of GATS on
the Planning System and on the UK and local sustainable
development strategies?

* Does the government intend to involve or consult with Local
Government in developing its approach to GATS?

2.2 Write to the LGA to ask them to consider the effects of GATS
on the provision of local services and lobby to protect local
authority freedoms in procurement, planning and other decision
making.

2.3 Write to both local MPs and the MEP to urge them to take up these
concerns on behalf of the Authority

2.4 That a seminar be organised on GATS for members, officers and other
interested parties. The Local Agenda 21 Working Party at its last
meeting on 8th April, 2002 recommended that the Cabinet be asked
to convene a seminar on GATS as soon as possible.

Financial Implications: Existing Budgets
Human Resources Implications: None
Environment Implications: Whole Report
Equal Opps Implications: None
Ward Relevance: Whole Borough
Background Papers: LA21/8/1
Author/ref: Dawn Ford
Contact: Local Agenda 21 Co-ordinator, tel 7637 6448
Corporate Plan Ref: Key Aim 1 - To provide the best
possible service at all times with
the available resources.