Agenda and minutes

Observer

Mr M Allen – Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy.

In attendance

Miss J Ainsworth, Subject Matter Expert/Specialist Adviser Finance, LCC.

Mrs J Johnson Subject Matter Expert/Specialist Adviser Legal, LCC.

Mr M Kelly – Director of Economic development, LCC.

Ms K Molloy, Head of Service, LEP Coordination, LCC.

Mr M Neville - Company Services Officer, Democratic Services, LCC.

Miss A M Parkinson – Programme Manager, LCC.

Ms G Siora (Warwick Economic and Development).

Mr D Williams and Mr D Gregson (Lancaster University).

Mr J McCreadie (Ekosgen).

Mr G Collinge (Genecon).

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted that apologies for absence had been received from Mr A Cavill.

Ms J Whittaker declared an interest in item 13 as she represented an organisation which was involved in the project which would receive Growth Deal funding.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting held on the 8^th June 2016 are confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

No items were raised under this heading.

Ms Parkinson informed the meeting that the 'Toolkit for Wider Economic and Social Benefits for Growth Deal Projects in Lancashire' was almost complete and would be published on the LEP website in due course.

She added that during the current Quarter 'actual' returns for six Growth Deal funded projects had been received and would be entered into the social value metrics document for future reporting. It was also noted that Officers were looking into a potential assessment tool which could quantify social value in monetary terms.

Resolved:

1.  That the updates are noted.

2.  That the Committee be kept informed of the progress of Growth Deal funded projects and consistency with City Deal programmes.

No items were raised under this heading.

The next scheduled meeting of the Committee is due to be held at 1.30pm on the 12^th October, 2016, at Runshaw College, Langdale Road, Leyland.

It was noted that the next scheduled meeting would be held at 1.30pm on the 12^th October 2016 in Room X212 at Runshaw College, Langdale Road, Leyland.

Not for publication – exempt information as defined in paragraph 41 (Information provided in confidence relating to contracts) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Georgia Siora, Managing Director from Warwick Economics & Development, informed the meeting that the scope of the Lancashire Growth Deal Evaluation would operate at three distinct levels.

·  Six projects which were identified as exemplar projects would be reviewed in detail, including in depth analysis of their achievements, benefits, outputs and outcomes.

·  All Growth Deal projects would be subject to a general project evaluation which would provide an accurate analysis of each project's outputs and benefits realisation.

·  An evaluation of the Growth Deal programme whole, including an annual evaluation workshop to analyse and measure the success and benefits of the whole Growth Deal programme.

The evaluation, which had commenced in April 2016 and would be completed in March 2019, would seek to report on achievements in relation to aims/objectives, identify emerging economic and social benefits or capacity building and provide opportunities to learn from experience.

The Committee considered a number of potential projects and identified six which were deemed suitable to be exemplar projects.

Resolved:

1.  That the report is noted.

2.  That the following projects are identified as exemplar projects and as such will be the subject of a more detail review as part of the Lancashire Growth Deal Evaluation.

Redevelopment of Briefield Mill.
Lancashire Energy HQ.
Hyndburn–Pendle Growth Corridor.
UCLan Engineering and Innovation Centre.
Blackpool Town centre Quality Corridors.
Myerscough College - Farm, Innovation Technology Centre.

3.  That a report on the initial findings of the Evaluation be presented to the next meeting.

Oral report.

Not for publication – exempt information as defined in paragraph 41 (Information provided in confidence relating to contracts) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Ms Molloy informed the meeting that following further discussions between the project sponsor and other stakeholders it had been agreed to broaden the scope of the Blackpool Heritage Based Visitor Attraction project which would involve additional development costs.

The Committee noted that as projects developed a number of requests for additional funding had been received and it was agreed that as funding was limited all such requests would be monitored and, if appropriate, considered in the future should funding become available via underspends across the programme.

Resolved:

1.  That any requests from project sponsors for additional funding be monitored and collated by the Growth Deal Programme Manager.

2.  That 'Projects seeking additional funding' be included as a standard item on future agendas with the Programme Manager to provide updates as appropriate.

Not for publication – exempt information as defined in paragraph 41 (Information provided in confidence relating to contracts) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Miss Ainsworth updated the committee on the financial aspects of the Local Growth Fund.

Resolved:

1.  The spend to date and the spend to be made in 2016/17, as set out in the report presented, are noted. 

2.  That the 2016/17 in year spend and forecast to be balanced to the funding, as set out in the report presented, are noted.

3.  That consideration is given to the continued profiling of funding forecasts for projects being as accurate as possible with the Committee managing existing projects in order to recoup slippage and new projects to remain on track with spend in 2016/17.

Not for publication – exempt information as defined in paragraph 41 (Information provided in confidence relating to contracts) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Miss Parkinson reported that since the last meeting Grant Funding Agreements for 7 projects had been approved by the Committee via written resolution on 15^th August 2016.

The Committee considered the updates for various projects as set out in the report and noted that all projects were on track.

Resolved:

1.  That the report is noted.

2.  That in future the Growth Deal Project Metrics document be RAG rated.

Report to follow

Not for publication – exempt information as defined in paragraph 41 (Information provided in confidence relating to contracts) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information).

A report was circulated at the meeting to update the Committee on the revised project business case (including those issues identified by the independent appraisal and specific areas of concern raised by the Committee at the last meeting) in connection with the Lancaster University Health Innovation Campus.

In considering the report the Committee was made aware of the additional comments of the independent appraiser in relation to key technical issues which had been identified and also received clarification on certain other key points from representatives of the University.

Resolved:

1.  That the revised project business case is agreed in relation to the technical issues identified in the independent appraisal and set out in the report presented.

2.  That a further report regarding the following issues is presented to the next meeting for consideration.

a)  A clearer explanation of the proposed phasing between the investment of funds and delivery of outcomes, with evidence that the formal buy in of key partners such as the NHS and local consultants has been secured.

b)  The potential impact on the UK's ESIF programme as a result of the EU referendum and how this would affect the project.

3.  That the LEP Board be advised on the Committees decision regarding the project.

Report to follow

Not for publication – exempt information as defined in paragraph 41 (Information provided in confidence relating to contracts) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Ms Molloy circulated her report regarding the Local Growth Fund Agreement for project GF02-27 - Redevelopment of Brierfield Mill and informed the Committee of those areas where the agreement deviated from the Core LGF Agreement.

Resolved: That the completed Local Growth Fund Agreement in relation to project GF02-27 - Redevelopment of Brierfield Mill, as set out in the report presented, is approved.

·  Identification and agreement of any recommendations for consideration/approval by the LEP Board

·  Identification and agreement of issues for inclusion in the feedback report for the LEP Board

It was noted that reports on the following matters would be presented to the LEP Board on the 13^th September 2016.

·  A report on Lancaster Health Innovation Campus to inform the Board that the Committee had considered a number of technical matters and that a further report regarding the funding profile of the project and uncertainty regarding ESIF funding would be presented to the Committee on the 12^th October 2016.

·  An update on the Committee decision to approve the Growth Funding Agreement for the Redevelopment of Brierfield Mill.