Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies were received from Laura Sales Company Secretary.

There were no declarations of interest.

Resolved: The minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2022 were agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

There were no matters arising.

No items were identified.

The next meeting of the Enterprise Zone Governance Committee will take place at 12noon on Wednesday, 31 August 2022.

The committee noted that the next meeting was scheduled to be held virtually at 12.00pm on Wednesday, 31 August 2022.

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.

Rob Green, Head of Enterprise Zones, Blackpool Council presented a private and confidential report which provided the committee with an update on the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. The report included updates on activity since the last meeting, including achievements to date, KPI's and milestones, risks, opportunities and issues, Master plan and delivery plan, project management, Fiscal incentives, current activity, town deal, development for Multi-ply Ltd, Squires Gate Industrial Estate, Planning applications, communications infrastructure, Marketing, Blackpool Airport, Project team and the Risk Register.

It was noted that the principal work being undertaken now is around the Towns Fund and the new highways to open the eastern sector of the Enterprise Zone. It was noted that the design work is progressing well, meeting the milestones.

Members were informed that the outline planning application for the highway had now been submitted and feedback is currently being received from the statutory consultees. It was reported that there are currently no major issues with this.

If approved this will need to then go to the Secretary of State for sign off.

It was reported that site investigations along the line of the road would be commencing over the next two weeks and that the first work at the division lane junction is intended to start in August/September.

Members were informed that the acquisition of the key properties to school road had been completed and that once the planning consent is received, demolition work can commence.

In terms of the 3G pitches it was noted that work had been delayed allowing a new culvert to settle to ensure that it doesn’t cause disruption and that this will be tendered in the next three months and will be moved forward. The sports pitches are designed for community use in the area and the landscape and public real area will all be open to the local community.

It was noted that work was currently progressing with the changing room facilities and that it should be complete in roughly eight weeks' time. The facilities will only be able to be used once the junction is complete due to conditions from Lancashire highways however it would be ready for the new season.

It was reported that the football pitches had roughly 3,000 youth footballers who were playing in a tournament over the Easter break and that it went very well.

In relation to the new primary substation it was reported that discussions are still ongoing with Electricity North West and papers have recently been signed for the first secondary substation at the airport.

Concerns had been raised regarding a suggestion that there is currently only 8mw of network capacity available, however members were reassured that they are working to accelerate this.

The Multi-Ply development was now complete, and they are now in full occupation and have transferred from their previous premises. It was highlighted that they had been able to draw down their business rates relief allowance before the cut off date and that the building is now being used  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

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.

Rob Green, Head of Enterprise Zones, Blackpool Council presented a private and confidential report which provided the committee with an update on the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone.

The report included updates on activity since the last meeting, including achievements to date, KPI's and milestones, progress with the site's Delivery Plan, update on the planning application by NPL Estates for a residential development, update on the residential development by BXB purchasing the former Sainsbury retail site and planning application logged for the main site of residential development, progress made by Dickie & Moore with their residential development plans for the former Thornton AFC site, ongoing issues regarding road access across the Fleetwood-Poulton railway line, Marketing, update from the Hydrogen steering group, Vinnollt site, new companies on site, job creation and Hillhouse Board and Project board meeting update.

It was highlighted that there has been more momentum from NPL and Wyre Borough Council and that their economic development team are focusing their time on Hillhouse.

It was reported that there is still no clarity on the future of the rail line. The first study has been concluded with colleagues in Lancashire and they are currently waiting for a response from the Department for Transport as to whether it is a heavy rail and whether it has a future or not. It was noted that this has started to impact on the interests of some developers.

Members were informed that they will continue to push on with the design of the northern access road on the assumption that there will be heavy rail there and will design a bridge over this railway line.

It was mentioned that after the planning application went in there was a tree preservation order put in on half the Hillhouse site however, it was noted that this is now being resolved.

There is a lot of work needed to be carried out in terms of designing the infrastructure and they are progressing some of the enabling works on the site.

Committee members were informed that there are a number of enquiries coming forward and that they have agreed terms for the site.

It was noted that there are also two large enquiries that have now moved to a second stage enquiry level.

Resolved;

That the report be noted.

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 Samlesbury Aerospace and Warton Aviation Enterprise Zones.

Regarding the Samlesbury site, the report included updates on the Memorandum of Understanding between the LEP and the County Council, Site Delivery Programme: Phase 2a - Delivery of Public Infrastructure and Development/Growth Deal Programme and Phase 2b Delivery Programme, a Planning update, commercial agents, Marketing and Communications and Warton Aviation Enterprise Zone.

Members were reassured that all EZ officers are working in strong partnership and around the marketing of the Enterprise Zones across Lancashire as a whole.

It was recognised that at Samlesbury the focus remains on key and emerging sectors around cyber, security and robotics research and development which is playing into the marketing angle.

It was highlighted that there are some very strong community, social value and wellbeing elements on the Samlesbury Site and that the LCC Project Team and on-site delivery team tracks activity in terms of materials used and material that is recycled on site. 

It was noted that an apprentice has now moved on to full time employment within the site.

The roads and public footpaths running through the EZ are open and it was noted that there has been an increase in public use of the above, stimulating interest in the site as well as providing general well-being benefits.

The low carbon study will help when looking further into some of the wellbeing opportunities on site and the partnerships to deliver the site remain very strong.

It was reported that the model for delivery of business rate growth and funds is being secured by the County Council and that the Memorandum of Understanding with the LEP is being progressed towards a legally binding document.

It was noted that the County Council continues to proactively progress with the site's development with multiple work packages being delivered.

It was confirmed that the right mechanisms are in place to allow the programme of activities to continue onsite noting that Phase 1 is complete and substantial progress has been made on phase 2 on delivery of the site.

With the AMRC complete, it has opened significant delivery opportunities for Lancashire. It was also noted that most of the Utilities are now complete on the site.

It was reported that works are ongoing on a 40-acre plot in Zone C and the sustainable drainage system that passes through the plot is close to completion. This will plug into the current surface water drainage system with native plants, enhancing ecological benefits.

The Phase 2b programme represents a substantial area of spend. It was noted that it had been agreed to kick start a programme to strip the runway and remove the ground down to clay base level and a protection layer put in place. This substantial programme of work is being delivered by the County Council's in-house alongside external contractors.

Members requested a summary on the position in terms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

In answer to a question around the impact of the current economic climate  it was noted that there had been no mass reduction to enquiries in Hillhouses, Blackpool had seen a slight reduction although are working to revamp their marketing and Samlesbury has not seen a mass negative impact.

It was requested that a report be brought to the next meeting to include a section with 'economic vulnerability' so that the committee can ensure there is an audit trail on enquiries in the market as a consequence of prices rising.

It was noted that there are also some broader support packages available: link

It was noted that lots of work needs to be done on the metrics following the LEP review. Anne-Marie will include the social aspect in this, circulate to the Chair and then to members for comment.

Resolved that;

Anne-Marie updates the metrics and circulates to the Chair and then on to members before the next meeting.