Agenda item

(Led by: Ben Still, Author: Jon Skinner/Liz Davenport/Julie Haigh)

The Board considered a report of the Director of Policy, Strategy and Communications which provided an update on the latest position in implementing Government’s recommendations for ‘Strengthened Local Enterprise Partnerships’ in advance of, and in preparation for, the creation of a new LEP. 

Ben Still took the chair and Roger Marsh, Bob Cryan, Rashik Parmar and Andrew Wright left the room during discussion of paragraphs 2.8 and 2.9  and consideration of recommendations 7.1 and 7.2 of the submitted report.

In respect of the current private sector membership of the LEP Board, it was reported that there are five representatives whose terms of office are due to expire in June 2019. The LEP Chair’s appointment was for a term of 3 years from 1 July 2016 with the option of a further year.  It was considered prudent to have continuity and experience during a period of transition and it was therefore agreed to offer an extension to each of those members, including the Chair, so that their terms of office will expire when the new LEP is established by April 2020.  It was reported that since the publication of the agenda, Ian Cherry had tendered his resignation with effect from June 2019 and therefore recommendation 7.1 would be amended. 

Resolved:

(i)         That the extension to the terms of office for each of the following private sector representatives, to expire when the new LEP is established by April 2020 be approved:

·         Prof Bob Cryan CBE

·         RashikParmar

·         Joanna Robinson

·         Andrew Wright

(ii)        That an extension to the terms of office for the LEP Chair, to expire when the new LEP is established by April 2020 be approved.

Bob Cryan, Rashik Parmar and Andrew Wright re-entered the room and Roger Marsh returned to the chair.

It was noted that following the last meeting, the Chair had written to James Brokenshire MP, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government confirming the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s preference to create a new LEP covering the whole of West Yorkshire, York and North Yorkshire.  A copy of the letter together with a response from James Brokenshire, was attached at Appendices 1 and 2.  Members were advised that since the response was received confirmation of £200,000 additional funding to support implementation of the review had been confirmed.  Councillor Waller confirmed that York supported the principle of an enlarged geography and the Board recognised that it would put the region in a stronger position to bid for future funding and create an exciting opportunity to achieve the vision for good growth and better jobs.

The implementation and changes required to current arrangements in creating a new LEP to be operational from April 2020 were noted.  A Transition Subgroup had been established and details of the key workstreams they were focussing on were outlined in the submitted report.  Membership of the Subgroup was detailed in the report and the suggestion for a representative from the City of York to be included was supported.  The Subgroup would make recommendations in March to the respective LEPs about the working arrangements for a proposed new LEP. 

In order to be compliant with Government recommendations in relation to the current LEP, there is an immediate requirement to adopt a recruitment procedure by 28 February 2019 for future recruitment exercises for the Chair.  A proposed recruitment procedure for the LEP Chair and other private sector representatives on the LEP was attached at Appendix 3 and it was noted that the diversity statement will be reviewed at the next meeting in March 2019.  It was anticipated that the proposed procedure will be for the interim period for the Leeds City Region LEP, pending a further collaborative review as part of the transition to a new LEP.

Resolved:

(iii)       That the Private Sector Members’ Recruitment Procedure set out in Appendix 3 to the submitted report be approved.

(iv)       That the operational remit of the Transition Subgroup and the plan to bring recommendations to the next LEP Board in March 2019 be endorsed.

(v)        That the suggestion that a representative of City of York Council is an additional member of the Transition Subgroup be supported.