Agenda item

(Led by: Ben Still, Author: Rachel Jones)

The Board considered a joint report of the Directors of Delivery and Corporate Resources which provided an update on progress relating to proposed changes to the Leeds City Region Local Assurance Framework arising from its annual review. This followed the recently issued review of the National Assurance Framework (January 2019), the Strengthened Local Enterprise Partnership report (July 2018) and in accordance with guidance issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

Members noted the changes that had been made to the Local Assurance Framework which were set out in the report.  It was noted that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s LEP Review Working Group had also considered the assurance framework and it was agreed that approval to sign off the final version be delegated to the LEP Board Chair, with the LEP Chief Executive and Chair of the Combined Authority.

In order to secure compliance with the National Local Growth Assurance Framework, the Board considered proposed amendments to the LEP Constitution and LEP Board Procedure Rules which were set out in Appendices 2 and 3 of the report.

It was also proposed to adopt a new LEP Conflicts of Interest Policy and Protocol to supplement the existing Code of Conduct for Members of the LEP Board and these were attached at Appendices 4 and 5.  The Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s comments had been incorporated into the documents and it was agreed that following consideration by the Combined Authority on 25 April 2019 authority be delegated to the LEP Chair to approve the Policy and Protocol on behalf of the LEP.

It was reported that the Strengthened Local Enterprise Partnerships report also set out the requirement for all LEPs to produce an annual delivery plan setting out proposals and targets.  The Board considered the draft content for the LEP delivery plan and annual review and agreed that final approval of the content be delegated to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director, in consultation with the Chair of the Combined Authority and LEP Chair. 

Members also considered the LEP Equality & Diversity Policy including a Diversity Statement which had to be reviewed annually and a copy was attached at Appendix 6. 

The LEP Board thanked all involved in the preparation of the important documents.

Resolved:

(i)         That the changes made to the Local Assurance Framework, as set out in the report be noted.

(ii)        That the substantive form of the draft updated assurance framework document be approved.

(iii)       That approval to sign off the final version of the assurance framework be delegated to the LEP Board Chair, with the LEP Chief Executive and Chair of the Combined Authority.

(iv)       That amendments to the following governance documents be approved:

·         The LEP Constitution, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

·         The LEP Board Procedure Rules as set out in Appendix 3 of the report.

(v)        That the draft Conflicts of Interest Policy, attached at Appendix 4 of the report and the Conflicts of Interest Protocol, attached at Appendix 5 of the report be endorsed and authority be delegated to the LEP Chair to approve the Policy and Protocol on behalf of the LEP, further to their consideration by the Combined Authority on 25 April 2019.

(vi)       That the 2019/20 LEP delivery plan be endorsed, with a final sign off delegated to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director, in consultation with the Chair of the Combined Authority and the LEP Chair.

(vii)      That the LEP Equality & Diversity Policy and Diversity Statement, attached at Appendix 6 of the report, which forms part of the Local Assurance Framework, be approved.