Agenda and minutes

The Chairman, David Holmes, welcomed everyone to the virtual Skype meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Geoff Driver, Councillor Simon Blackburn and David Taylor.

It was noted that County Councillor Michael Green was present as a substitute for County Councillor Geoff Driver.

There were no declarations of interest.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 30 January 2020 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting and be signed by the chairman.

There were no matters arising.

There were no items to report to the LEP.

None.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Tuesday 15 September 2020 in Committee Room 'B', County Hall, Preston.

The committee noted that the next meeting was scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Tuesday15 September 2020.

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 in to 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.

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

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 progress on activity since the last meeting including the implementation plan; marketing; site activity; job creation; Hillhouse EZ Board and Project team meetings; Communications infrastructure; fiscal benefits; and forthcoming activity.

The committee provided feedback on each area of activity and direction, where appropriate, on future developments.

An update on the site activity was provided to the Enterprise Zone Governance Committee as set out in the report and it was noted that work is progressing with the update to the masterplan and delivery plan.

It was noted that the Marketing Strategy/fiscal benefit strategy mirrors those at Blackpool Enterprise Zone.

It was requested that a comprehensive view of the metric set be produced so the committee can see we are tracking towards what was set out in the original proposal.

Resolved: - That

1. the progress report, and updates presented, be noted.

2. Rob, Anne-Marie and Chris have a dialogue with the chairman to arrange how best to produce the comprehensive view of the metric set for committee members quarterly.

Chris Dyson, Strategic Development Programme Manager, Lancashire County Council attended and presented a private and confidential report which provided the committee with an update on the Samlesbury Aerospace and Warton Aviation Enterprise Zone.

The report included updates on progress on achievements to date; the North

West Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre; governance; Commercial Development Framework; Site Wide Utility Strategy; Growth Deal funding; the Asset Management Facility; Warton Aviation Enterprise Zone; and marketing and promotional activities.

The committee provided feedback on each area of activity and direction, where appropriate, on future developments.

It was noted that Samlesbury and Warton Enterprise Zones Echo the broader LAMEC approach in regards to I the importance of extending the fiscal benefits if and where possible.

It was highlighted that the sense of partnership that has been built up over the last three years has been key and that there are real opportunities of working in partnership across Lancashire noting there has been amazing dual work in terms of facilitation.

It was reported that they must now make sure there is a comprehensive delivery strategy for the whole site and that there are some critical pieces of work due to be commissioned soon in regards to the commercial development framework.

The Committee requested that once commissioned, the lead consultant engages with partners to ensure that any proposals are factored in at early stage in order for experience from committee members to be fed through.

It was noted that they are working together across all the Enterprise Zones and recognise the opportunity for a more joined up approach with one collective voice for Lancashire.

The committee agreed that a KPI would be useful so that they can gain a picture of key milestones and the overall balance between the grants and any slippages. It was commented that Committee Members need early notification of these to make sure the timescales match up and to gain a sense of the balance.

An update on marketing was given and it was requested that officers speak with the relevant Marketing Lancashire contact regarding getting the second stage of the LAMEC website up and running.

Resolved: That

  i.  the progress report, and updates presented, be noted.

  ii.  Officers contact Marketing Lancashire to receive an update on the progress of theLAMEC website; and

  iii.  That the Committee be provided with a KPI showing the milestones and overall balance between the grants and any slippages.