Agenda and minutes

Chair welcomed members to the meeting and apologies were noted from Timothy Webber, Martin Kelly, Barbara Murphy (Alan Welsh attending on her behalf) and Cllr Frank McKenna (Danny Davis attending on his behalf).

There were no declarations of interest at this time.

The declaration of interest form was circulated with the minutes from the last meeting for members to complete as required.

Minutes from the meeting dated 28^th October 2015 were agreed as an accurate record.

There were no matters arising from the last meeting.

a.  Closure of the National Business Growth Service

b.  Local Business Support Simplification Exercise

c.  ESIF Commitment to date

d.  Identifying Gaps in Provision, developing commissioning priorities, and establishing a work plan for the BSMB

Andy Walker, Head of Business Growth, Lancashire County Council presented the report circulated with the agenda which provided the Board with information on business support mapping, national policy influences and commitments from the LEP moving forward to help inform a work plan and to further strengthen the understanding of provision.

The report highlighted:

• the closure of the National Business Growth Service – consideration on if and how the gap left by this closure should be addressed
• mapping the local Business Support Offer – presentation to the Board from Regenerate Pennine Lancashire
• European Structural Investments Fund (ESIF) – the four projects which have firm offers of support

The Chair welcomed Steven Cochrane, Director from Regenerate Pennine Lancashire to the meeting to present information on the Business Support Simplification.

The presentation provided details on:

·  Aims including mapping and identification of gaps

·  Economic/strategic context - ensuring a connection to the SME base

·  Provider feedback - survey will be circulated to providers this week and will also looking to request feedback on the service providers to ensure continuous improvement

·  Business feedback - survey will be circulated to the businesses currently on the database.  Steve invited the Board to discuss this in more detail for suggestions on further circulation.  Information requirements for this survey are being developed and looking at possible focus groups to obtain more depth of detail.

·  Mapping – identifying the links across the business support offer and Boost with an overview of projects.

·  Governance review – need an understanding of who make decisions, clarity of governance and a better feedback mechanism. 

·  Next steps - final report to be produced by 28^th March

·  Service delivery – identifying an enhanced data capturing model.  The database does set the journey and will pick up information around success rates on delivery and whether businesses have been able to deliver. 

The Board resolved:

1.  That the progress on the Lancashire Business Support Simplification Review be noted

2.  That a work programme is established to specify the desired business support landscape and gaps in provision

3.  That there is a need to be clear on the target audience

4.  That there is a need to link to SME to support those areas of growth

5.  There is a need for some learning historical data which will also help inform decisions around targeting

6.  That an interactive conversation is required around governance

a.  Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund

b.  Boost 2013-2015 Outturn Figures

c.  Boost 2016-2018 Progress

Andy Walker then presented the report circulated with the agenda on the Oversight of Key Business Support Initiatives. 

The report provides information on the Boost Business Lancashire Programme detailing the final outturn results and external evaluation and the North West Business Fund.

Boost

The majority of the targets were exceeded with exception of jobs safeguarded which had an achievement of 294.3 jobs safeguarded against the target of 461 although it was highlighted that impact of work with some businesses is not yet known.

One area of concern was the lower number of pre-start individuals who progressed to start a new business.

The Board resolved:

1.  That there is a need to use this evidence to plan funding for the next few years

2.  Andy Walker to add cost of intervention to give context to figures (table 2)

3.  Andy Walker to look at geographical elements to identify any gaps

From the information discussed in this item, the Board felt that the survey discussed under Item 5 could include the 3000 businesses that engaged with Boost and agreed a cross section would be more beneficial.  In addition, the survey could include those involved in pre-start who did not continue forward with their business to help identify any barriers.

Boost Moving Forward

A conditional offer has been received for ERDF support to continue the Growth Hub provision until end 2018. Currently in the process of commissioning Gateway, Start up and Mentoring providers. 

The Board resolved:

1.  Andy to look at the various interventions and data to interrogate further to identify gaps

2.  That there is a need to market the Gateway as the starting point for businesses through the process

North West Fund

Andy then provided an update to the Board on the North West Fund which is now almost fully invested except for a small pot of funding left for Merseyside.  The Fund comprised of seven specific funds managed by an experienced Fund Manager.

North West Fund Moving Forward

Andy reported that to keep the Fund as it was would involve a substantial procurement process.  As an alternative, a proposal was presented from the British Business Bank to establish a Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund covering 10 of the 11 northern LEPs (one LEP not joining is the North East LEP).

The report recommends that.  In addition the Board noted the, agreed commitment to actively oversee the development of these projects and will seek update from the Lancashire Business Grant Programme.

The Board resolved:

1.  That the Board seeks representation on the interim Strategic Oversight Board to ensure the funding is used well in Lancashire

2.  That the progress of the Boost and NW Fund be noted

3.  That the Board commits to actively oversee the development of these projects and will seek update from the Lancashire Business Grant Programme

4.  That there is a need to identify emerging gaps and requirements

5.  Clarification is required on what private sector funding is admissible

6.  Confirmation on the calls for funding in April  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Board agreed that the future work programme needs to:

·  include strategy and communication priorities

·  identify key governance agencies

·  seek feedback on programmes

·  identify the format of oversight

The Board resolved:

1.  Andy to provide mapping for a work plan of programmes for the next meeting in March

2.  Andy to investigate and report back how local administration is fed back into the proposed Combined Authority

The Board highlighted the potential future challenges around the Combined Authority and in particular the impact for Wyre.

21^st March at 12pm, The John of Gaunt Room (formerly County Mess), County Hall Preston

21^st March, 12pm in the John of Gaunt room (formerly County Mess), County Hall, Preston