The Chairman and Chief Executive of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) are to present the LEP Business Plan to the Panel.
Minutes:
The Panel received a presentation from Neil Darwin, Chief Executive of the Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough (GCGP) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), on the role of the LEP and its business plan. The key facts were as follows:
· LEPs were established in 2010 following the abolition of regional development agencies. They were required to have a minimum population of around one million and there were to be no single county boundary LEPs.
· In the GCGP LEP there is a population of 1.4 million.
· The LEP receives £250k from Government and £250k from Local Authority contributions per annum to run its office.
· Funds to run projects are received from European Structural Funds and Local Growth Funds.
· The LEP is held to account primarily by the GCGP Board which consists of: 7 private sector representatives, 5 Local Authority Leaders, 2 Universities, 1 Further Education College representative and a Voluntary Sector representative. In addition to this there is a Leaders Committee which consists of all Local Authority Leaders within the LEP area. Cambridgeshire County Council acts as the responsible authority.
· The LEP has four core objectives: improving the area’s infrastructure, supporting the business community to create jobs, improving the skills levels within our communities and ensuring the availability of good quality, affordable housing.
· Benefits to the District include: a total of £14.3m of funding secured for Huntingdonshire; £50m of funding committed to the upgrading of the A14 and an enterprise zone at Alconbury Weald.
· The LEP has a direction for future development which includes building the partnership more solidly, continuing to support business growth and preparing for a possible devolution deal.
Mr Darwin was asked whether the LEP could do anything in relation to the shortage of bricks as this has an impact upon the delivery of affordable housing. In response, Members were informed that the LEP will continue to speak with the private sector to find out the problem with the supply and then work with partners to get the supply moving to satisfy demand.
In response to a question regarding the LEP’s Signpost2Skills scheme, Members were informed that the scheme is two years old and was established as a result of businesses not being able to find employees with the right skills. The scheme develops skills and spots talent and is supported by voluntary sector grants. Following up on the question, Mr Darwin was asked if the LEP works with ex-offender programmes. The Panel was informed that the LEP does work with ex-offender programmes but not as much as it could do.
Mr Darwin clarified that the LEP receives £500k per annum to run its team and that funding to run projects comes from the European Structural Funds and Local Growth Funds. Members noted that if Britain votes to leave the European Union it would not affect the funding received during the current cycle of funding.
Following a question regarding the LEP’s plans for St Neots, Mr Darwin confirmed that the LEP recognises that St Neots is an important settlement within the District and that they await to hear what the community of St Neots wants.
With regards to internet infrastructure, the Panel heard that although the LEP recognises that this is a problem for some businesses, too much control remains with the telecommunications companies. The national LEP association is attempting to apply pressure on them to act to improve the infrastructure.
The Panel asked whether the LEP is working to help implement Huntingdonshire’s policies and priorities or if Huntingdonshire assists with implementing the LEP’s policies and priorities. Mr Darwin responded that it is a partnership approach with both parties working collaboratively to ensure the achievement of both organisations’ policies and priorities.
A Member asked how the LEP makes decisions on which projects to prioritise from across the geographical area it covers. In response, the Panel was informed that the LEP has developed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with projects prioritised according to an evidence base. Mr Darwin stated that the LEP wants to continue the use of MOUs throughout the area.
Following a request, Mr Darwin confirmed that the Panel would be able to view the LEP’s written business plan.
(At 7.44pm, after the consideration of this item, Councillor D Brown left the meeting and did not return).