Agenda and minutes

The Chairman, David Holmes, welcomed all to the meeting.

Apologies were received from David Taylor. 

There were no declarations of interest.

None.

The next meeting of the committee is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 8 December 2021 at 12noon.

The committee noted that the next meeting was scheduled to be held virtually at 12.00pm on Wednesday, 8 December 2021.

The Committee is asked to consider whether, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, it considers that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as indicated against the heading to the item.

Resolved: - That the meeting move into Part II, Private and Confidential, to consider the remaining reports as they contained information defined as confidential or exempt in accordance with the relevant paragraph of Part I to schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as set out in the report. It was considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Chris Dyson, Strategic Development Programme Manager, Lancashire County Council, presented a private and confidential report which provided the committee with an update on the progress and the phases of Samlesbury Enterprise Zone.

It was noted that the focus was on the delivery and phasing of the EZ project, particularly to understand the next stages of work that were subject to a range of matters being concluded on the site over the next eighteen months.

The following points were highlighted:

·  The Enterprise Zone is currently a very active construction site

·  The county council is working very closely with partners.

·  The site would have significant impact on the North-West and Lancashire Economy providing jobs, growth and investment alongside community and social value elements.

·  The site is very well placed to attract businesses and companies focusing upon strong emerging factors.

It was emphasised that there was a strong focus on the potential for the EZ to be an exemplar for sustainability, the low carbon agenda and the Government's 10 points plan.

The committee were informed that work is progressing to move towards the next stage whilst maintaining that confidence in the market and in enquiries/occupiers' interest.

It was noted that there were two main stages of the development. The first being the spine road, the environment, including phased drainage programmes, the ASK facility, and the North West Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), and Defence Logistics Centre on site and the rest of the site then being split in to two phases (phase 2a and phase 2b) so it aligns with past reports.

Committee members were provided with a detailed description of Phase 2b and component elements. This included the extensive programme of works and information regarding the future plot preparation.

It was noted that consideration is being given to the ability to recycle/reuse and treat plots where possible to ensure that they can deliver and be sustainable.

A breakdown of any additional, available detail was requested for the next meeting.

The committee discussed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). It was noted that legal advice was currently being sought by the LEP from external legal advisors before it is presented to the LEP board on 23 November 2021 to request approval for the LEP Chief Executive to be authorised to sign the document.

Members were informed that there were currently lots of enquiries for the site. If the MOU was to be approved, the final phase of the Enterprise Zone would be delivered recognising the importance of the opportunity to complete the site for the broader Lancashire benefit.

It was reported that there were extensive governance structures in place, with progress closely scrutinised through the county council's Major Developments Board, reporting to the county council's Cabinet and being extensively monitored by finance colleagues. There is also a strong interest, involvement and support from the county council's portfolio holder for Economic Development and Growth.

In response to a question, it was clarified that a lot of work had been completed around the design and delivery  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Sarah Kemp, Chief Executive, Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, presented a private and confidential report to the committee in order to provide some insight and discussion around some of the emerging opportunities which have arisen regarding the creation of an innovation and enterprise ecosystem which supports start-up and scale-up activity, collaboration and technology adoption and diffusion.

It was noted that there is currently a gravitational pull towards Samlesbury from sector groups because of its proximity to organisations and companies which have technology and technology integration capability, therefore attracting other organisations operating in different contextual settings.

The committee recognised that there were currently pulls to other places which have the right eco system in place, and it was noted that it was important that the Samlesbury eco system was correct and working going forward to maximise potential.

It was reported that there was the need to look for something that would create that thriving environment that would be ready for start-ups to use straight away by looking at the potential opportunities and optimising the significance at Samlesbury EZ. It was highlighted that it was not clear what the delivery solution might be at this stage until further work is done to develop and test the concept.

It was noted that the purpose of the report was to provide EZ Governance Committee members with the opportunity to look at the concept and for it to be brought to one place so that they could add value and be involved in these discussions without assuming any delivery solutions as these would be developed over time as the emerging requirements of some of the occupants came to light.

The committee was asked if it would support the process and encourage partners to come forward with ideas, thoughts and concepts and to see if they could describe what the innovation eco system needed to look like and then think about how that may be delivered.

Committee members requested that an outline containing more detail including an explanation of what might be achieved, whilst being careful not to duplicate existing activity, be brought back to the Committee including a clear rationale which sets out what the funding would go towards and what would be delivered. It was also requested that the committee have sight of the possible solutions so that committee members could better understand the nature of the discussion ensuring there is no duplication.

The issue of long-term funding was also raised with clarification sought as to possible sources of funding.

It was suggested that existing partners such as Colliers, Marketing Lancashire or Barbour's could possibly be utilised to help.

It was noted that work was already ongoing to gain an understanding of what is common and beneficial to all four enterprise zones whilst recognising what was uniquely different therefore creating different opportunities so that it could be marketed highlighting this as it adds an attractiveness for what that site is recognised for whilst collaboratively fitting in with the four Enterprise Zones.

The Chief Executive was requested  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.