Agenda and minutes

Following an introduction to UCLAN's Engineering and Innovation Centre by UCLAN Vice Chancellor Professor Graham Baldwin, LEP Chairman Steve Fogg welcomed all to the LEP Board meeting.

Apologies for absence were presented from Dave Holmes and Graham Cowley.

It was noted that an informal LEP Director work shop would be held on 20^th January 2020.

Resolved:  The minutes of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board meeting held on 30^th September 2019 were approved as an accurate record and duly signed by the Chairman.

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Andrew Pettinger, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and Andy Walker, Head of Service Business Growth, Lancashire County Council, presented a report (circulated).

In addition an updated presentation was provided which provided further details of the Evidence Base, Local Priorities, Proposition Development and Final Narrative for the Lancashire Local Industrial Strategy.

LEP Board Members provided feedback on all aspects of the Strategy which were noted by officers.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board:

(i)  Noted the development of Lancashire’s Local Industrial Strategy and the presentation provided.

(ii)  Agreed to the propositions as set out in Table 1 (of the report) as the basis for the start of the conversation and iterative ‘co-production’ development process with HMG.

(iii)  Delegated authority to the LEP Chairman and Interim Chief Executive to run that process with HMG, drawing on Lancashire partners and expertise, as appropriate, and;

(iv)  Reflected on the outcome of the General Election and delegated authority to the LEP Chairman and the Interim Chief Executive to start the conversation with the new national government and report back, as appropriate, on new expectations and developments, including any implications for the Local Industrial Strategy.

Presentation

Lauren Zawadzki and Elena Gifford from Deco Publique attended to provide a presentation to the LEP Board on the National Festival of Making and the benefits of the Festival for Lancashire.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board agreed that LEP Officers will work with Deco Publique to prepare a bid which will be submitted to the LEP Board for further consideration.

Andrew Pettinger presented a report (circulated) which contained the LEP Finance Monitoring for the period 1 April 2019 to 31 October 2019.

It was noted there was a underspend of £80,000 which was mainly due to unused resources set aside in the LEP transition budget.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board noted the financial position of the LEP for the period 1 April 2019 to 31 October 2019 as presented.

Andy Milroy, Senior Democratic Services Officer, Lancashire County Council presented a report (circulated) which provided the Board with Governance and Committee updates for the LEP.

The LEP Board approved the Committee Member changes as set out in the report and also noted that this Board meeting was the last meeting of Mike Blackburn before stepping down as a Director with the Board formally thanking Mike for his service of over 8 years.

In addition, the company's dormant accounts were presented for approval.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board:

(i)  Noted the updated provide in the report in relation to Governance and the Committees of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.

(ii)  Approved the Committee Member changes as set out in the report.

(iii)  Approved the dormant company accounts and financial statements for the period ending September 2019 as set out at Appendices 'A' and 'B' to the report for signing and filing at Companies House; and

(iv)  Formally thanked Mike Blackburn for his service as a Director.

There was one item of other business considered in the Part I section regarding the UK City of Culture Bid 2025.

Tony Attard, LEP Co-Optee, presented a report (circulated as a supplementary item) regarding Lancashire's bid for UK City of Culture 2025.

It was noted that the report set out the financial position, cost so far and projected requirements both short and long term.  Updates were also provided on marketing activities, business activities, next steps and a proposed governance structure.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board welcomed Lancashire's bid for UK City of Culture 2025 and requested that the Bid Director be asked to keep the Board updated on progress and be invited to present to the Board at a future meeting.

The next LEP Board meeting is scheduled to be held on 10^th February 2020, at 4:30pm, venue tbc.

It was noted that the next Board meeting was scheduled to be held on Monday 10^th February 2020 at 4:30pm, venue tbc.

The Board 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.

At this point the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board approved that the meeting move into Part II, Private and Confidential, to consider the remaining agenda items 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 each report or presentation. 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.

Anne-Marie Parkinson, Programme Manager, Lancashire Enterprise Partnership presented a private and confidential report (circulated) regarding the Growth Deal Programme.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership:

(i)   Considered  the contents of this report; and

(ii)  Approved Growth Deal funding to the projects listed below, subject to the finalisation and execution by Lancashire County Council (as accountable body for the LEP) under the guidance of the Directors of Corporate Services and Economic Development and Planning of a Grant Funding Agreement and other relevant legal documentation as may be necessary to protect the interests of the LEP:

(i)  ACADEME Plus - £0.471m

(ii)  Blackpool Town Centre Quality Corridors - £0.450m

(iii)  Burnley NW – Padiham Town Hall - £0.300m

Andy Walker presented a private and confidential report regarding the establishment of a new Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Committee – the Innovation Board.

Resolved:  Following consideration of the item, the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board agreed to support the establishment of the Innovation Board as a Committee of the LEP with the Chairman delegated authority to finalise the Terms of Reference for the Innovation Board with further discussions to be held at the LEP Directors work shop scheduled for 20^th January 2020 where further consideration will be given to the appointment of two LEP Board Members to act as Chair and Vice-Chair to the Innovation Board.

Andrew Pettinger presented a private and confidential report (circulated) regarding proposals in relation to the Growing Places Fund.

Resolved:  Following consideration of the report and information, the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board resolved to not support the recommendations presented and requested that a further report be submitted to a future Board meeting.

An additional item of private and confidential other business was presented to the Board.  Jim Carter, LEP Director and City Deal Executive Chairman, provided a detailed update on the Combined City Deal meeting that took place on 3 December 2019 and subsequent progress made since that meeting.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board noted the update and that further City Deal updates will be provided at future meetings of the Board.