Agenda item

Daniel Gardiner, Adviser, provided the Board with an update on recent developments with the Government’s Industrial Strategy and outlined the proposed next steps related to the key place-based elements of the strategy.

Daniel highlighted the following points:

• The immediate next step for implementation will be the submission of proposals on LEP geographies which all areas are expected to submit by 28 September.
• There have been indications that the Government may be seeking to reduce the number of LEPs through this process which, if this is the case, will have implications for both Local Industrial Strategy development and the allocation of the UKSPF.

·         The key development with Local Industrial Strategies (LIS) has been the confirmation that the Government will agree a LIS with all parts of the country following joint calls from the LGA and the LEP Network to commit to this.

·         Daniel then handed over to Paul Green, Adviser who provided a brief update on developments with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and indicated that a consultation on the UKSPF is still expected before the end of the year.

The Chairman thanked Daniel and Paul for the update and invited Members to comment:

·         Some members expressed disappointment at the proposed reduction in public sector representation on LEP Boards and the proposal for the removal of overlapping LEP boundaries.

·         The Chairman pointed to the need for urgent clarification on the Government’s approach to decision-making on LEP geographies.

·         The Board acknowledged the opportunity presented by speaking with a united voice in relation to the LEP Network.

·         Potential to explore work on the role of local government scrutiny in relation to LEPs as well as the other mechanisms through which councils can work with LEPs – the Chairman referenced the Gloucestershire Joint Local Economic Growth Committee by way of example.

·         Members expressed concern at the timeframe for LIS development and the introduction of the UKSPF – as well as the risk that decisions on these areas of policy will be made without sufficient engagement with local areas.

Actions and decisions:

·         Officers to finalise letter from the Chairman to the BEIS Secretary of State requesting urgent clarification on the criteria that areas are required to consider when developing proposals for local geography and setting out how council oversight and accountability will be preserved following this process of review, particularly in areas where mergers would lead to much diminished publicly accountable representation on LEP Boards.