Issue - meetings

To seek approval for Investment Fund Feasibility and Development Funding proposals and change requests for schemes within the current approved programme.

The following was approved:

Recommendations 1 & 5 – Majority Vote of the constituent authorities including the Mayor

1. The change request for the JSP Mitigation Outline Business Cases set out in paragraph 4.

Recommendations 2-3 – unanimous decision of the 3 constituent authorities, excluding Mayor

2. The allocation of £100K from the Investment Fund revenue to support the development of a feasibility study to progress the Talent Institutes in consultation with the Chief Executives of the local authorities.

3. The provisional allocation of £4.5M from the Investment Fund to support a bid to the European Social Fund to establish a skills innovation fund, and subject to a future Full Business Case proposal should the bid be successful.

Recommendation 4 – Unanimous Decision of the 3 constituent authorities excluding the Mayor

4. The continued allocation of up to £6M to support a funding solution for the MetroWest Phase 1(b) funding gap, subject to a revised gateway decision for the project in November 2018.

Recommendations 1 & 5 – Majority Vote of the constituent authorities including the Mayor

5. The WECA Chief Executive, in consultation with the WECA Mayor, be delegated authority to finalise the detailed allocation of the Talent Institutes feasibility funding and the sign-off for the final Skills Innovation Fund Bid.

The Chair introduced a report seeking approval for Investment Fund Feasibility and Development Funding proposals and change requests for schemes within the current approved programme.

The Committee had previously approved a number of feasibility studies and business cases for strategically important infrastructure, business and skills projects, together with an allocation to support a funding bid for the Metrowest rail programme. Further investment proposals for business and skills, together with a revised proposal in respect of the MetroWest rail funding, were set out in the report.

The Chair moved the recommendations which were seconded by Councillor Toby Savage.

Councillor Savage stated that he was excited by the prospect of the establishment of three Talent Institutes across the region with up to £100k being proposed for an initial feasibility study. Councillor Tim Warren concurred with this sentiment.

It was proposed that the words “in consultation with the Chief Executives of the three Constituent Councils” be added to recommendation 2. This was agreed in line with the constitution.

The Chair moved to the voting which was in line with the constitution.

The following was approved:

Recommendations 1 & 5 – Majority Vote of the constituent authorities including the Mayor

1. The change request for the JSP Mitigation Outline Business Cases set out in paragraph 4.

Recommendations 2-3 – unanimous decision of the 3 constituent authorities, excluding Mayor

2. The allocation of £100K from the Investment Fund revenue to support the development of a feasibility study to progress the Talent Institutes in consultation with the Chief Executives of the local authorities.

3. The provisional allocation of £4.5M from the Investment Fund to support a bid to the European Social Fund to establish a skills innovation fund, and subject to a future Full Business Case proposal should the bid be successful.

Recommendation 4 – Unanimous Decision of the 3 constituent authorities excluding the Mayor

4. The continued allocation of up to £6M to support a funding solution for the MetroWest Phase 1(b) funding gap, subject to a revised gateway decision for the project in November 2018.

Recommendations 1 & 5 – Majority Vote of the constituent authorities including the Mayor

5. The WECA Chief Executive, in consultation with the WECA Mayor, be delegated authority to finalise the detailed allocation of the Talent Institutes feasibility funding and the sign-off for the final Skills Innovation Fund Bid.