Agenda item

The Board discussed and noted the Panel and Committee updates which were presented to the Board for information.

The Business Innovation and Growth Panel report provided an update on progress on significant areas of activity particularly in respect of Brexit preparation and the support being provided to businesses. Members discussed and agreed the criteria for a new £2m Leeds City Region Brexit Business Support Scheme which was detailed in the report.  The scheme has been designed to provide SMEs with advice and guidance and is part of the package of Brexit-related interventions which had previously been endorsed by the LEP Board.

In respect of the Employment and Skills Panel, the report updated the Board on all areas of work including Delivery Agreements, School Partnerships, careers, the FutureGoals campaign and apprenticeships and employment.  Members welcomed the evaluation of the Work Wellness Project which was attached at Appendix 1 and asked that this be shared with health service colleagues.

The Board noted the update on the Green Economy Panel’s major projects and programmes and the key findings from the low carbon workshops which had been held with stakeholders. The current projects being delivered through the Energy Strategy and Delivery Plan and the emerging high level projects identified from the workshops were summarised in Appendix 1. Members highlighted the success of the Drax initiative and discussed the work being undertaken by the Combined Authority. This included the establishment of a Zero Emissions Transport Group and it was noted that all new projects considered for funding by the Combined Authority are now assessed for any potential environmental impact.

It was reported that the Place Panel had met on 30 July 2019 and the report provided an update of the items discussed at the meeting.

In respect of the Capital Programme (Investment Committee) update, the Board noted the Growth Deal spend in quarter 1 and the expenditure and forecasts of the programme were detailed in the Growth Deal Dashboard attached at Appendix 1.  Members were advised that as the LEP Board had not met before the submission deadline of 23 August 2019, the Growth Deal CLoG (Cities and Local Growth Unit) monitoring dashboard for quarter 1 2019/20 had been signed off by the Combined Authority’s Section 73 Officer.  A copy of the dashboard was attached at Appendix 2 and this was endorsed by the Board.

The Panel, Committee and Group Chairs were thanked for their updates.

Resolved:

(i)         That the Panel and Committee updates be noted.

(ii)        That the criteria for the Brexit Business Support Scheme be approved.

(iii)       That the CLoG monitoring dashboard for quarter 1, 2019/20 be endorsed.