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: Teams Virtual Meeting - Teams. View directions
Contact: Holly Tween Tel: 01772 537955 Email: holly.tween@lancashire.gov.uk
No. | Item |
---|---|
Welcome and Apologies for Absence Minutes: The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Officer apologies had been received from Steve Burns and Rob Green. |
|
Declaration of Interests Minutes: None |
|
Minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2023 PDF 100 KB Minutes: Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2023 were agreed as an accurate record. |
|
Matters Arising Minutes: None |
|
Any Other Business Minutes: The Committee discussed the future governance of the Enterprise Zones.
Government had indicated that there must be a strong private sector voice regarding economic development policy making, and discussions were continuing about where the governance for the various LEP functions would sit within the new Combined Authority.
It was noted that there are substantive activities for Enterprise Zones that will need to be undertaken, such as approving changes to the planning framework for Enterprise Zones, and responsibilities around additional business rates.
It was anticipated that the Combined Authority would be fully operational by October. It was proposed that interim arrangements were agreed while the structure was finalised.
Resolved: the Enterprise Zone Governance Committee agreed:
i. CC Riggott would confirm that the Devolution Development Board was satisfied for the Enterprise Zone Governance Committee to report to them in the interim period before the Combined Authority is operational, and confirm what the reporting mechanism would be
ii. That the responsibilities of the Committee be circulated to members
iii. That opinions are sought from officer teams working on the Enterprise Zones on the ideal makeup and construct of a body to provide governance for the Enterprise Zones, and Andy Walker to bring a brief paper to the next meeting
iv. Meetings of the current committee to be arranged for April, July and October
v. CC Riggott to share any further significant developments in the governance structure with the Committee as they arose |
|
Date of Next Meeting Tbc Minutes: Meeting date in April to be confirmed |
|
Exclusion of the Press and Public 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. Minutes: Resolved: that the meeting move into 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. |
|
Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone: Progress Report Minutes:
The Committee considered the report and there was a time for questions.
It was requested that the table showing enquiries be amended in the update reports for each of the Enterprise Zones to include information on whether the prospective tenant was new to the county or already based in Lancashire, to make clearer the likelihood of converting the enquiry to tenancy and a notional target of occupancy or commitment to give a better picture of expected timescales. It was requested that the updated tables for each Enterprise Zone be circulated to the Board.
Resolved: that the Enterprise Zone Governance Committee
i. note the report
ii. request that the table showing enquiries be amended in the update reports for each of the Enterprise Zones to include information on whether the prospective tenant was new to the county or already based in Lancashire, to make clearer the likelihood of converting the enquiry to tenancy and a notional target of occupancy or commitment to give a better picture of expected timescales, and circulated to the Board |
|
Hillhouse Enterprise Zone: Progress Report Minutes: Mark Harrison, Project Manager, Enterprise Zone and Blackpool Airport, 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 activity since the last meeting, including achievements to date, KPIs and milestones, risks and actions, the Delivery Plan, the Getting Building Fund, residential development, the Fleetwood/Poulton Rail Line, marketing, the Hydrogen Project and Steering Group, the Vinnolit site, new onsite companies, job creation, and estate management.
The Committee considered the report and there was a time for questions.
The hydrogen project and the ability for the site to export energy to the National Grid was discussed. It was suggested that producing some figures around the enablement of the project and the impact it could have as a net exporter of energy could assist engagement. This would be included in the report to the next meeting.
Resolved: that the Enterprise Zone Governance Committee
i. note the report
ii. figures around onsite green energy, hydrogen production and the impact of the ability to export energy would be included in the report to the next meeting |
|
Samlesbury Innovation Hub - Progress Update Minutes: Andy Walker, Head of Business Growth, presented a private and confidential report on the plans for the Innovation Hub at Samlesbury.
It was commented that marketing of available space for SMEs was desirable from the beginning to encourage SMEs to engage with the project.
Resolved: that the Enterprise Zone Governance Committee note the report |
|
Samlesbury Aerospace and Warton Aviation Enterprise Zones: Progress Report Minutes: Chris Dyson, Strategic Development Programme Manager, Lancashire County Council, presented a private and confidential report which provided the committee with an update on the Samlesbury and Warton Aviation Enterprise Zones.
Regarding the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone site, the report included an update on the site delivery programme for phase 2b, KPIs, a financial update, an update on planning, commercial marketing agents, estate management, ancillary accommodation, marketing and communications, skills, and social value.
Regarding the Warton site, the report included an update on the Masterplan and strategic meetings between partners.
The Committee considered the report and there was time for questions.
Resolved: that the Enterprise Zone Governance Committee note the report |