To receive a presentation by the District Council’s Head of People, Performance & Partnerships and the Economic Development Manager.
Minutes:
(Councillor K J Churchill, Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy was in attendance for this item).
The Panel received a joint presentation by the Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy, the Director of Environmental and Community Services, the Economic Development Manager and the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships on the development of the Greater Cambridge – Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Following an introduction by Councillor K J Churchill, the Economic Development Manager outlined the background to the development of LEPs, which were intended to replace the current regional arrangements. Members were advised that LEPs were intended to provide strategic leadership in their areas and to influence local economic priorities. It was also envisaged that they would have a role in promoting economic development, local transport, employment, strategic planning and housing, enterprise and business start ups and funding opportunities. Details of the functional economic geographical area covered by the Greater Cambridge – Greater Peterborough Partnership were provided, together with details of emerging themes that had already been identified on which it would focus. It was anticipated that a Chairman would be in post by January and a shadow board established by March 2011.
In considering the content of the presentation, Members queried why the Partnership area did not include Bedfordshire and how the Greater Cambridge – Greater Peterborough LEP would liaise with the 24 other partnerships, which had been established across the country. In response, the Panel noted that whilst Bedfordshire was not formally part of the Partnership, it had been agreed with them that opportunities for collaborative working would be pursued where possible. Members were also advised that the success of the Partnership would depend on securing active involvement from the private sector. Through it the private sector would have a vehicle to influence public policy. With regard to the appointment of a Chairman, Councillor N J Guyatt suggested that an individual should be sought who had previous experience of and success in obtaining money from the Government. Comment was also made on the inherent difficulties associated with establishing joint arrangements, which involved a number of partners.
The Panel discussed the proposed funding arrangements for the Greater Cambridge – Greater Peterborough Partnership. In doing so, the Director of Environmental and Community Services explained that the District Council would contribute £25,000 by way of start up costs and it was anticipated that there would be some additional funding by way of a legacy from former regional organisations. The District Council’s contributions would be transferred from funds previously ear-marked for Cambridgeshire Horizons and the Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership. In addition the Panel noted that the District Council’s Economic Development Manager had been seconded to help with the development of the Partnership for one day per week until March 2011. Members were also advised of the potential benefits of the District Council’s involvement at an early stage of its development. In particular, there was a need for an organisation of this type to secure benefits from the European Union and other new funding streams.
In response to a question on the cost to the District Council of the LEP in terms of officer time, Members were advised that work had been undertaken by both the Director of Environmental and Community Services and the Economic Development Manager throughout the summer. The Executive Councillor explained that he recognised the need for the District Council to secure value for money and that he would not wish to see a significant ongoing involvement by the District Council after April 2011. In response to a question on the involvement of the District Council during a period in which spending cuts were required, it was explained that in the longer term the Partnership would become self-funding. Members were informed that the work, which was currently being undertaken, would be required in another form if it was not being undertaken as part of this joint venture. In addition, the Director of Environmental and Community Services suggested that, in the longer term, the Partnership could provide a forum for the development of shared services, was the mechanism by which Government intended to communicate with local areas above local authority level and was likely to become an important means of obtaining funding for the Region.
With regard to arrangements for scrutinising the activities of the Partnership, Members were advised that it was envisaged that appropriate arrangements would be put in place. The Leader of the Council had indicated that these should encompass existing scrutiny arrangements and that an additional layer of bureaucracy would not be created. Concerns were expressed over the source of the Partnership’s authority and the need to ensure that the LEP was not dominated by Cambridge and Peterborough. Having noted that regular meetings were being held to review progress, it was agreed that further updates should be submitted to the Panel as appropriate.