Agenda and minutes

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

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

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Jim Cardwell, William Firth, Wallace Sampson and John Williams.

2.

Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

None were declared.

3.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the press and public

To highlight Agenda item 11 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 the 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 Agenda item 11.

 

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 Agenda item 11 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 of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda item 11 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 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 Green Economy Panel held on 21 November 2017 pdf icon PDF 339 KB

Copy attached

Minutes:

That the minutes of the Green Economy Panel held on 21 November 2017 be approved.

 

5.

25 Year Environment Plan pdf icon PDF 334 KB

Presented by Noel Collings

Minutes:

The Panel was presented with a report informing them of the key points in the government’s new 25 Year Environment Plan

 

The 25 year Environment Plan, published in January 2018 sits alongside the Industrial Strategy and accompanying Clean Growth Strategy to set out the government’s approach to safeguarding the environment and future proofing the economy.

 

The Plan includes:-

 

·         Using and managing land sustainably.

·         Connecting people with the environment to improve health and wellbeing.

·         Increasing resource efficiency and reducing pollution and waste.

·         Securing clean healthy, productive and biologically diverse seas and oceans.

·         Protecting and Improving our natural environment.

·         Putting the plan into practice.

 

The Panel was asked to note the information provided in the report and the intention to provide a further report at the next Green Economy Panel analysing any significant implications for the Combined Authority within the 25 Year Environment Plan.

 

The Panel was asked to provide comments and steer on the areas in which it feels the Combined Authority’s efforts and resources should be focussed.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)            That the information provided in the report on the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan be noted.

 

(ii)          That the Panel provided a steer on the areas in which it feels the Combined Authority’s efforts and resources should be focussed.

 

(iii)         That the intention to provide a further report at the next Green Economy Panel analysing any significant implications for the Combined Authority of the proposals within the 25 year Environment Plan be noted.

 

 

6.

Local Inclusive Industrial Strategy and Clean Growth Strategy Update pdf icon PDF 568 KB

Presented by David Walmsley / Marc Eatough

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel was presented with a report to update on the development of the Leeds City Region Inclusive Industrial Strategy and further refinement of opportunities to explore linked to the recent Clean Growth Strategy.

 

At the LEP Board on 29 November 2017, it was agreed to begin the development of a local, inclusive industrial strategy (LIIS) as a replacement for the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP).  The decision was endorsed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (the Combined Authority) on 14 December 2017.  Building on the SEP, this will form a key component on an agile, long term strategic framework aimed at driving growth, boosting productivity and earning power for a post 2030 economy.

 

There is an ambition to deliver at pace with the intention to present a compelling plan that further transforms the City Region.  The aim is to position the City Region so that it forms part of the first wave of Local Industrial Strategies agreed by government by March 2019.

 

The Panel was asked to give their views and comments on the following areas:-

 

·         An updated Leeds City Region strategic framework.

 

·         The draft vision statement and the intention to develop further `expressions’ for different audiences.

 

·         Initial priorities and proposals that could form the core building blocks of our Inclusive Industrial Strategy, including emerging priorities and opportunities from the Clean Growth Strategy 25 year Environment Plan and the Leeds City Region’s Green and Blue infrastructure Strategy and Energy Strategy.

 

·         The suggested approach to developing the Inclusive Industrial Strategy that will harness the views and influence of stakeholders and partners, including the Panel, in co-producing a compelling, bold region proposition, including how the Panel would like to be involved in its development.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)            That the comments and views of the Panel on the Proposed `new’ Leeds City Region strategic framework be noted.

 

(ii)          That the comments and views of the Panel on the draft vision statement and the intention to develop further `expressions’ for different audiences be noted.

 

(iii)         That the comments and views for the initial priorities and proposals that could form the core building blocks of the local inclusive industrial strategy, including the priorities from the Clean Growth Strategy, 25 year Environment Plan and the Leeds City Region’s Green and Blue infrastructure Strategy and Energy Strategy be noted.

 

(iv)         That the suggested approach to the development of the inclusive Industrial Strategy so that it harnesses the views and influence of partners in co-producing a compelling bold city region proposition, including how the Panel would like to be involved in its development be noted.

 

(v)          A GEP working group to be established to support the ongoing development of the `new’ Leeds City Region strategic framework and to help ensure clean growth and the wider environment ambitions of the GEP are fully integrated into this work.

 

 

7.

Leeds City Region Energy Strategy and Delivery Plan pdf icon PDF 140 KB

Presented by Noel Collings

Minutes:

The Panel was provided with an update and slide presentation on the delivery of the Energy Strategy and Delivery Plan (ESDP) and asked to comment in response to the update.

 

The Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) under Pillar 3 (Energy and Environmental Resilience) sets out the ambition of becoming a `resilient’ zero carbon energy economy by 2036.

 

To understand how West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the Leeds City Region could achieve the ambition, an Energy Strategy and Delivery Plan (ESDP) has been commissioned with support from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (DBEIS).  The ESDP is a named delivery plan of the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP).  The ESDP has been split into four work packages:-

 

·         Energy State of the Leeds City Region – Work Package 1

·         Technology Options Appraisal – Work Package 2

·         Energy Opportunity Areas – Work Package 3

·         Delivery Plan – Work Package 4

 

The ESDP, in accordance with the requirements of the funding provided by DBEIS, is to be completed by the end of March 2018.  Final sign-off by the Combined Authority is currently planned for end-June 2018.

 

The slide presentation updated the Panel on the final outputs of Work Packages One and Two. The presentation also highlighted current progress and outputs related to Work Packages Three and Four.

 

The proposal is that the ESDP will adhere to the following socialisation and approval process:

 

·         Green Economy Panel 17 April 2018

·         LCR Directors of Development 4 May 2018

·         West Yorkshire and York Chief Executives 24 May 2018

·         West Yorkshire Leaders 31 May 2018

·         LEP Board 13 June 2018

·         Combined Authority 28 June 2018

 

Resolved: That the comments on the emerging outputs of the Energy Strategy and Delivery Plan be noted.

8.

Energy Accelerator Update pdf icon PDF 305 KB

Presented by Jacqui Warren

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel was presented with a report to update on the Green Accelerator (EA) including

 

·         The Contract for Funding of the Project Development Services between the EIB (European Investment Bank) and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (the Combined Authority)

 

·         Key corporate risks for the Combined Authority and Project Sponsors if the Combined Authority choose to sign the contract.

 

The Energy Accelerator is a key initiative under Priority 3 of the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) which aims to create a zero carbon energy economy by 2036.  It is a programme providing a new project development support service that will remove the barriers relating to lack of project development funding and expertise that are currently preventing investment in low carbon capital projects in the City Region.  The Energy Accelerator will provide a service to the public, private, academic and community sectors to develop projects around three key themes:

 

·         Commercial and Domestic Retrofit including integration of renewable energy into the built environment.

·         District Heat Networks.

·         Street Lighting

 

The EIB requires the Combined Authority, as the final beneficiary, to sign the Contract of Funding.  In order to do this, the Green Economy Panel, LEP and Combined Authority need to be aware of the significant risks, mitigations and residual risk. 

 

Subject to consideration, the Panel was asked to make recommendations to the LEP Board about the Combined Authority signing the EIB contract.

 

Resolved: 

 

(i)            That a refresh of the pipeline was welcomed and the results of the refreshed pipeline to be shared with the Chair of the Panel.

 

(ii)          That subject to a healthy pipeline of projects existing, the Panel agreed to make recommendations to the LEP Board about the Combined Authority signing the EIB contract.

9.

Major Projects Update pdf icon PDF 196 KB

Presented by Jacqui Warren

Minutes:

The Panel was presented with an update on the progress against the Green Economy Panel’s major projects and programmes including:-

 

·         Energy Accelerator – a new innovative project development programme that will offer specialist expertise to local low carbon energy projects.

·         Better Homes Yorkshire – a City Region wide programme delivering energy efficiency and heating improvements across the City Region’s homes.

·         Resource Efficiency Fund – offers free expert advice and business support to small and medium sized enterprises to help them to implement energy and water efficiency and waste reduction measures.

·         District Heat Network (DHN) Programme – the programme continues to support twelve active schemes in the Leeds City Region.

·         Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) Strategy and Delivery Plan – this work aims to deliver a new regional strategy and delivery plan that aims to create high quality natural/green infrastructure and environments across the City Region including new woodlands, street trees and open spaces.

·         Zero Carbon Energy Strategy and Delivery Plan – sets out the ambition of becoming `a resilient, zero carbon energy economy by 2036.

·         H21- the Northern Gas Network innovative programme aims to convert the gas grid from natural gas (methane) to hydrogen, starting with the Leeds city region and then for conversion to take place incrementally across the country.

·         BEIS Local Capacity Support – the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), as part of the BEIS Local Energy programme, is funding 5 new energy hubs

 

The Panel was asked to note progress against the Green Economy Panel’s major projects and programmes.

 

Resolved: That progress against the Green Economy Panel’s major projects and programmes be noted.

 

 

10.

Business Planning and Budget 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 133 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel was presented with a report to advise on the progress of the Combined Authority’s business planning and budget setting for 2018/19

 

The Combined Authority brought together the organisations and teams responsible for public transport, economic growth, research and intelligence and inward investment for the Leeds City Region and who are united around a shared agreed focus on good economic growth for the region.  Following the appointment of the Managing Director in February 2016 the One Organisation programme was established and has made significant progress in delivery a number of workstreams covering new delivery processes, changes to organisational culture and structure, governance, policy, strategy and services.  New directorates were created and directors and heads of service appointed to take forward new ways of working and improved processes and systems to ensure that resources are all best aligned towards good inclusive growth.

 

Resolved:  That the approach to the corporate plan and all budgetary information for 2018/19 be noted.

 

11.

Future Development of SME Resource Efficiency Support

Presented by Jacqui Warren

Minutes:

In private session the Panel was provided with options for the future development of SME Resource Efficiency Support.

 

 

12.

Date of Next Meeting

Minutes:

Tuesday 17 April 2018, 16:00 PM, Committee Room A, Wellington House, Leeds.