Agenda item

The Chair (or the Chair’s representative) of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership Board to be invited to address the meeting.

Richard Bonner, the Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board, attended the meeting and was invited to put forward the Board’s comments in relation to the agenda items to be considered.  A summary of his comments are set out as below:

MIPIM

•           Meetings with Office for Investment

•           Engaged at UK Cities Event, sharing details of our Green Recovery Fund, sharing details of City Leap, the impact of Temple Quarter (impact on housing, transport connectivity, heart of economic growth (with University of Bristol enterprise campus)

•           Session with Cllr Jane Mudd, and Liverpool City Region Mayor – Servern Estuary Tidal Energy as a global proposition.   Meeting with Lord Johnson, Minister for Investment, celebrating our assets, including Hydrogen / Quantum Technology Innovation Centre, the wider University Investment, and Investment Opportunities at Temple Quarter. Ie leveraging UKRI.

•           Across all the city regions, there is a consistency that Infrastructure Investment, through effective transport networks, 5G, climate adaptation, economic and industrial strategies, and clear pipeline of investable propositions are all aligned to help address the challenges we have in addressing the inequalities in our communities, creating Thriving Places.

Climate & Ecological Strategy and Action Plan 2023

         I note the progress made and the scale of challenge the region faces to meet the West of England’s 2030 ambitions for net zero and halting the decline in nature.

         I am pleased the LEP Board were consulted and informed the development of the 2023 Climate and Ecological Strategy and Action Plan; and the strategy and actions recognise the need for businesses and partnership working to achieve regional ambitions

         I am pleased to see the vast majority of the Green Recovery Fund has successfully been awarded, and note the request of committee to expand it to £60m, including expanding funding for green skills to grow our green economy; and to expand the carbon survey offer to support more SMEs become more resilient to the impacts of energy prices and climate change

Investment Fund Programme

         Pleased to see the investment in Bath Central Riverside to further develop proposals to repurpose and regenerate this part of the Enterprise Zone.

         The scale of the ramping up of capacity required to deliver the step change levels of transport investment in the area through the £540m City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement should not be underestimated. The provision of further funding to the Councils to bring the resources and skills to help support project and programme management is welcomed, to ensure we fully grasp this opportunity.

Investment Fund Delivery Assurance

         It is noted that the Programme Review Board is now supporting the Committee in providing both support and constructive challenge to schemes with the Investment Fund programme. This should help drive project performance.

         It is noted that a number of scheme changes relate to the time limited Transforming Cities Fund which ends this month. It is critical that we are able to close out this programme and ensure no funding is at risk of being returned to Government.

West of England Combined Authority and Mayoral Budget Forecast Outturn 2022/23

         It is pleasing to see the ongoing success during the year in terms of attracting additional funding into the region.

         It is important that we continue to recognise that the West of England Combined Authority is changing and growing into an organisation set up to deliver the significant programme of work ahead that will provide vital benefits for the economy, and ultimately the West of England residents and businesses.

         The LEP Board continues to be supportive and is keen to increase its engagement to provide a positive impact to the Combined Authority’s reputation with government, business, and residents.

Audit Action Plan: Feedback from Audit and Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Progress Report

         In December, Committee discussed the emerging Action Plan produced to respond to the Grant Thornton Audit Report and asked that Audit and Scrutiny Committees review and propose any revisions to the plan. I’m pleased to see that review has taken place.

         The Independent Peer Review Committee asked to be initiated has progressed at pace – I’ve been interviewed as part of that process along with a range of regional colleagues. I’m encouraged that this work has progressed swiftly and that the reviewers interim report is presented today.

         As the report rightly says – there is much to celebrate in the progress the CA has made since its inception. The report also notes areas where there is action to take to strengthen our partnership, and the LEP continue to be keen to engage and support as the report identifies.

         I’m pleased to see the update in the Committee Paper on action since December – while there are still steps for Committee to take, it is welcome to see that progress is being made to address the specific issues the external auditors highlighted and that the Independent Peer Review is helping to frame a wider set of action that I hope Committee can agree would benefit our ability to deliver the best we can for the region.