Agenda and minutes

Members of the public are welcome to attend our meetings to watch them in person at any of the venues across the County. Publicly accessible meetings held in County Hall will be webcast, which means they are available to be watched live or recorded on our website. Please see our webcasting notice here. The Committee may, in certain circumstances, resolve to hold part of the meeting in private. If this is the case, you will be required to leave the meeting.

Venue: Committee Room 'D' - The Henry Bolingbroke Room, County Hall, Preston. View directions

Contact: Andy Milroy  Tel: 01772 530354 Email:  andy.milroy@lancashire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome and Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

The Chairman, Edwin Booth, welcomed all to the meeting.  The Chairman reported that it was Mike Damms last meeting as he was standing down as a Director after almost six years of service.  The Chairman thanked Mr Damms for all he had done for him personally, and also on behalf of all LEP Board members.

 

Apologies for absence were presented from LEP Directors Councillor Stuart Hirst, Malcolm McVicar, Khalid Saifullah and David Taylor.  Officer apologies were presented from Harry Catherall and Brian Bailey (both Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council) with Denise Park attending in their place.

 

Andy Beynon attended as a guest of Dennis Mendoros.

2.

Minutes of the meeting held on 31st January 2017 pdf icon PDF 115 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Board meeting held on 31st January 2017 be approved as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

3.

Matters Arising

Minutes:

None

4.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 44 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Jim Carter declared an interest in Item 8 – Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal – Cuerden – he is the non-executive deputy Chairman of Eric Wright Group who are partnering Lancashire County Council in bringing forward the development at Cuerden.  It was agreed that Mr Carter could remain for the item but would be excluded from any vote or decision on the item.

 

Richard Evans declared an declared an interest in Item 8 – Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal – Cuerden – he is the associated audit partner at KPMG for audit client Eric Wright.  It was agreed that Mr Evans could remain for the item but would be excluded from any vote or decision on the item.

5.

LEP Governance and Committees Decisions Report pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Minutes:

Andy Milroy, Senior Democratic Services Officer, Lancashire County Council, presented a report (circulated) which provided the Board with updated from the recent LEP Committee meetings.

 

In addition, Graham Cowley provided a verbal update on Growth Deal Management Board membership.  It was reported that UCLan had notified Mr Cowley that Professor Robert Walsh was to step down from the Growth Deal Management Board with it proposed that Michael Ahern from UCLan replace Professor Walsh for continuity.

 

Resolved:  That

 

(i)  The updates provided in relation to the Committees of the LEP be noted; and

(ii)  That the appointment of Michael Ahern in place of Professor Robert Walsh (both UCLan) as a member of the Growth Deal Management Board be approved.

6.

Key Initiatives Update pdf icon PDF 183 KB

Minutes:

Kathryn Molloy, Head of Service LEP Coordination, Lancashire County Council presented a report (circulated) which provided an update on LEP Key Initiatives including the City Deal Programme, Growth Del Programme, Enterprise Zone Programme, Boost Business Growth Hub and Growing Places Investment Funding.

 

Resolved:  The LEP Board noted the Key Initiatives Update report, as presented.

7.

Startegic Marketing and Communications Update Report pdf icon PDF 155 KB

Minutes:

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive, Marketing Lancashire Limited presented a report (circulated) that provided the LEP Board with an update on the development and delivery of strategic marketing and communication strategy for the LEP.

 

Of particular discussion was the LEP attendance at MIPIM International in Cannes.  It was reported that the event had gone well and that partnering with Manchester enabled the LEP to not only be a part of a 230 plus Manchester delegation of leading professions in the property development sector but also raise Lancashire's profile with international investors, UK institutions and government bodies.  LEP Directors asked if in the future it would be possible for Lancashire to have its own stand, Ms Connor agreed this was a future aspiration but for now the benefit of working with Manchester whom have the experience of attending the event for a number of years was invaluable.  It was agreed to consider all options on work on a proposal for LEP Board approval in due course.

 

Resolved:  The LEP Board:

 

(i)  Noted the contents of the report.

 

(ii)  Approved the recommendation that Lancashire attend the MIPIM International Exhibition and Conference in Cannes in 2018, with options to be presented to a future LEP Board meeting in accordance with section 3.3. of the report.

 

(iii)  Approved the recommendation to continue to develop a strategic marketing proposition for Lancashire, as set out in the report in section 3.10 by extending SKV Communications' PR and Media contract for a further 12 months; and

 

(iv)  Noted that the Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire, as the LEP's Media, Communications and PR lead, will continue to provide regular updates to the LEP Board on strategic marketing outputs and activity.

8.

Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal - Cuerden pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Minutes:

Beckie Joyce, Head of Service, Strategic Economic Development, Lancashire County Council presented a report (circulated) which provided an update on the Cuerden Strategic Site development with the LEP Board requested to re-affirm its support, in writing, to the local planning authority for the development proposals for the site as set out in the planning application.

 

Following a discussion, the Chairman put the recommendations as set out in the report to a vote.

 

Resolved:  The LEP Board agreed by majority vote:

 

(i)  To note the contribution that the development of the Cuerden Strategic Site will make to City Deal growth and employment targets plus outputs; and

 

(ii)  Agreed to re-affirm its support, in writing, to the local planning authority for the development proposals for the Cuerden Strategic Site, set out in the planning application for the site.

9.

SEP Refresh

9a

Trade and Internationalisation: A Global Lancashire pdf icon PDF 164 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mike Damms, LEP Director and SME Business Champion, presented a report (circulated) which provided the LEP Board with an update on Trade and Internationalisation: A Global Lancashire.

 

It was highlighted that Lancashire's economic role and contribution to international trade is under developed within the LEP's current Strategic Economic Plan.  However the SEP Refresh allows the opportunity to review this key issue, especially in light of recent Brexit developments.

 

LEP Board Members expressed their support for the Outline International Trade Delivery Plan (attached at Appendix 'A' to the report).

 

Resolved:  The LEP Board:

 

(i)  Noted the contents of the report, including the Outline International Trade Delivery Plan; and

 

(ii)  Requested that Officers include the analysis within the report in the key inputs to the SEP refresh.

9b

East-West Connectivity: An Economic Study pdf icon PDF 112 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Martin Kelly, Director of Economic Development, Lancashire County Council presented a report (circulated) which provided the LEP Board with an update on East-West Connectivity – An Economic Study. 

 

It was noted that the study had been commissioned through Transport for Lancashire on behalf of the LEP, in conjunction with partners in North and West Yorkshire.  The purpose of the analysis was to provide an independent economic review of the potential economic benefits that might arise from enhanced connectivity between Lancashire and North and West Yorkshire, with a view of developing a strategic economic narrative to support the case for potential investment and intervention in road/rail based connectivity linking these three functional economies.

 

Resolved:  The LEP Board:

 

(i)  Noted the contents of the report and its contribution to the refresh of the LEP's Strategic Economic Plan.

 

(ii)  Noted the robust and compelling case that the independent study by Cushman & Wakefield makes for enhanced East-West connectivity to realise the full economic potential of the Central Trans-Pennine Corridor and its role in delivering the long-term growth ambitions of the wider Northern Powerhouse.

 

(iii)  Noted that the study is used as a first stage evidence base to promote the case for improved connectivity with Transport for North (TfN) and other key stakeholders, and that it is to be shared with Transport for the North and the shadow Lancashire Combined Authority; and

 

(iv)  Requested that the Chair of Transport for Lancashire provides further updates to the Board on progress in influencing the road and rail investment priorities of Transport for the North, and on the LEP's further joint case-making with partners in North and West Yorkshire.

10.

Industrial Strategy Roundtable Consultation Session

Session to be led by Kirsty Pearce, Area Director Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Mick Allen, Northern Powerhouse Team and Assistant Director – Area Lead Lancashire, BEIS.

Minutes:

Mick Allen, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS Northern Powerhouse Team and Assistant Director – Area Lead Lancashire) gave a presentation regarding Industrial Strategy which is a critical part of the Prime Minister's ambition to build an economy that works for everyone.  The objective of the modern industrial strategy is to improve living standards and economic growth by increasing productivity and driving growth across the whole country.

 

Mr Allen explained that the new Industrial Strategy presented an opportunity for LEP's to remain a recognised and valuable part of the local growth landscape.  Mr Allen stated that BEIS will work with LEP's to review their role in delivering local growth and examine how BEIS can support best practice and strengthen them, including through the support LEP's can receive from the "What Works" centre for Local Economic Growth.

 

In addition an update was provided on the Northern Powerhouse and the Northern Powerhouse Strategy which included focus on connectivity, skills, enterprise and trade.  It was reported that over the coming month Northern Powerhouse will meet with local partners including local authorities, LEP's, business groups, universities and other key groups to establish priorities.

 

Resolved:  The LEP Board noted the presentation and provided feedback as appropriate.

11.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

None

12.

Date of Next Meeting

The next LEP Board meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday 29th June 2017, 4.30pm in Cabinet Room 'D' - The Henry Bolingbroke Room, County Hall, Preston.

Minutes:

It was noted that the next LEP Board meeting was scheduled to be held at 4.30pm on 29th June 2017 in Cabinet Room 'D' – The Henry Bolingbroke Room, County Hall, Preston.