I was just trawling the LGA's website to see if they've made
any decision on what course of action to take on GATS, and found
the following in the minutes for the LGA Executive meeting of
25 April:

(see
http://www.lga.gov.uk/Decision.asp?lsection=0&ccat=-1&id=SX88BE-A780E245)

Anyone out there know whether this is more/less than people
were hoping for?

Cheers

Steven

4. WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)

Decision

The Executive agreed to

. note the report on the possible implications of GATS on
  local government powers and freedoms;

. propose an adjournment debate (or similar) in the House
  of Commons to consider this issue;

. raise this issue with the LGA's representatives on the
  Committee of the Regions (CoR) and with MEPs.

. seek a meeting with DTI as soon as possible;

. that this issue should be on the agenda for a future meeting
  of the Central Local Partnership.

Action

Officers to propose an adjournment debate (or similar) in
the House of Commons and to raise the issue with CoR and MEPs. MA

Officers to write to Permanent Secretary at DTI setting out
the Association's concerns on this issue. MA

Officers to arrange for this issue to be placed on the
potential agenda for the next CLP meeting. JRe