Issue - meetings

Report by Robin Townsend, Associate Director, Corporate Function, Procurement and Programme Office

In accordance with paragraph 9 of the Cabinet Procedure Rules in Part 7 of the Constitution, the Leader presented a report which advised Council that she had delegated executive authority to the Joint Strategic Economic Committee (JSEC).

The JSEC formed part of the governance structure of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership. The report previously considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 16 December 2014 which provided details of the governance structure including the terms of reference of the JSEC was also presented. The  JSEC would provide local democratic and financial accountability for the Swindon and Wiltshire Strategic Economic Plan, the use of the Local Growth Fund and other related funding streams.

Resolved:

That Council note the delegation by the Leader of the Council of

executive authority to the Joint Strategic Economic Committee as

presented. The Council’s Scheme of Delegation – Part 3 of the

Constitution would be amended to reflect this delegation.

Report by Dr Carlton Brand, Corporate Director.

Council Leader,Councillor Jane Scott presented the report which invited Cabinet to review and agree the governance arrangements that have been developed by Wiltshire Council in partnership with Swindon Borough Council and the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP).

In her presentation of the report, Councillor Scott highlighted the following issues: that there was clear need for a robust governance structure, to ensure that decisions that are made properly; that the group empowered to make urgent decision would include the Leaders of Wiltshire Council and Swindon Council; that Scrutiny should have a role in the SWLEP; and that the SWLEPP was a joint Executive Committee and would report its decisions to Council.

Councillor Jon Hubbard, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, expressed concern regarding the amount democratic accountability in the Local Enterprise Model. Councillor Scott stated that she shared some of his concerns, and whilst she would prefer for more power to be delegated to Local Government, it was appropriate to engage with the structure set up by the Coalition Government.

Resolved

1.    To note and agree the proposed governance structure for SWLEP activities, including the Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Deal as proposed by the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership Secretariat and presented to the SWLEP Board for approval on 9 September 2014.

2.    To approve the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership Governance Structure as set out in Appendix 1.

3.    To authorise the Director of Economic Development and Planning and the Monitoring Officer for Wiltshire Council, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to undertake the necessary actions, including changes to the Council’s Constitution, to enable the implementation of the governance structure set out in Appendix 1.

4.    To agree to consult Swindon Borough Council in the event of any changes to Wiltshire Council’s constitution that may impact upon or affect their corporate or political structures and committees.

5.    To agree to keep these governance arrangements under review to  ensure that they remain fit for purpose.

Reason for Decision: To ensure that SWLEP activity is undertaken with robust and democratically accountable governance arrangements between the two Unitary Authorities and the SWLEP; and to ensure that the decision making regarding allocations of funding and resources made available through the SWLEP Board is agreed in an open and transparent way.