Decision details

A report was presented on the National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) which comprised of additional spending in areas key to boosting productivity throughout the UK.

The Committee was informed that the Department for Transport (DfT) had allocated a proportion of the available NPIF to Local Transport Authorities on a competitive basis. The funds could be used to tackle congestion and improve transport networks thereby improving productivity and local economic growth.

The report set out the process and requirements together with a brief summary of the bids being prepared for submission by Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Council. These had been prioritised locally as those best able to deliver the outcomes of the NPIF and were set out at Appendix A to the report.  Officers from the three authorities gave a short presentation on each of the schemes.

Following the presentations each officer received feedback from the Committee on their respective bids. It was emphasised that there must be sufficient evidence in support of the strategic and economic cases for intervention and that it was essential that each bid attracted a private sector funding contribution. The bid must also contain information summarising the impacts against a number of metrics relevant to the Fund's objectives. The quality of the analysis submitted would be a material consideration in determining whether the bids were successful.

It was noted that DfT guidance had indicated that NPIF submissions would benefit from endorsement by the relevant Local Enterprise Partnership. The Committee was therefore asked to recommend that the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board endorse the bids.

Resolved: That the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board be recommended to endorse the bids being prepared for submission by Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Council as set out at Appendix A to the report.