Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room B, Wellington House, Leeds. View directions

Contact: Angie Shearon  Email: angie.shearon@westyorks-ca.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Shabir Pandor, Tim Swift and Roger Marsh.

2.

Declarations of Disclosable pecuniary interests

Minutes:

There were no pecuniary interests declared.

3.

Exempt Information - Exclusion of the Press and Public

To highlight Appendices 1 and 2 of Agenda Item 5, Appendices 1 and 2 of Agenda Item 6 and Appendix 1 of Agenda item 8 which officers have identified as containing exempt information within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosing information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

 

To consider whether or not to accept the officers’ recommendation in respect of the above information as set out at paragraph 5 of Agenda item 5, paragraph 5 of Agenda item 6, and paragraph 5 of Agenda item 8.

 

If the recommendations are accepted to formally pass the following resolution:-

 

RESOLVED – That in accordance with paragraph 3 of Part 1 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Appendices 1 and 2 of Agenda item 5 Appendices 1 and 2 of Agenda item 6 and Appendix 1 of Agenda item 8 on the grounds that they are likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information and for the reasons set out in the report that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Minutes:

Resolved:  That in accordance with paragraph 3 of Part 1 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Appendices 1 and 2 of Agenda item 5, Appendices 1 and 2 of Agenda item 6 and Appendix 1 of Agenda item 8 on the grounds that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted,  if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information and for the reasons set out in the report that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

4.

Minutes of the meeting of the Investment Panel held on 14 November 2017 pdf icon PDF 260 KB

Minutes:

Resolved: That the minutes of the Business Investment Panel held on 14 November 2017 be approved.

5.

Strategic Inward Investment Fund Update pdf icon PDF 257 KB

Led by: Sam Lewis, Lorna Holroyd

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report providing an update on the progress in committing grants through the LEP Strategic Inward Investment Fund.

 

In Private Session the Panel considered one new application (reference number SIIF 003) as detailed in paragraph 3.1 and in confidential Appendix 1 of the submitted report.

 

The Panel was provided, in private session, with an update on an application (reference number 1094369) which it had previously considered and approved, but which had subsequently been withdrawn by the applicant as detailed in confidential Appendix 2.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)                 That the update on progress in committing grants through the Strategic Inward Investment Fund be noted.

 

(ii)               That application number SIIF 003 be supported and recommended for approval to WYCA’s Managing Director

 

(iii)             That the update on the previously approved application (reference number 1094369) as detailed at Appendix 2 of the submitted report be noted.

6.

Business Grants Programme Update pdf icon PDF 266 KB

Led by : Neill Fishman, Lorna Holroyd

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report providing an update on the current position regarding progress within the LEP Business Grants Programme (BGP).

 

BGP Update

 

The Panel was provided with a progress update on committing grants through the BGP. 

 

Grant Applications

 

At the last Panel meeting on 14 November 2017, members had considered two grant applications (references 1093427 and 1094831).   Both applications had been deferred after the Panel had requested further information / clarification in respect of a number of issues in relation to each project. 

 

It was reported that 1094831 had now submitted a new application (reference number 1095568) for consideration by the Panel.

 

In private session, the Panel considered the further information relating to the two applications.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)                 That the Business Grants Programme update be noted.

 

(ii)               That application reference number 1093427 be rejected and that officers provide feedback to the applicant on the reasons why the grant could not be approved.

 

(iii)             In regard to application reference number 1095568 (previously 1094831), it was agreed that a lower level of grant be offered to the applicant.

7.

Flexing Economic Services to Deliver inclusive Growth Outcomes pdf icon PDF 350 KB

Led by : Lorna Holroyd, Henry Rigg, Jonathan Skinner 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report on proposals to introduce new grant criteria from April 2018.

 

The report set out the LEP/WYCA’s approach to inclusive growth which included developing a single, top-level city region strategy with inclusive growth at its core and reflecting the government’s emerging approach to industrial strategy.

 

A work-stream has also been underway to look at ways in which the city region may explicitly target its policy and programmes to inclusive growth outcomes, including the LEP’s programme of grants. The LEP Capital Grants programme was launched in February 2013 with a focus on job creation.  Since that time unemployment has fallen by 43%, however there has been an increase in in-work poverty highlighting the need to focus on the quality of jobs created.

 

The Panel considered the proposed new criteria for determining grants (set out in Appendix 1 of the submitted report) which included more stretching inclusive growth conditions to ensure jobs created and/or safeguarded were of a better quality and could support career progression within businesses. 

 

The report also set out the ongoing testing and consultation with private sector partners, including previous grant recipients to ensure desired impacts were achieved.

 

The Panel discussed the approach to inclusive growth and the proposed new grant criteria and provided their feedback to officers.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)                 That the feedback and views of the Panel be noted.

 

(ii)               That, following a wider consultation exercise, a further report be brought to a future meeting  in advance of any of the proposed changes being finalised.

 

8.

Growing Places Fund Loans Update pdf icon PDF 246 KB

Led by : Chris Brunold

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report on the progress in committing loans through the LEP Growing Places Fund (GPF).

 

In private session the Panel was also provided with an update on the live loan with changed circumstances, as detailed at paragraph 3.1 and  in confidential Appendix 1 of the submitted report.

 

Resolved: 

 

(i)                 That the update be noted.

 

(ii)               That feedback on the live loan with changed circumstances as detailed in Appendix 1 be noted.

9.

Date of Next Meeting

Thursday 18 January 11:30 – 13:30, Committee Room B, Wellington House, Leeds.

Minutes:

Thursday 18 January 2018 11:30 AM, Committee Room B, Wellington House, Leeds