Agenda item

The Chair welcomed Daniel Gardiner to the Board. Daniel outlined a draft set of aims to frame the LGA’s policy engagement on trade and investment over the coming year, informed by the LGA’s engagement in this area to date. Daniel then outlined the proposed next steps for the LGA to take these aims forward with government and key national stakeholders.

The Mayor of Bristol also fed back on a meeting with Secretary of State for International Trade, in which the opportunities to work through cities was highlighted and a commitment was made by the Secretary of State to meet with Core Cities four times per year.

Members made the following comments on the draft aims and next steps:

Emphasis was placed on the need to ensure that government money is not used to promote inter-area competition as this is counter-productive.

In relation to the aim focused on reviewing and strengthening sub-national trade and investment infrastructure (paragraph 12), this should feed into the LGA’s next steps for engagement with the LEP Network (paragraph 22.6).

Accountability of LEPs remains a key issue.

Decision:

Members approvedthe proposed aims and next steps for the LGA’s trade and inward investment work.