Agenda and minutes

The Chairman, Edwin Booth, welcomed all to the meeting.  Apologies for absence were presented from Councillor Simon Blackburn, Councillor Phil Riley, Professor Mark Smith, Malcolm McVicar, Mike Tynan, Mike Blackburn and David Taylor.

Resolved:  The minutes of the Board meeting held on 15^th December 2015 were approved as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

None

Dave Holmes, declared in advance of the meeting, an interest in item 5 – Advance Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).  His employer, BAE Systems, are proposing to be a founding partner in AMRC, it was agreed that Mr Holmes would be able to be present during this item.

Powerpoint by Professor Keith Ridgeway, Sheffield University and Professor Stephen Decent, Lancaster University

Andy Walker, Head of Service Business Growth, Lancashire County Council briefly introduced a presentation regarding Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre which had been prepared by Professor Keith Ridgeway, Sheffield University and Professor Stephen Decent, Lancaster University.

Professor Decent and Professor Ridgeway explained that the North West AMRC was required in order for businesses to drive down cost through innovation and improved productivity.  It is also necessary to drive latest technology adoption, better leadership, management and production practice down and across supply chains.

It was reported that North West AMRC had evolved from the earlier AEM-TEC discussions: AME-TEC was developed by BAE Systems and other industrial partners, in partnership with the LEP, as a proposition which had evolved into the North West AMRC concept.  It was noted that BAE Systems, Siemens and the North West Aerospace Alliance are founding partners and are committed to the North West AMRC project.

The purpose of the North West AMRC project is to create an "Innovation District" and the "Advanced Manufacturing Corridor" which will stretch across Lancashire and Yorkshire.  The North West Innovation District will develop Business Growth, Employment and Skills and Infrastructure and will include reconfigurable digital factories, machining for aerospace and nuclear, sharing in the growth multi-sector regional pilot and a technology exploitation programme.

In order to progress the concept the LEP Board were asked to endorse the creation of a Board that will do the work necessary for the business plan and delivery of the proposed project.  It was recommended that the Board contain representation from relevant founding partners including the University of Sheffield, Lancaster University, BAE Systems, Siemens, and NWAA in addition to the Lancashire LEP.  The Terms of reference will be agreed with the LEP.  It was reported that the LEP Board will be kept up to date on the progress of this work with further progress anticipated by Spring / Summer 2016.

The LEP Board welcomed the development and strategy presented and looked forward to the North West engaging in this next generation of Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, and endorsed the proposed way forward as presented.

Resolved:  The LEP Board:

(i)  Welcomed and noted the presentation.

(ii)  Endorsed the proposal to create a Board consisting of the founding partners and the LEP as identified, and;

(iii)  Welcomed further reports on progress being presented to the LEP Board in Spring / Summer 2016.

Verbal report by Professor Stephen Decent, Lancaster University

Professor Stephen Decent, Lancaster University, gave an update on the submission to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) regarding the Northern Powerhouse Advanced Manufacturing Corridor Science and Innovation Audit, Expression of Interest.

Professor Decent confirmed the Expression of Interest had been submitted by the 29^th January 2016 deadline to BIS and outlined the proposal submitted by a consortium of key innovation partners in the Sheffield City Region and Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership areas.

Resolved:  The LEP Board noted and endorsed the submission to BIS regarding the Science and Innovation Audit and noted that a further submission would be made once details of treasury projects are known.

Verbal update from the Chairman on the recent Repurposing Session

The Chairman, Edwin Booth provided an update on the recent LEP Repurposing session held on 15^th January 2016 and circulated a LEP purpose document that had been produced following the session.

It was reported that the event had been well attended and well received.  The document contained the LEP "Dream" – To be universally recognised as the engine of transformation for Lancashire's economy and the LEP "Spirit" Driving a more prosperous Lancashire.

Resolved:  The LEP Board noted the feedback from the LEP Repurposing session held on 15^th January 2016.

Andy Milroy, Company Services Officer, Lancashire County Council presented a LEP Governance and Sub Committees Decisions report (circulated) to the Board.  The report provided the Board with updates from recent meetings of the LEP Committees and also presented to the Board the accounts and financial statements for the period ending September 2015 for approval.

Richard Evans, Chairman of the LEP Performance Committee, gave feedback on the first formal meeting of the Committee.  It was resolved to include a number of standing items on future Committee agendas including a recommendation that each of the other LEP Committees produce a one / two page summary for consideration by the Performance Committee and the Chairs of the other LEP Committees be invited, on a rotational basis, to Performance Committee meetings to discuss performance and any key items.

Resolved:  The LEP Board:

(i)  Noted the updates provided in relation to the Committees of the LEP.

(ii)  Approved the proposed operating arrangements of the LEP Performance Committee, and;

(iii)  Approved the accounts and financial statements for the period ending September 2015 for signing by the Chairman on behalf of the LEP Board.

Neil Jack, Chief Executive, Blackpool Council presented a report (circulated) which updated the LEP Board on the Combined Authority / Devolution Deal.

It was reported that 14 of the 15 Lancashire Authorities had attended a workshop on 5^th January 2016 along with Graham Cowley on behalf of the LEP to develop the proposals and what is best for Lancashire.  A consultation for the public, businesses and other stakeholders was currently underway with a deadline for responses of 19^th February 2016.

The Lancashire Leaders were scheduled to meet again later in February to continue to progress the proposals, and will meet again in March to consider the consultation responses with the 14 Councils seeking approval from their respective Full Councils at the end of March / start of April become a constituent member of a Lancashire Combined Authority.  Those authorities that wish to form a Combined Authority will submit a proposal to the Secretary of State for consideration which may include devolution proposals for freedoms, flexibilities and powers to help the Combined Authority drive forward Lancashire's ambitions.

In addition the LEP Board was asked to approve that a funding contribution of up to £50k from the LEP's core budget be made to develop the case-making in support of Lancashire's devolution deal.

Resolved:  The LEP Board:

(i)  Noted the contents of the report and the update provided on the Combined Authority / Devolution Deal.

(ii)  Approved a funding contribution of up to £50k from the LEP's core budge to develop the case-making in support of Lancashire's devolution deal.

(iii)  Requested that further reports be submitted as appropriate to the LEP Board on Lancashire's Combined Authority / Devolution Deal developments, including the development of underpinning business cases, and;

(iv)  Agreed to provide updates on the LEP Work Programme to each of the future Lancashire Leaders meetings.

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive, Marketing Lancashire presented a report (circulated) which updated the Board on the LEP Strategic Marketing. 

Ms Connor highlighted a number of media and PR activities undertaken by the LEP appointed agencies SKV Communications and ThinkingPlace as set out in the report.

Resolved:  The LEP Board:

(i)  Noted the contents of the report.

(ii)  Approved the proposed approach to continuing to develop a strategic marketing proposition for Lancashire, as set out in the report.

(iii)  Delegated authority to Lancashire County Council's Director of Economic Development and the Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire to progress with the outputs required from the project; and

(iv)  Noted that the Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire,  as the LEP’s Media Communications and PR lead, continues to provide regular updates to the LEP Board on the work programmes and outputs of the appointed consultants.

The Chairman, Edwin Booth, sought the Board's views on the LEP re-purposing event held on 15^th January 2016 and a suggestion from the meeting host regarding payment for the event.  The Board approved the suggestion put forward.

The next meeting of the LEP Board is scheduled for Tuesday 5^th April 2016, 6pm, County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next LEP Board meeting was scheduled to be held on Tuesday 5^th April 2016, 6pm at County Hall, Preston.

At this point the LEP Board approved that the meeting move into Part II, Private and Confidential to consider the remaining items which contained exempt information provided in confidence as defined in the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  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.

Kathryn Molloy, Head of Service LEP Coordination, Lancashire County Council presented a report (circulated) regarding Growth Deal Project Funding Approval.

It was noted that the report provides the Board with information on two existing Lancashire Growth Deal projects which sought funding approval from the Board.  Namely UCLan's Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) and the Barnfield Investment Properties (BIP) sponsored Northlight (Brierfield Mill) scheme.

Resolved:  The LEP Board:

The Board is asked to:

(i)  Approved a Growth Deal funding allocation of £10.5m towards the Engineering Innovation Centre project.

(ii)  Agreed that the Chair of the Growth Deal Management Board, with support from Lancashire County Council officers, and under the guidance of the LEP's Executive Committee, works with Barnfield Investment Properties Limited over the coming weeks to agree and satisfy any Conditions Precedent.

(iii)  Agreed that any other commercial or financial issues which may arise in relation to the project are reported to the LEP Board.

(iv)  Approved an additional £0.5m of Growth Deal funding towards the Northlight project; and

(v)  Approved a Growth Deal funding allocation of £4.2m towards the Northlight subject to the satisfactory achievement of any Conditions Precedent.

Michele Lawty-Jones, LEP Skills Hub Coordinator, Lancashire County Council presented a report (circulated) regarding Growth Deal Skills Capital – Round 2 allocations.

Resolved:  The LEP Board:

(i)  Noted the report presented and that ten Expression of Interests (EOIs) were received totalling £8.92m.

(ii)  Noted the EOI Project summaries presented for information regarding the Energy Simulator Suite for the proposed Lancashire Energy HQ (Blackpool and the Fylde College) and Lancashire Adult Learning College move to Brierfield Mill (Lancashire County Council), and;

(iii)  Approved three fast track business cases for approval as presented, namely:

a.  The Edge Hill University Technology Hub (Edge Hill University) – amount of grant awarded £3,000,000.

b.  Food and Farming Innovation and Technology Centre (Myerscough College) – amount of grant awarded £3,000,000.

c.  Enhanced IT Infrastructure (Runshaw College) – amount of grant awarded £204,426.