Agenda item

The Chair welcomed Steve Turner, Director of the UKCCIC to the meeting, and invited him to share a series of presentation slides with the Board. The presentation slides set out the following key points:

• Background information related to UKCCIC.
• The UKCCIC’s vision to support local authorities in securing the necessary long-term finance for achieving Net Zero.
• Governance structures and associated arrangements.
• UKCCIC’s five-year programme.

Ian Hughes, Director of Policy, set out the following key points:

• The LGA had been working to ensure that the Membership was extended beyond Cities.
• The statement contained within the Net Zero strategy which related to local government was welcomed.
• It was recognised that there needed to be a better structure in place to bring local government and central government together as one to tackle climate change, there was a commitment to set up a forum to build upon expertise.
• It was also recognised that there were too many funding streams currently in place across the UK to implement climate change initiatives. The LGA would continue to work with colleagues within the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in relation to funding streams.

Board Members made a number of comments and asked questions which related to the following points:

• The pace of change and the need for more ambition within government.
• The need for a mixture of opportunities to suit authorities of all areas.
• The British Business Bank’s involvement in the local central forum and the joining up of opportunities.
• Board Members’ engagement directly with the UKCCIC.
• The importance of supporting businesses to transition skills into new sectors was emphasised.

Ian and Steve responded to Board Members’ comments, setting out the following points:

• Board Members were thanked for their continued collective leadership.
• The importance of structured engagement with the financial community was emphasised.
• The UKCCIC’s vision was open to all authorities to reflect all economic geographies.
• UKCCIC had been a partnership between Core Cities, London Councils and the Connected Places Catapult since its establishment on 1 July 2021.
• The Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Group would work locally with businesses to help them to prepare for Net Zero and a greener economy.
• A number of engagement events were scheduled to take place, such as Core Cities’ Council Summit, the LGA Annual Conference, Regional Investor events, and a dinner with the City of London Corporation, critical partners of UKCCIC.
• The importance of the Connected Places Catapult project, and the need to spread the word, was emphasised.
• BEIS were being encouraged to set up a local central forum as soon as possible which would focus on issues related to small businesses and access to finance.

Board Members were encouraged to alert the officers within their own authorities of the work that UKCCIC continued to undertake and to reach out to UKCCIC if they wished to be involved in upcoming projects and engagement events.

Decision:

• Board Members noted the report.