Issue - meetings

Brexit Business Support Scheme

Meeting: 10/10/2019 - West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Item 38)

38 Brexit pdf icon PDF 122 KB

(Member lead: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Alan Reiss)

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved:

 

(a)       That the update on the organisational preparation being undertaken by the Combined Authority and LEP as the UK prepares to leave the European Union be noted.

 

(b)       That the delivery of the Brexit Support scheme, as detailed in paragraph 2.4 of the submitted report be approved, in the event of a non-negotiated exit from the EU, from November 2019 to the end of March 2020 via the allocation of £2m from the overall Business Growth Programme (BGP) budget.  This being subject to securing the required funding flexibility from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BEIS) and no additional funding being provided directly by Government.

Minutes:

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director, Policy Strategy and Communications on Brexit.

 

Members discussed the organisational preparation being undertaken by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Combined Authority) and the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) as the UK prepares to leave the European Union.  The Combined Authority’s business support actions were highlighted in the submitted report and it was noted that these were available to all companies, both urban and rural.  The importance of establishing communication with those small businesses who had not yet engaged was stressed and, because of the fluctuating situation, Members asked that they be kept informed of any changes.  A report would be brought to the next meeting.

 

The criteria for a proposed new Leeds City Region Brexit Business Support Scheme  was agreed. The approach and scheme had been endorsed by the LEP Board on 25 September 2019 and a copy of the criteria was attached at Appendix 2.  The scheme has been designed to provide SMEs with advice and guidance with issues directly related to Brexit.

 

Resolved:

 

(a)       That the update on the organisational preparation being undertaken by the Combined Authority and LEP as the UK prepares to leave the European Union be noted.

 

(b)       That the delivery of the Brexit Support scheme, as detailed in paragraph 2.4 of the submitted report be approved, in the event of a non-negotiated exit from the EU, from November 2019 to the end of March 2020 via the allocation of £2m from the overall Business Growth Programme (BGP) budget.  This being subject to securing the required funding flexibility from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BEIS) and no additional funding being provided directly by Government.