Minutes:
Rob Green, Head of Enterprise Zones, Blackpool Council attended and presented a private and confidential report which provided the committee with an update on the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.
The report included updates on progress on the Enterprise Zone's Masterplan;
fiscal incentives; current phase one activity; the M55 link road; initial speculative development; planning applications; Squires Gate Industrial Estate; communications infrastructure; marketing; Blackpool Airport; output delivery; the project team; and the risk register.
The committee provided feedback on each area of activity and direction, where appropriate, on future developments.
It was noted that the masterplan was still being worked on and they were hoping that this would be ready for consideration by the end of May 2020 with some elements of it still ongoing.
The committee were informed that the key ongoing piece of work is around the delivery plan and the impacts/delays that have affected the progress. It was reported that this is currently being worked on and that they are intending for the initial draft form to go to Blackpool as the accountable body executive by the end of May 2020 and then it will be brought back to this committee.
An update regarding the EZ fiscal incentives was given, noting that it was originally put together for the Northern Enterprise Zones and has now been picked up by the LEP Network nationally and all of the Enterprise Zones so there may be a bit more work required on this going forward.
There have been six key asks put forward which include changes around business rate periods and enhance capital allowances recognising that business rates were originally to March 2024 therefore they are lobbying for an extension to March 2026 to allow sites to put in the key infrastructure. The committee were informed that it's looking positive for the EZ Zones in terms of picking up support from government and that hopefully something can be included in the next comprehensive spending review.
Blackpool Council continue to work in partnership with Marketing Lancashire to develop the LAMEC website pages.
It was highlighted that to date 179 live enquiries are currently logged for Blackpool Enterprise Zone, 73 businesses have located in to the Enterprise Zone since it became live and the net total of jobs is now standing at 1,443.
It was noted that things are moving forward at a good pace at the moment and there is a regular dialogue with the LEP Network and positive engagement with MHCLG so good to keep encouraging the work being done at LEP network.
It was requested that both Rob and Anne-Marie notify the committee if they think there is an early warning system and that they don’t wait till next formal meeting so that the committee can reach out to board for sponsorship and support in order to maintain the positive progress that has taken place.
It was agreed that Rob/Chris have a separate dialogue with the Chairman to come up with a simple measure to produce a prospect register of the top 10-15 enquiries they have at any one time to present to the committee as Part II item quarterly in order to help members understand the maturity and scale of enquiries received and to ensure that opportunities are maximised at a Lancashire level to secure the entrance in investment and to give leading indicators of the overall ability to meet objectives.
Resolved: That: