Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Russell Holland, who was substituted by Councillor Oliver Donachie.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2016.

To receive the minutes of the SWLEP Board meeting held on 24 November 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2016 and the minutes of the SWLEP Board meeting held on 24 November 2016 were presented, and it was,

Resolved:

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2016.

To receive and note the minutes of the SWLEP Board.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the relevant Standards Committee.

There were no declarations.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no announcements.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named on the front of the agenda for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution.

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm 7 February 2017 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on9 February 2017. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

A letter had been received from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE). Details were provided to the committee and a response would be provided from the Chairman of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, as attached.

Highlight Reports for each project and an overall summary table are presented for all Local Growth Fund and other Local Enterprise Partnership projects.  

The Committee received highlight reports and updates regarding all Local Growth Fund and other Local Enterprise Partnership projects as detailed in the agenda papers.

The Committee sought additional details regarding progression of the projects, such as the Compulsory Purchase Order process concluding for the Swindon Bus Exchange project and whether the status of the project would be changed from Red for the next meeting, and also plans for proposals for the Chippenham Station Hub to be presented to the SWLEP Board with a view to a business case being considered in May 2017. Other issues discussed included ongoing discussions for a joint venture agreement to progressed with the Wichelstowe project, and that a paper would be produced for a working group regarding the output for the Higher Futures project.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

To note the updates.

To receive an update on progress regarding the submission of 28 July 2016.

The Committee was informed an announcement was expected from central government in the weeks following the meeting on the Local Growth Fund Round 3 allocations, and that fuller updates would be provided to member as soon as was practicable.

To provide members with a summary of each of the funding streams being used within SWLEP programmes to assist understanding.

A report was received on the current financial status across all streams of Local Growth Funding along with explanations for variances between the actual spend and the baseline grant issued to the SWLEP.

At its meeting in January 2017 the SWLEP had received the report along with plans to manage the spending for future years. There had been an underspend in 2015/16, and it was calculated there would be an overspend in 2016/17 to equalise the position. Full details on how this would be achieved were contained in the report and discussed.

Resolved:

To endorse the approach of the SWLEP Board at its meeting on 25 January 2017 to manage the Local Growth Fund profiling.

To receive an update report.

A report was received as detailed in the agenda papers on the latest developments in respect of the European Structural and Investment Funds Programme following a recent hiatus to calls after the EU Referendum, with local specifications for the next rounds of European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) calls in development. The advisory sub-committee to government would be meeting in April 2017.

The Committee sought additional details from the reports, including update on the Rural Growth Programme and its successfully attended Rural Business Grants event on 8 February to help rural businesses apply for grants. The Chairman of the SWLEP was in attendance and provided an update on the focus of investment for infrastructure, food and drink manufacturing, business development and other key areas.

The Committee also welcomed the opportunity for it and the SWLEP to contact businesses that are supported to monitor the successes that occur. Other topics discussed included the LEADER programme, technical assistance and the difficulties of some businesses to meet specifications for some programmes.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

To note the update.

A report will be circulated following the meeting of the Joint Working Group on 7 February 2017.

An update report on the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) and Functional Economic Market Area Assessment (FEMAA) was received as detailed in the agenda supplement following a meeting of the Joint Working Group on 7 February 2017.

The two local authorities are working together on a joint  evidence base to identify the level of housing and jobs that need to be planned for from 2016 through to 2036 to inform the review of both authorities’ local development plans. It was also stated the recent government housing white paper would need to be assessed to see if it had impact on the current plans for both authorities.

Work to date on the SHMA had identified four housing market areas, centred on Trowbridge, Salisbury, Chippenham and Swindon. The FEMAA identified three functional economic market areas broadly corresponding to the Strategic Economic Plan of the SWLEP, along the Swindon/M4 corridor, A350/West Wiltshire towns and Salisbury/Amesbury/A30. It included projected future employment growth based on professional economic forecasts, identifying requirements per year for employment land. The housing and economic areas cross the boundaries of both authorities showing the need for further joint working in developing planning policies.

The recommendation was for the Committee to endorse the approach to joint working, which would inform development of the Councils Local Development Schemes before the they were formally considered in Summer 2017.

The Committee considered the options detailed in the report, including a single joint plan, a strategic only joint plan or the alignment of separate authority plans based on a joint evidence base and non-statutory joint framework, noting legal and policy requirements. It was confirmed each authority would still be responsible for its own plan under the recommended approach. Details were also sought on the findings in respect of employment areas and accessing land, the level of cooperation with neighbouring authorities, and the role of the SWLEP itself.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

To:

(i) Note and endorse the approach to joint working as outlined in the report;

(ii) Agree that the Joint Working Group consider proposed changes to the Council’s respective LDSs to ensure a coordinated approach in order to make recommendations to the Council’s respective Cabinets;

(iii) Agree that the Joint Working Group consider the extended scope of the joint non-statutory framework and the appropriate joint approach to the Regulation 18 consultations; and

(iv) Agree that the final SHMA and FEMAA should be considered at JSEC in June.

The development and review of the Assurance Framework is a requirement for all Local Enterprise Partnerships by Government and it sits within the wider SWLEP Governance Framework.  The Assurance Framework includes the process for the prioritisation and allocation of funding to LEPs, such as the Local Growth Fund, to deliver schemes and initiatives.  

The Committee is asked to endorse the decision of the SWLEP Board on revisions the Assurance Framework.

The Assurance Framework sets out various governance arrangements for the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Revised government guidance was published in November 2016, compliance with which is condition of Local Growth Fund 3 funding. A SWLEP working group had already been reviewing the assurance framework, and further revised them in order to comply with the new guidance. Among other changes it was proposed to increase the maximum size of the board to enable a more flexible business led approach. The section 151 officers and heads of legal services for both local authorities, the commissioning group of the SWLEP and the SWLEP Board all approved the proposed changes as detailed in the report.

The Committee noted the proposed changes and following discussion, it was,

Resolved:

To endorse the decisions made by the SWLEP Board with regard to the revised assurance framework; and,

To note the quick guide to the assurance framework document.

To consider the forward work programme and the date of the next meeting.

Currently the date is 6 April, it has been requested this be moved.

The forward plan was received and noted.

The date of the next meeting was scheduled for 6 April 2017, but members would be canvassed to see if another date would be more appropriate for all participants.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.