Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Professor B Cryan, Paul Hamer and Councillors P Box, K Aspden, D Carr, C Les, D Sheard and S Pandor.

Roger Marsh declared an other interest (not comprising a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest) in Agenda Item 5 (Leeds City Region Enterprise Zones Programme) stating that he was a member of the University of Leeds Council.

Copy attached.

Further to minute 6, Growth Deal Update, it was reported that WYCA’s Director of Delivery had written to DCLG highlighting the LEP Board’s concerns in respect of the changes made by the Cities and Local Growth Unit to the Key Performance Indicators but no response had yet been received.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2017 be approved and signed by the Chair.

The Panel Chairs were thanked for the following reports which were presented to the Board for information and update:

·         Communications, Marketing and Business Engagement

·         Business Innovation and Growth Panel

·         Employment and Skills Panel

·         Green Economy Panel

·         Land and Assets Panel

With regard to the Business Innovation and Growth Panel update, members discussed investment in inclusive growth and how its impact on businesses is measured.  The success of the Growth Service was acknowledged and members were advised that other funding sources/opportunities were being investigated as the current funding would cease in March 2018.  An update would be provided to a future meeting.

Resolved:  That the updates be noted.

(Author: Lynn Cooper, Led by: Melanie Corcoran)

The Board considered a report of WYCA’s Director of Delivery which provided:

·         An update on the current progress on spend and performance of the Growth Deal programme.

·         An overview of the Call for Projects and the current situation in defining the Growth Deal Impact Sites.

Members noted the progress of the seven KPIs, details of which were attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report together with information in respect of programme expenditure for the first two quarters to the end of September 2017/18.

The Growth Deal Dashboard and Pipeline were attached at Appendices 2 and 3 of the submitted report.  It was reported that the forecast spend was currently £104.76m against the annual target of £100.15m and members asked that their thanks be passed to the officers at WYCA and the District Councils for their collaboration and co-operation in achieving delivery to date.

It was reported that WYCA and the LEP had issued an open call for proposals that can make a strategic impact across the city region and meet a number of different requirements.   It was noted that whilst there was no available/allocated funding at present there were several potential opportunities which being explored which included the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund, the LCR Business Rates Pool and the LCR Growth Deal programme pipeline.  The projects would be considered by an evaluation team comprising of representatives from the District Councils and WYCA.  The LEP Board was invited to nominate representatives and further information would be provided to Rashik Parmar.  The outcomes of the call would be presented to the Investment Committee’s Autumn workshop. 

Resolved:  That the progress towards achievement of the Key Performance Indicators and the implementation of the Growth Deal be noted.

(Author: Justin Wilson, Led by: Rob Norreys)

The Board considered a report of WYCA’s Director of Policy, Strategy and Communications which set out:

·         The policy background to the Leeds City Region (LCR) Enterprise Zones (EZs) Programme.

·         A proposed approach for reinforcing the LCR Enterprise Zones Programme ‘USP’ (Unique Selling Point) which focuses on advanced/innovative manufacturing and delivery of inclusive growth outcomes.

·         An update on the emerging EZ investment strategy.

·         The principles of the proposed WYCA and Leeds City Council response to the High Speed 2 (HS2) Rolling Stock Depot Consultation.

Members discussed the HS2 Ltd proposal for an alternative site for the Eastern Leg Rolling Stock Depot in the Aire Valley.  The new location, which was brownfield land, was within the Leeds Enterprise Zone and work was ongoing to consider the impact of the HS2 depot.   It was noted that the government was consulting on the proposal with a deadline of 12 October 2017 and the LEP Board endorsed the principles of the proposed WYCA and Leeds City Council response and recommended that the final response be prepared in consultation with the LEP Chair and WYCA Chair.

Resolved:

(i)         That the policy background to the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zones Programme be noted.

(ii)        That the ongoing work to develop WYCA’s future EZ investment strategy with the Land and Assets Panel be noted.

(iii)       That the proposal for reinforcing the LCR EZs Programme ‘USP’ (Unique Selling Point), focus on advanced manufacturing and delivery of inclusive growth outcomes be endorsed.

(iv)       That the principles of the proposed WYCA and Leeds City Council response to the HS2 Rolling Stock Depot Consultation be endorsed and that the final response be prepared in consultation with the LEP Chair and WYCA Chair.

(Author: Tom Gifford, Led by: Rob Norreys)

The Board considered a report of WYCA’s Director of Policy, Strategy and Communications which provided an update on the development of HS2 and the Leeds City Region HS2 Growth Strategy.

It was noted that the development work was being undertaken by WYCA’s Transport Policy team in partnership with Leeds City Council and the report provided a summary of progress to ensure the City Region makes the most of the HS2 opportunity for local growth and regeneration. 

Members discussed the emerging ambitions/outcomes of the Strategy which were outlined in the submitted report.  Councillor Waller reinforced the scale of potential for York Central and for HS2 links to Scotland to be via York and asked that future reports reflect this.  The importance of the East Coast Main Line and York as a key hub in the development of HS2 was recognised and that the whole City Region would benefit from HS2 and the importance of unlocking the huge potential of the North would be reflected in the strategy.  It was anticipated that this would be considered by WYCA at its meeting on 5 October 2017 followed by LCC Executive Board on 18 October 2017 prior to the initial submission to Government.  The Strategy would continue to be developed over the next 12 months.

In respect of the Leeds Integrated Station Masterplan (LISM), it was noted that the draft was yet to be finalised.  Members noted the summary of the emerging principles highlighted in the report and it was reported that the conclusions of the study would be subject to sign off by LCC Executive Board on 18 October 2017.

Resolved:  That the development of the HS2 Growth Strategy be noted.

(Author: Patrick Bowes, Led by: Rob Norreys)

The Board considered a report of WYCA’s Director of Policy, Strategy and Communications which provided an update on the latest economic and business intelligence.

The report and appendix presented the latest assessment of the Leeds City Region economy.  It also set out the recent developments in the world’s leading economies together with trends and forecasts for global growth and the main highlights for the Leeds City Region which were outlined in the submitted report were noted.

Resolved:  That the analysis and economic update be noted.

(Author: Marc Eatough, Led by: Rob Norreys)

The item referenced in the report as Appendix 1 is in draft form and is not publicly available.

The Board considered a report of WYCA’s Director of Policy, Strategy and Communications which sought members’ input and agreement to the City Region’s submission to Government ahead of the Autumn Budget.

A copy of the draft LCR Autumn Budget submission, which was confidential until its submission to Government, was circulated at the meeting.  It was noted that this was a ‘live’ document and members were asked for any comments to be sent to Rob Norreys, WYCA’s Director of Policy, Strategy & Communications. 

The LEP Board was advised that the submission would be emailed to Government.  Members discussed whether this could be delivered with a bigger impact and it was noted that a communications strategy would be prepared including briefing MPs.

Resolved:  That the sign-off of the Leeds City Region Autumn Budget submission to Government be delegated to WYCA’s Managing Director in consultation with the LEP Chair and WYCA Chair.

There was no further business.

29 November 2017, Committee Room A, Wellington House, Leeds

The next meeting of the LEP Board will be held on 29 November 2017 at 2.30 pm in Wellington House, Leeds.

The Board noted the report of WYCA’s Director of Policy, Strategy and Communications which provided an update on the adoption of the West Yorkshire Transport Strategy and West Yorkshire Bus Strategy.

Resolved:  That the adoption of the Transport Strategy and Bus Strategy, which sets out the vision and policy aspirations for the transport system for the next 20 years, be noted.

The Board noted the report of WYCA’s Director of Policy, Strategy and Communications and the letter of support attached at Appendix 1 for two Expressions of Interest for Leeds Bradford Airport and Wakefield to become logistics hubs for Heathrow Airport.

Resolved:  That the letter of support for two Expressions of Interest for Leeds Bradford Airport and Wakefield to become logistics hubs for Heathrow Airport be noted.

The Board noted the report of the Chair of the Leeds City Region Planning Portfolios Board which provided an update on the activity of the LCR Planning Portfolios Board.

Resolved:  That the progress made to date be noted.