Agenda item

A report was presented to remind Members that, each year the MCA and LEP are required to update and publish its Assurance Framework to outline that robust, transparent and effective governance arrangements are in place. 

Following devolution, the Assurance Framework also needs to be approved by four Government departments.  The MCA was also required to produce and publish a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework alongside the Assurance Framework to outline how projects and programmes funded with devolved and awarded monies will be robustly monitored and evaluated.  This also requires Government approval. 

Members noted that the MCA would formally consider the two frameworks at their meeting on 22^nd March 2021 in order that they can be submitted to Government for approval before 31^st March 2021.  The report presented at today’s meeting summarised the amendments that had been incorporated. 

Paragraph 2.3 of the report set out the key amendments to the Assurance Framework, which were noted by Members’.  Appendix 1 to the report set out the Draft Assurance Framework 2021. 

Members noted that, further to the presentation of an early draft of the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to the MCA Board on 25^th January 2021, the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework had been further refined. 

The Monitoring and Evaluation Framework attached at Appendix 2 to the report included the logic models that would be used to evaluate the impact of programmes and projects by thematic area, against the SEP and RAP targets, and to include the Monitoring and Evaluation Plans required for individual programmes, specifically Transforming Cities Fund (TCF).

R Jarvis referred to Figure 4 – ‘Renewal Action Plan’ and reference to helping 35,000 people re-engage.  He asked if the figures related to before the Covid-19 pandemic, or if the figures needed to be adjusted to take account of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

R Adams said that the figures contained at Figure 4 were those which were agreed when the Renewal Action Plan had been presented to Members, which were a bestcase scenario.  It was confirmed that the figures would be monitored. 

A Marshall asked if the integration of SYPTE into the MCA would be completed by the end of the financial year 2021/22. 

R Adams replied that the MCA were aiming to progress the soft integration as much as possible during the financial year 2021/22.  It was currently unknown when the Parliamentary Order would be made. 

A Marshall asked if the narrative within the Assurance and Evaluation Framework could be expanded around the role of the Audit and Standards Committee in relation to the Assurance and Evaluation Framework. 

R Adams confirmed that the narrative within the report had been updated.  It was agreed that the revised wording would be circulated to Members after today’s meeting.  ACTION: R Adams via C James. 

R Jarvis referred to the Gender Equality Statement at 3.36 of the Draft Assurance and Evaluation Framework. He asked if the LEP Board was able to meet this milestone by March 2023. 

R Adams replied that initially the statement was for private sector Board places only but that Government had insisted this was for all members including the public sector and therefore this would be a difficult task.  It was noted that representations had been made to Government to state that, this was not within the LEP Board’s gift to influence the democratic process. 

Councillor Jones said that Assurance and Evaluation Framework was very similar to the MCA’s Constitution.  He asked why it was repeated within the document. 

R Adams replied that whilst the Assurance and Evaluation Framework draws upon the Constitution, the Constitution sets out how the MCA is established and operates, the Assurance Framework establishes how the Mayor, MCA and LEP work together, make decisions and how investment proposals are evaluated and tested to ensure Value for Money. 

A workshop session to provide detail on the Assurance and Evaluation Framework was scheduled with Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  It was agreed that sessions would also be made available to Audit and Standards Committee Members. 

Councillor Jones asked if the Committee could receive further details on Gainshare and the Gateway Review Process. 

R Adams replied that, it may be appropriate, at a later date, when further clarity had been received, to schedule reports in relation to Gainshare and the Gateway Review Process on the Committee’s Forward Plan, as this is known.   

RESOLVED - That the Audit and Standards Committee:

1.    Noted, at section 2.3, the key amendments that had been made to the Assurance Framework to ensure compliance with the Government’s requirements on Gainshare and the Gateway Review Process.

2.    Noted the updated Assurance Framework set out at Appendix 1, pending any amendments required by the MCA on 22nd March 2021.

3.    Noted the updated Monitoring and Evaluation Framework set out at Appendix 2, pending any amendments required by the MCA on 22nd March 2021.