Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

An apology for absence was noted as above.

·         In relation to any agenda item

·         In relation to any activity since the last formal meeting

·         In relation to any forthcoming activity

None.

The notes of the previous meeting were agreed to be an accurate record.

A report was presented which recommended a selection of 13 identified schemes onto the pipeline in order that Business Cases may be developed. 

A report had been presented to the last Board meeting to request entry onto the pipeline for 13 projects in relation to new inward investment enquiries and growth plans of existing indigenous businesses across a range of sectors.  Work continued through the Business Growth Board and the Co-Chairs of the Business Growth Board who were kept updated on the progress made.

J Muir commended the manner in which the report had been produced and the rational put forward for a ‘business as usual’ approach to the more proactive approach to combine the aspects of creating a much stronger eco pipeline.  He expressed his gratitude to Mayor Jones CBE and N MacDonald for the time that they had allocated as Co-Chairs of the Business Growth Board to be provided with briefings on the aspects of each of the pipeline projects.

Work was underway to develop an improved system to brief the Co-Chairs moving forward, to enable them to become part of the non-disclosure agreement and to provide them with a more detailed briefing prior to discussion and evaluation of the Business Cases at their respective thematic boards.

P Kennan referred to a number of the projects which were business related and also related to other thematic boards i.e. SCR Transport and the Environment Board.  He queried whether there was a mechanism to enable the briefings to be provided to members of those boards without breaching any confidentialities.

J Muir appreciated the comment raised by P Kennan.  Work was underway in an attempt to merge the pipeline projects that were both infrastructional and business growth in nature, to enable an oversight with an ultimate goal to create a pipeline on all projects overtime that all Members could review, without compromising the non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements.

In response to a question received from D Fell regarding how the Board members could help to deliver further, J Muir urged D Fell to contact him if he had a particular area of interest and expertise that he was interested in engaging in further.

RESOLVED – That the Board:-

i)       Noted the update on the on-going development of the business pipeline.

Accepted the schemes detailed in section 2.1 – 2.6 and Appendix A of the report to the programme pipeline, noting that projects would only be supported if future funding was received and assurance requirements were met.

A report was submitted which presented the findings from the Mid-Term Evaluation.  There was a requirement of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for LEPs to undertake an impact evaluation of the 2015-21 LGF Programme.  The impact evaluation of the SCR LGF programme would be delivered in two parts i.e. a Mid-Term Evaluation and an Ex-Post Evaluation.  It was not intended to commence the Ex-Post Evaluation until 2022, to enable a significant amount of time to be spent with the Board Members to understand some of the issues raised by the Mid-Term Evaluation and analysis.  This would enable the development of what was required within the Ex-Post Evaluation and how to test the benefits that the region had accrued as a result of the £367m investment. 

Following today’s meeting, work would commence to drill down into the messages within the report by theme for the thematic boards as the new investment priorities were developed.

The following key findings were identified from the report:-

·           Approximately 6 years ago, the Local Growth Fund had invited all LEPs to competitively bid for a share of £12bn, which had followed the work across the country for the development of the Strategic Economic Plans.  The 2014-2020 Strategic Economic Plan had been the basis for the submission of the SCR bid.

·           A total of £363.7m had been awarded to the LEP for three Growth Deals, which included £42m for a retained major transport scheme in Rotherham.

·           It was anticipated that £48.8m of match funding would be generated for Housing Intervention Fund Projects by 2025.

·           Members noted the economic benefits achieved to date as a result of the investment, together with the economic benefits forecast to be achieved by 2025.

·           Members were referred to the suite of outputs that would be delivered, which would be monitored and reported to the Government.

J Muir commented that whilst he applauded the way in which the matters were reviewed on a custom job basis, he considered that this raised issues where matters were reviewed one dimensionally.  He encouraged the impact on lost productively to be considered, as this was a key argument that could be supported from a business perspective.

Dr Adams stated that such issues would be built into the greater analysis as the data was reviewed within the report, and as the final evaluation and benefits were scoped out.

P Kennan referred to the context of the report in relation to the lessons learnt and what could be taken forwards into the future projects.  He referred to the summary conclusions section of the report, in particular the capacity, financial ability of the private sector to develop business cases, the need for regular workshops to educate people in terms of the new funding programmes, and the ability to celebrate and raise awareness of what had been achieved.  He queried whether these issues could be captured by the LEP.

In response, J Muir commented that this was an evolving model which required a great deal of emphasis in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

A report was submitted which summarised the amendments that had been incorporated into the Assurance Framework, which was presented for consideration by the Board.  The MCA and LEP were required each year to update and publish an Assurance Framework to outline the robust, transparent and effective governance arrangements that were in place.  Following devolution, there was a requirement for the Assurance Framework to be approved by the four Government departments.

As agreed at the last Board meeting, N McDonald, Chair of the Assurance Panel, had undertaken a full review of the Assurance Framework.  Members were referred to the amendments that had been made to the document, as highlighted within the report.  The Assurance Framework now included the structure of the new thematic boards. 

Members were made aware of one change to the published version of the Assurance Framework in relation to the equality/gender balance.  The current version of the Assurance Framework stated that it was an aspiration that the private sector membership would be equally split 50/50 on a gender basis by 2023.  The Government had since stated that this would apply to all LEP membership and not just private sector membership.

J Muir expressed his appreciation and thanks to N MacDonald for the work undertaken in supporting the process with Dr Adams.

RESOLVED – That the Board:-

i)       Noted at Section 2.3 of the report, the key amendments that had been made to the Assurance Framework to ensure compliance with the Government’s requirements.

Considered and endorsed the updated Assurance Framework as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

A report was submitted which provided Members with an update on key Mayoral activity which related to the economic agenda.

Updates were provided on:-

·           The Covid-19 pandemic.

·           Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands.

·           Improving local public transport.

·           Protecting people from flooding.

On behalf of Mayor Jarvis MBE, D Smith informed Members of the following additional items:-

·           The Government had today announced the £137m contract to upgrade the Hope Valley rail line between Manchester and Sheffield.  Mayor Jarvis MBE had keenly pressed the issue with members of the Transport Board and others over a sustained period of time.

·           Mayor Jarvis MBE had wished to express his disappointment in the outcome of the Chancellor’s budget, particularly in relation to the levelling up fund prioritisation, which had left South Yorkshire under-funded.  The budget had not recognised South Yorkshire at the level that it was considered it should have been, in terms of the levels of need within the power communities and communities of interest.

·           Members recalled that the MCA papers that would be published on 12 March 2021 would include the investment strategy to gainshare.  Once published, Mayor Jarvis MBE would provide the Board Members with a briefing on the investment strategy.  Following which, D Smith would provide the Board Members with further detailed briefings.

RESOLVED – That Members noted the update.

A report was submitted which provided Members with a general update on the activity being undertaken by the LEP outside of the agenda items under discussion.

Updates were provided on:-

·           South Yorkshire Freeport bid.

·           Chambers of Commerce Skills Roundtables.

·           India Roundtable events.

·           Covid-19 Business Input Group.

·           LEP Peer Review.

Dr Smith provided Members with the advance notice that the LEP Board AGM which was scheduled to be held in June/July 2021, would be held physically within the public domain.  Consideration would be given to the items for discussion at the meeting and to address holding the physical meeting.

A Gates provided Members with a briefing on the outcome of the Chancellor’s budget.  Members noted the following key points:-

·            The macro economic outlook for the OBR had offered a much more benign outlook for the UK economy in comparison to previous modelling.  The pre-pandemic level for the economic output was expected to be reached in approximately 18 months’ time.

·            The budget had confirmed continued financial support for individuals and businesses during the pandemic.

·            Investment in places had included a total of £1bn for 45 new Towns Deals, which included Goldthorpe (Barnsley) and Stocksbridge (Sheffield).

·            Confirmation had been given to the devolution of major capital transport funding from 2022 onwards, to be allocated over a 5 year period which would be a significant proportion of transport investment funding.

·            Both the Job Support Scheme and the Self-Employed Income Scheme had been extended.

·            A total of £126m additional funding would be made available for 40,000 further traineeships in England for 16 - 24 year olds.

·            The UK Infrastructure Bank had been capitalised with £12bn to finance green infra.

·            From 2022 - 23, investment of £4.2bn would be made for the 5 year intra-city transport settlements for eight city regions which included the SCR.

·            The medium-longer term would be set within the Spending Review which would be undertaken later on during the year.

Members would be provided with a copy of the presentation slides.

L Nickson queried whether there were any plans for the Board meetings to return to physical meetings, and the format of the meetings over the next 6 month period.

J Muir stated that the format of the Board meetings would continue to be held digitally.

Dr Smith added that the only cavate to holding the Board meetings digitally was the requirement to hold the AGM within the public domain.  The Covid-19 legislation, which allowed the MCA meetings to be held virtually, would shortly conclude and the Government had expressed the intention for this not to continue.  Clarity would be sought on the matter.

RESOLVED – That Members noted the update.