Agenda and minutes

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

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Andrew Lee, Cllr Roy Miller, Kersten England, Simon Wright, Will Roebuck, Steph Morris, Mark Robson, Ian Sharp, Professor Lisa Roberts. and Dr Peter O’Brien.

2.

Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared by members at the meeting.

 

3.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

Minutes:

There were no items on the Agenda requiring exclusion of the press and public.

4.

Minutes of the Meeting of the Business Innovation and Growth Panel held on 7 March 2018 pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Minutes:

That the minutes of the Business Innovation and Growth Panel held on 7 March 2018 be approved and signed by the Chair.

5.

Business Survey results 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report which provided the results of the latest detailed business survey and the Leeds City Region Economic quarterly update.

 

The latest Leeds City Region Business Survey was undertaken in 2017 and builds on previous similar surveys undertaken in 2011 and 2015.  The Panel was asked to provide views on the findings from the Business Survey and how this relates to merging policy priorities described.

 

The Panel discussed and provided feedback on the findings from the survey.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

 

(ii)               That the views on the findings from the Business Survey and how this relates to emerging policy priorities described be noted.        

6.

Productivity

6a

Productivity and the policy framework pdf icon PDF 177 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report setting out the City Region’s outline approach to tackling the productivity challenge in the context of the wider emerging policy framework for the city region.  The outlined approach to the productivity challenge centres on a private sector-led productivity revolution that focuses on addressing the `long tail’ of less productive firms 

 

At the last meeting, the Panel noted the City Region’s aim to work towards replacing the Strategic Economic Plan with a broader policy framework and local inclusive industrial strategy.

 

The Panel discussed and provided views on how a productivity revolution can deliver improved business performance and understanding of productivity; and the emerging City Region policy framework and associated early draft outcome measures that show `what success looks like’ by addressing the key challenges of improving productivity and living standards.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

 

(ii)          That the views of the Panel on Productivity and Policy framework be noted.

6b

Business Productivity Pilot pdf icon PDF 147 KB

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report on the Business Productivity Pilot which included:

 

·         Establishment of a working group

·         Rationale for the proposed project

·         Proposed Activity

·         Timeline and key milestones

 

The Panel discussed and provided input into the pilot project focussed on improving productivity of businesses in receipt of capital investment grants from the LEP’s Business Grants programme, without the need to create new jobs.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

 

(ii)          That the input of the Panel into a pilot project focused on improving the productivity of business in receipt of capital investment grants be noted.

 

(iii)         That the pilot project be processed by officers within the Combined Authority’s Business Support and Policy Strategy Teams.

6c

Investment Readiness and Economic Resilience pdf icon PDF 158 KB

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report on progressing activity in the areas of Investment Readiness and Economic Resilience including:

 

Context for activity in these areas

Evidence of need and demand for activity in these areas

Proposed future activity in these areas

Potential impacts of activity

 

The Panel discussed and provided input into the proposal to progress activity in the areas of Investment Readiness and Economic Resilience.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

 

(ii)          That the input of the Panel into progressing activity in the areas of Investment Readiness and Economic Resilience be progressed.

6d

Business Heroes pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report outlining the proposal for recruiting and utilising “business heroes” as part of the private sector-led productivity revolution.

 

The Panel members discussed and provided feedback on the approach and expectations for the work and the routes to identification of potential heroes.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

 

(ii)          That feedback on the approach and expectations for the work and the routes to identify potential heroes be noted.

7.

Digital framework pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Minutes:

The Panel considered an update report on work to develop the Digital Framework.

 

Since the last meeting in March stakeholder engagement has continued to help shape and refine the framework.  Online consultation will start in June using the new Engagement Hub to further refine the proposals.

 

Resolved:    

 

(i)            That the contents of the Report be noted.

8.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report providing an update on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration (MIT REAP) programme application, following Leeds University’s successful application to the programme.

 

MIT REAP provides opportunities to communities around the world to engage with MIT in an evidence-based practical approach to strengthening  innovation ecosystems.  Projects focus on increasing expertise and capacity across key players (using best practice from MIT) and develop interventions to strengthen the innovation support system available across an area.

 

Resolved:    

 

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

 

(ii)          That the views of the Panel on Productivity and Policy framework be noted.

9.

Review of the Employment & Skills Plan pdf icon PDF 120 KB

Minutes:

The Panel was updated on the outcomes of an Employment and Skills Panel workshop which was held on 21 May 2018.  The workshop was based on an open approach around the following issues related to the LEP Board challenges identified in September 2017 and the expanded policy framework

 

·         Boosting productivity and innovation

·         Tackling stubborn deprivation and improving living standards (Inclusive Growth angle)

·         External environment – Brexit / Automation.

·          

The Panel was asked to note the verbal update on the outcomes of the Employment and Skills Panel Workshop and identify any cross-cutting themes / ideas of relevance to the work of the Business Innovation and Growth Panel.

 

Resolved:    

 

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

 

(ii)          That the ideas put forward by the Panel identifying any cross-cutting themes be noted.

10.

Service Updates

10a

Trade and Investment pdf icon PDF 141 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered a progress report on Trade and Investment Activity in 2018/2019 and was asked to consider the options for raising the city region’s global profile, including attendance at MIPIM and offered views ahead of consideration at the LEP Board on 13 June 2018.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

 

(i)            That the views of the Business Innovation and Growth Panel be noted.

10b

Business Support pdf icon PDF 354 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered an update on business support activity being undertaken, including the LEP Growth Service, the Business Growth Programme, the Resource Efficiency Fund, Access Innovation, Strategic Business Growth, the Travel Plan Network and the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

 

Resolved:     That the contents of the report be noted.