Agenda item

The Chair invited Rebecca Cox, Principal Policy Adviser, to introduce the report.

Rebecca introduced the report which asked Members for their views on a change of emphasise in relation to the Government’s announcement of a Levelling Up White Paper in place of the previous Devolution (and Local Recovery) White Paper.

Board Members made the following comments:

• It would be useful for Tom Walker, Director of the Cities and Local Growth Unit, or Neil O’Brian, MP, to attend one of our Board Meetings so that Board Members could hear more about some of their key priorities which would help us in terms of how we lobby them going forward.

• We need to understand exactly what the government’s agenda is and what their ideas are before we start trying to work out responses and ways forward.

• There will be people in different parts of the country who still want to move ahead with various devolution agendas, but I do think what is being suggested in terms of focusing on delivery is to be supported.

• We must take every opportunity to remind government that our rural and coastal areas need attention as well.

• This is a good opportunity for us as a Board to connect with the policy agenda that is emerging.

Decision:

• Board Members noted the report.

Action:

Officers to take the appropriate to action to invite Tom Walker/Neil O’Brian to a future meeting of the Board.