Agenda and minutes

The Interim Chairman, David Taylor, welcomed all to the meeting.  In particular the Chairman welcomed three new Directors to the Board:

·  Councillor Margaret Smith, South Ribble Borough Council (who had replaced Councillor Ken Kind as one of the two District Council Leaders nominees)

·  Amanda Melton who has also been appointed as the LEP Champion for Skills and Technical Education

·  Miranda Barker who has also been appointed as the new permanent LEP Champion for SME Business Growth and Productivity (in place of the interim appointment of Dennis Mendoros)

The LEP Board noted the three new Director appointments and welcomed them to the Board.

Apologies for absence were presented from Councillor Simon Blackburn (with Councillor Ivan Taylor observing in his absence), Mike Blackburn, Mick Gornall, Dave Holmes and Dennis Mendoros.

It was noted that Councillor Mark Townsend was to dial into the meeting but due to technical issues was unable to join the meeting fully.

Resolved:  The minutes of the Special Board meeting held on 12^th December 2018 were approved as an accurate record and duly signed by the Interim Chairman.

None

Professor Mark Smith declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 9 – Eden North as his employer, Lancaster University, is one of the organisations approached to be a local stakeholder.

As it was his first meeting as the Interim Chairman, David Taylor, gave an introductory statement regarding his background including his previous work at English Partnerships (now Homes England), building large scale multi-national projects, portfolios and companies, working as a Special Advisor to the former Deputy Prime Minister in addition to his role as Chairman of The University of Central Lancashire.

David also set out his ambitions and aims for his interim Chairmanship to set the foundations for the new permanent Chairman moving forward, including a proposal to rotate Board meetings around the county which the LEP Board endorsed.

Andy Milroy, Senior Democratic Services Officer, Lancashire County Council presented a report (circulated) which provided the Board with updates from recent Committee meetings and a summary of urgent decisions taken since the last meeting by the LEP Executive Committee.

In addition Board members were reminded that it was necessary from a compliance perspective to being the process of renewing all Directors, Committee Members and Officers Register of Interests documentation for the 2019/20 municipal year and that this work was underway.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership

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

(ii)  Noted that all Director, Committee Members and Officers will be asked to review their Register of Interest and confirm them as correct for the 2019/20 municipal year.

Presentation by the Head of LEP Coordination Kathryn Molloy

Kathryn Molloy, Head of LEP Coordination, gave a presentation to the Board of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Key Initiatives.

This included providing a summary and overview of the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal, the Growth Deal Programme, Lancashire Enterprise Zones, Growing Places, Transport for Lancashire, Lancashire Employment and Skills Board and Business Growth Initiatives.

The Board requested that the presentation be circulated to Directors after the meeting for their records.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board noted the presentation on the LEP's Key Initiatives.

Kathryn Molloy presented a report (circulated) regarding the development of Lancashire's Local Industrial Strategy.

It was highlighted that the report set out a six month timeline for the strategy to be produced as follows:

·  Formulate key trends from evidence base into strategy underpinned by the five Foundations and Four Grand Challenges.

·  Production of Local Industrial Strategy throughout April to June / July 2019 with ongoing business and stakeholder engagement throughout.

·  Final draft published by the end of September 2019 for submission to Government.

·  Consultation with Government Autumn 2019

·  Publication of the Lancashire Local Industrial Strategy early 2020.

The Board provided feedback and direction on shaping the Strategy to the Head of LEP Coordination.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board provided feedback and approved the proposed approach and timeline to develop both the evidence base and Local Industrial Strategy for Lancashire.

Kathryn Molloy presented a report (circulated) on Eden North – Project Development Funding.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board

(i)  Approved £250,000 from the LEP's annual Operational Budget for 2018/19 to enable the next phase of business case development for the Eden North initiative subject to contributions of "250,000 each being secured from Lancaster University, Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council; and

(ii)  Requested that a report on the findings from the next phase of the business case development be presented to a future meeting of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board.

Kathryn Molloy presented a report (circulated) regarding a Growth Deal funding approval request for the AMuseum Scheme.

It was noted that the Growth Deal Management Board had considered the scheme and business case information at various previous meetings and was now in a position to recommend the scheme for approval by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership

(i)  Approved a maximum funding allocation of £1.500m to the AMuseum scheme, subject to:

·  the conditions as detailed within the body of this report being completed to the satisfaction of the Growth Deal Management Board; and

·  the finalisation and execution by Lancashire County Council (as accountable body for the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership) under the guidance of the Directors of Corporate Services and Growth Environment and Planning of a Grant Funding Agreement and other relevant legal documentation as may be necessary to protect the interests of Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership;

(ii)  Approved the implementation of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership's Growth Deal Reallocation Procedure in respect of the £16.490m currently unallocated within the Growth Deal Programme including the proposed consideration of any emerging projects which meet the criteria proposed in the report; and

(iii)  Noted the update on the overall performance of the Growth Deal Programme and approve the submission of the Growth Deal Quarterly Reporting Summary Dashboard for Quarter 2 (July to September) 2018/19 to the Cities and Local Growth Unit.

Sue Roberts, Commercial and Business Support Manager, presented a report (circulated) regarding the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Operational Budget for 2018 / 19 and provided an update on the Urban Development Fund for Lancashire.

With regard to the Urban Development Fund an additional document was circulated containing a proposed Option 1 funding structure.  Following a debate the Board was advised by the Section 151 officer that at this stage there was not sufficient legal and financial advice available for the proposed option and it was recommended that the Board delegate consideration of this decision to the Section 151 officer, Company Secretary and Chairman to work on the risk elements.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board:

(i)  Considered and approved the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership's Operational Budget position for 2018/19.

(ii)  Noted the balance statement for the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership's Growing Places Investment Fund; and

(iii)  Agreed to delegate consideration of the Urban Development Fund Options to the Section 151 officer, Company Secretary and Chairman to work on the risk elements.

The Interim Chairman, David Taylor, presented a report (circulated) which provided an update on the new permanent Chairman's recruitment process in addition to noting the new Director appointments previously reported under Item 1 – Welcome and Apologies.

Furthermore it was proposed that in order to provide the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board with a valuable link to marketing that the Chairman of Marketing Lancashire be invited to become a Co-optee to the Board (with it noted that guidance states Co-optees are appointed for a one year term).

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board

(i)  Noted the progress made with regard to the recruitment of the new permenant Chairman.

(ii)  Noted the decision of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership recruitment panel and approval of the company member to appoint two new Directors (as reported under Item 1); and

(iii)  Approved that the Chairman of Marketing Lancashire (Mr Tony Attard) be appointed as a Co-optee to the Board for a one year term.

Laura Sales, Company Secretary, provided a brief update on Brexit with it agreed that a report be presented to the 19^th March 2019 Special Board meeting on the subject.

An additional Special LEP Board meeting has been arranged to be held at 4:30pm on Tuesday 19^th March 2019 in Committee Room 'D' - The Henry Bolingbroke Room, County Hall, Preston.

The next LEP Board meeting after that  is scheduled to be held at 4:30pm on 30^th April 2019, venue TBC.

It was noted that an additional Special Board meeting will be held at 5:00pm, Tuesday 19^th March 2019 in Committee Room 'D' – The Henry Bolingbroke  Room, County Hall, Preston.

In addition, in accordance with the Chairman's request to rotate Board meeting around the county, that the next ordinary Board meeting scheduled for 30^th April 2019 would be held at an alternative venue to County Hall, Preston, to be determined.

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 LEP Board approved that the meeting move into Part II, Private and Confidential, to consider the remaining report and presentations 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.

Councillor Margaret Smith left the meeting at this point in addition to those excluded from the Part II section of the meeting.

Report and presentation by the Marketing Lancashire Chief Executive Rachel McQueen

Rachel McQueen, Chief Executive and Tony Attard, Chairman of Marketing Lancashire Limited gave a private and confidential report and presentation regarding Marketing Lancashire's 5 year Business Plan and an update on Lancashire's presence at MIPIM Cannes.

The presentation set out a vision and strategy for the promotion of Lancashire and aspirations of achievements to be made by 2023.

In addition, the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board was provided with an update on Lancashire's presence at MIPIM Cannes 2019.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board

(i)  Noted the Marketing Lancashire Five Year Business Plan presentation; and

(ii)  Approved the request to reduce the target level of sponsorship initially proposed with regard to Lancashire presence at MIPIM Cannes 2019.

Rachel McQueen and Tony Attard left the meeting at this point.

Oral presentation from the City Deal Executive Chairman Jim Carter

Jim Carter gave a private and confidential update on progress made with regard to the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal.  It was reported that progress had been made with regard the City Deal Review and scheme delivery.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board noted the update provided on City Deal.

It was agreed that Items 18, 19 and 20 would be considered together.

Laura Sales, Company Secretary, presented three reports relating to the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership's transition to compliance with new Government guidance by the 1^st April 2019.

It was noted that a lot of work had been undertaken to get to the stage of developing proposals and options for the Lancashire and it was proposed now to set up a working group consisting of a panel of Directors, the Company Secretary, Officers of the Accountable Body and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to take this work forward. The working group would develop the proposals and make recommendations to the Special Board meeting scheduled for 19^th March 2019.

The Board formally thanked Graham Cowley for his transition work.

Resolved:  The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board

(i)  Noted the contents of all three reports and progress made towards compliance with new Government guidance by 1^st April 2019; and

(ii)  Agreed to the formation of a working group, with representation to be determined by the Chairman and Section 151 officer in order to develop the proposals, and bring forward a report and recommendations to the Special Board meeting scheduled for 19^th March 2019 for approval, in order to ensure compliance with Government guidance by the 1^st April 2019 deadline.