Agenda and minutes

The Committee has been asked to note that in accordance with the Terms of Reference, Mr M Blackburn has been appointed as the Chair.

The Committee noted that in accordance with its Terms of Reference Mr M Blackburn (Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board Member) had been appointed as Chair of this Board and Mr M Damms (Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board Member) as Deputy Chair.

Resolved: That the Committee noted the appointment of Mr M Blackburn as Chair of the Board and Mr M Damms as Deputy Chair.

Chair welcomed members to the first meeting of the Board, introductions were made and apologies were noted from Frank McKenna, Andy Walker and Barbara Murphy (Alan Welsh attending on her behalf).

The Chair outlined the purpose of this standing item on the agenda and the Board confirmed there were no declarations of interest at this point in the meeting.

Resolved:  That the declaration of interest form be circulated with the minutes of this meeting for Board members to complete and return for recording.

The Board discussed the Terms of Reference as set out in the papers circulated with the agenda for approval. 

The Board agreed the need for flexibility in the membership of the Board to enable additional representation where required.

Resolved: That clarification is required on Paragraph 16 around the skills development priorities

The Chair discussed the reporting requirements to the LEP from this Board.  Minutes from this Board will be submitted to the LEP and the Chair will also be required to provide updates at their request.

Martin Kelly led the Board through the report circulated with the agenda papers on the Publicly Funded Business Support Provision in Lancashire.

Part of the Business Support Management Board function is to decide where funding would be most appropriate and to also challenge the LEP on decisions.

Martin discussed the proposal outlined to conduct a business support provision audit and whether this group should be a custodian of that audit to make sense of the information coming in to shape that.  The Board agreed this information would be useful and there needs to be assurances that the audit is focussed around public business support.

Resolved:

1.  Board agreed to the recommendations outlined in the report

2.  To be added to the agenda for the next meeting

Martin Kelly outlined details of the report circulated with the agenda on the ESIF – Pipeline Development and Project Calls to the Board.

Lancashire has an allocation of £185m from the National Growth Programme for EU funding over the period 2014-20.

There has been a two year delay in the release of funding but are now looking to position proposals and hopeful that £8m should be secured early in the New Year.

The Board discussed the Financial Engineering Instruments that would support lending to businesses in the North West and the two potential models proposed which are the Northern Powerhouse Fund and a new North West Fund. 

Martin reported that Manchester and Lancashire may come together to make a NW fund as a successor fund with a new governance framework – Cheshire also close to agreeing.  The Board agreed that cross border working would be seen more favourably by the Government.

This Board will have important role to ensure the funding arrangements are working well and Martin advised the he would be happy to arrange briefings for members to assist with this information.

Resolved:

1.  Report noted by the Board

2.  Links to the LEP Board papers to be circulated with the minutes (see below)

3.  Briefings with members to be organised on the funding arrangements

Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Limited Board

- National Business Support Helpline

- Business Growth Service

Martin Kelly discussed the report circulated with the agenda on Performance Data on National Business Support Activity in Lancashire for information.

The Board discussed the data included in the report around the Business Support Helpline and the Business Growth Service Local Information Report for Quarter 1.

The Board noted that the Quarter 1 report indicated a variation in opinion on the Barriers to Growth in Lancashire.

Mike Damms advised the Board of a document on a 'Guide to National Government Business Support Services' which he will provide for circulation to the Board with the minutes.

In the data circulated on the Business Support Helpline, the Board agreed that it would be useful to have information on outcomes and results in addition to this information to gain a broader, more comprehensive view on the service provided.

The Board raised the question around those customers not eligible for Growth Hub who may be signposted elsewhere but does not show on this information and would therefore not show any potential gaps in the market.

Resolved:

1.  Report noted by the Board

2.  Clerk to circulate the Guide to National Government Business Support Services with the minutes

The Board discussed the format of future meetings.

Resolved:

The Board agreed:

1.  There is a need to focus on key areas and restrict number of items to give time for more meaningful discussion

2.  Impact – identify KPI measures for the Board

3.  Timings of meetings to be no longer than two hours

4.  The Board to discuss further at the next meeting with input from each of the Board Members

There were no items of urgent business raised.

The next meeting has been proposed to take place on the 20^th January at 12pm in The John of Gaunt Room, at County Hall, Preston.

Future dates have been circulated and attached for information.

Dates of future meetings was circulated with the agenda.  The next meeting of the Board is due to take place on 20^th January 2016 at 12pm, The John of Gaunt room, County Hall, Preston.