Agenda item

Esther Barrott was invited to introduce the paper and welcomed Cllr Linda Taylor who had agreed to attend the meeting.

Members received a presentation on Britain’s Leading Edge Research and noted an outline of the background of the group and the work being done to provide a voice to Government for peripheral areas without major cities. Evidence of how coastal and rural areas of England can be given equal opportunities to develop and grow has been submitted to Treasury Select Committee, March 2020 budget, HCLG Select Committee and BEIS Select Committee.

Cllr Taylor made several key points, including:

• Peripheral regions are the rich powerhouses of the UK, capable of providing clean, reliable and renewable energy.
• Rural green spaces generate fewer carbon emissions and provide important benefits for mental health issues.
• Can provide better domestic supply of food and drink and carbon energy.
• Average age in rural areas is rising faster than in other English authorities which has implications for higher social care and local employment.
• The impact on residents is profound and it is harder for them to access services and jobs.

Members noted comparisons around pay and productivity in these areas against the rest of England. Demographic gains are particularly reliant upon better broadband connectivity and a devolution deal is necessary to enable infrastructures to be put in place to upskill and support these populations and enable businesses and services to prosper.

Cllr Taylor outlined the importance of collaboration and invited colleagues to contact the organisation with any feedback, questions or partnership suggestions. Members noted the website www.britainsleadingedge.org

Cllr Bentley thanked the speaker and confirmed that colleagues could consider joining should they wish.

Members made several comments:

• Has the organisation been working with the APPG?
• How can planning assist with influencing changes in primary legislation?
• They noted parallels between the Board and the organisation and agreed that working together was vital and welcomed collaboration  going forward.
• A stronger voice is needed to promote what rural areas can do, particularly around food, potential for offshore wind and fuel capacity, job creation and sustainability.
• They referred to possible collaboration with the LGA’s Coastal SIG which has a lot of overlap.
• Concerns about devolution and achieving better outcomes for individual councils.

Cllr Taylor addressed members’ comments and noted the benefits that having mayoral leadership within her own area has provided around bringing in investment.

The Chair thanked Cllr Taylor for an interesting and informative presentation.