Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Debra Coupar, Cllr Carole Pattison, Rob Webster, Jacqui Gedman, Kamran Rashid and Helen Featherstone.

There were no declarations of pecuniary interests at the meeting.

There were no items which required the exclusion of the press and public.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2020 be approved.

The Chair wished to welcome two new members to the panel: Kamran Rashid and Kully Thiarai.

The Chair discussed the issues which would be the focus of the Panel including the impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic and the global reaction to social injustices and inequality, including the Black Lives Matter movement.

Member’s considered a report which set out the economic impacts of COVID - 19 and the work underway on the response and recovery.

·       The Economic Plan has been worked on by the Economic Recovery Board. The plan has been adopted and discussed at the Combined Authority and LEP Board meetings. The Economic Plan focuses around 3 priorities; Resilient Businesses, Employment and Skills and Infrastructure.

·       There is proposal about digital and its broad sense addressing key challenges as well as opportunities that already existed around the region but there also are new challenges and opportunities coming out of the COVID-19 crisis, which covers both the digital infrastructure as well as the supporting digital skills which would be needed to make the most of the digital infrastructure and a proposition around a net zero carbon economy.

·       Key opportunities for jobs as we transition into a low carbon economy.

·       Next steps are to continue to lobby the Government with partners who have shared interests.

·       The Recovery Board are considering a fifth proposition around the importance of culture and creative industry for West Yorkshire which is a collaborative piece being done with the all of the Districts where the  Cultural Leads and all of the 5 Local Authorities have worked together and identified the needs short medium and long term.

·       Stronger links are being built between aspects of the Recovery Plan and Particular aspects of the Health System Plans. 

·       Pleased to see focus on Culture in West Yorkshire – particularly for younger people.

·       The Panel has done some work particularly on Inclusive Growth which is embedded in the plan.

·       Each Local Authority are also developing a plan which will feed in to add value.

Resolved:

(i)             The Panel noted the update in relation to the COVID-19 possible impacts and noted the update on the draft Economic Recovery Plan.

(ii)            The Panel also considered Items elsewhere on the agenda.

The Panel Considered the nature and role of the third sector across the region in the immediate response to the Pandemic and its potential ongoing role in terms of ensuring the region benefits from an Inclusive Economic Recovery.

The paper noted the significance of the third sector in supporting and protecting the most disadvantaged communities.

The Economic Recovery Plan recognises the crucial role and proposes the sector itself should be supported to play a central role in delivering an Inclusive Economic Recovery. The report proposed starting off a piece of work which gave the Panel a better understanding of the nature of the sector, a better understanding of what could be added for a better and social economic growth and what support as a sector it needed going forward.

The work is steered by a task and finish group which consists of a group of Panel members and others including those running third sector organisations.

Resolved:

(i)             The Panel recognised and welcomed the role the third party sector has played in response to the pandemic.

(ii)            The contents of the paper were commented on.

(iii)          Offers to help for the task and finish group to email James Flannagan.

The Panel sought views on the development of a regional Good Work Standard and subject to agreement in principal, to endorse further work to develop options for a fit purpose approach.

Employees in the City Region are not in good work i.e. employees are not in secure positions or are not in well-paid positions. In work poverty is not just socially harmful but it is a pull in productivity itself. The report proposed to prepare some options in this stage to develop some fit for purpose for Good Work Standards.

The Panel advised this model is something that needs to be planned and endorsed.

Options should be identified for a WY Good Work Standard Model. Either existing on the shelf or a bespoke approach.

Resolved:

(i)             The panel welcomed this report. The LEP Diversity Champion would like to focus on the diversity equity aspect of a good employment and ensure this is properly linked in with the work which is happening.

(ii)            The living wage employer team would also be happy to be involved.

(iii)          A further progress report to be presented at the next meeting.

Members were provided with a presentation by Peter Glover on the Strategic Economic Framework Headline Indicators.

Resolved:

(i)             The draft Strategic Economic Framework was noted.

(ii)            It was agreed a future report to be given at the next meeting which details a inclusive growth dashboard, which factors in indicators by protected characteristics and area deprivation.

Members were provided with a presentation by Sonya Midgley on the Employment and Skills Plan.

Resolved:

(i)             Members noted the context of the presentation and thanked Sonya for the update/presentation.

Members were provided with a proposed approach to ensure the LEP and its advisory panels continue to support the delivery of inclusive growth.

·       The Combined Authority and LEP Board identified securing inclusive growth as a key priority.

Resolved:

·       The panel endorsed the creation of inclusive growth champions for all panels.

·       It was agreed that Members would let James Flanagan have these nominations.