Agenda item

The Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership to be invited to address the meeting.

The Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board, Richard Bonner, made the following statement in respect to the items on the agenda:

Before getting into our detailed comments I wanted to reflect on a few matters:

·       I had the privilege to attend the Convention of the North this week, with mayors, civic, government and business leaders from across the North.    We also heard from DLUHC Secretary of State, Gove, and his opposition, Lisa Nandy.

·       It was my 2^nd Convention, and I was struck by the confidence, the joined up nature of mayors and leaders, and the sense of real progress

·       I was also struck by two other attributes, the mayors were ambitious to secure more devo powers, join the accelerator initiatives, create more local control on education, health, transport, etc.   And using their soft powers to accelerate in bound investment, political engagement, and mobilise their communities.

·       We workshopped 8 Policy areas, and from that the 1,000 delegates identified top 3 priorities:

o   Inclusive and decarbonised city region transport systems

o   Plan to deliver and improve housing

o   Delivering a clean and affordable energy transition

·       These of course chime here in West of England, and we want to see our ‘mass transit’ proposals coming forwards and being progressed, we want leaders to work together to create the policy framework to delivery new and improved housing, and of course support citizens and business on our transition to net zero.

·       I was interested speak to a HM Treasurer Civil Servant, making the point, that our CRSTS programmes need to look to 2^nd and 3^rd rounds, and that as well as short term delivery, we look to the longer terms schemes.  The example of work short term expediency over longer term strategic thinking is really well explained in Leeds / West Yorkshire.  Similar to here, previously cocked up and didn’t agree to deliver the opportunity to have trams, but now don’t look back but are working hard to deliver their mass transit (9 strategic routes, station and park & ride interfaces, and transition to active travel), all that you would expect.  However, the mayor is very clear that first spades won’t be in the ground until her second term (whether her or another), but recognises the region needs that longer term strategic planning and delivery.

·       I think that the approach being taken in the North highlights how so much more can be delivered when we collaborate, work together, engage and build trust with Government.   Working together to create Optimism, Opportunity and Hope, using our Powers, hard and soft to make sure that happens.

·       Hopefully with so much to get through today, we can bring the best of ourselves to this committee, and work together to get the very best outcomes for our citizens, and businesses to thrive and invest.

Mayoral and Combined authority budget 2023/24 and medium-term financial STRATEGY

§  I am pleased to see that it has been a successful year in terms of attracting additional funding into the region.

§  It is important that we recognise that the West of England Combined Authority is changing and that it needs to adapt and have the resources in place to ensure that it has the skills and capacity to deliver the significant programme of work ahead for the benefits of the economy, and ultimately the residents and businesses of the region.

§  The LEP Board is supportive and keen to increase its engagement and ‘step change’ positively the Combined Authority’s reputation with government, business, and residents.

Investment Fund Programme

§  It is clear that inflation is already having an impact on the programme with a number of schemes facing significant cost increases and it will be important to keep this under regular review.

§  I welcome the proposed funding for the West of England Support Programme and that UKSPF is being blended with the Investment Fund to deliver greater benefit and I look forward to seeing the details of this £8.5m package when they come forward.

§  I recognise the issue of the large cost increase for the Arena Infrastructure Package and the need to fully review this, but fully support the scheme which is key to providing good, and sustainable, travel to the Arena and the wider area.

In relation to Business Support Programme:

§  The Investment Fund report includes a recommendation to allocate £4.8m towards a new £8.5m West of England Business Support programme.

§  The landscape remains complex and difficult for SMEs, and therefore the Combined Authority and Unitary Authorities have a fundamental role to play in maintaining and sustaining the best possible conditions for businesses to thrive.

§  The Local Enterprise Partnership Board this month received a presentation on the work of the West of England Growth Hub. The service has significantly increased its reach and impact, supporting just short of 10,000 businesses.

§  In addition, though the Combined Authority’s £5m investment in the Local Industrial Strategy Productivity Challenge, including programmes like Tech for Growth and the Universal Business Support Programme, a total of 160 business start-ups and 237 new jobs have been created, with 54% of businesses supported already experiencing productivity increases.

§  The new investment will build on this progress to put in place new capacity, regionally and locally, alongside a set of strategic projects which will, over 3 years, support 5,707 businesses, create 262 new businesses and 370 jobs, and achieve a GVA uplift of £21.3m

Investment Fund Delivery Assurance

§  I note that the process of challenge and support for projects is now in operation with the creation of the Programme Review Board and this should help support timely delivery and minimise delays which have been an issue for the programme to date.

Transport Paper

§  With such a significant programme of transport infrastructure investment planned over the next few years, it’s exciting to see projects coming forward which are ready to transition into the construction phase. The three projects, MetroWest 2, cycle hangars and Integrated Micromobility Service will be some of first projects where we will see our investment unlock connectivity, decarbonisation and economic benefits for the Combined Authority region.

Transforming Cities Fund

§  It has been encouraging to see the amounts of investment received since the Transforming Cities Fund was initially awarded in late 2018 for the development and construction of major transport schemes. 

§  I would also like to reflect that there are some lessons learnt and significant changes needed to ensure we deliver for the region. 

§  I would like to support this paper and ensure that the funding is spend to the benefit of the region.

Capital Strategy including Treasury Management & investment

§  I note that the information presented in the detailed capital budget for 2023/24, and indicative budget up to 2026/27 again demonstrates the significant capital growth in funding within the Combined Authority.