Agenda item

Report enclosed.

The Joint Committee considered a report (agenda item 13) regarding business cases for schemes seeking approval for funding through the Local Growth Fund and Economic Development Fund, and also setting out an update on other externally funded grant programmes.

The Chair highlighted that the report included:

• Details about business cases for schemes seeking approval for funding through the Local Growth Fund and Economic Development Funds.
• Details of a number of change requests within the current programme.
• An update on further grant awards received for the South West Energy Hub, Low Carbon Challenge Fund, Women Into Digital Jobs, Education and Training, and the Creative Scale-Up programme.

The report recommendations were then moved by the Chair and seconded by Cllr Romero.

In connection with recommendation 4, Cllr Romero asked that an assurance be given that, subject to the conditions set out being met, funding would be forthcoming for the Bath College Digital and Creative Innovation Centre.  In response to this point, the Mayor advised that the Combined Authority would write to Cllr Romero to confirm the position and provide assurance on the point raised.

In connection with recommendation 5 (approval of Full Business Case for Keynsham High Street), Cllr Romero referred to a letter she had received from a newly elected Keynsham councillor welcoming this investment.

In connection with recommendation 1, Cllr Savage welcomed the proposal to approve the Full Business Case for the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) centre at WISE Campus, Stoke Gifford (subject to the conditions detailed).  He also welcomed the proposal to approve the Full Business Case for the Umbrella project (subject to the conditions detailed) which would promote robotics and related innovations that could ultimately help transform people’s lives. 

Cllr Davies welcomed the package of investment proposals, noting the importance of investing in sustainable projects.  In response to a question from Cllr Davies, it was noted that an appropriate degree of over-programming of projects was built into the LGF programme to take account of the inevitable slippage that would take place in some projects; it was recognised this was inherent in taking forward a wide range of projects at the same time. 

The Chair then moved to the voting on the recommendations.

The Joint Committee RESOLVED:

1.    To approve the reallocation of the Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre project from the Local Growth Fund programme to the emerging UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

2.    To approve the Full Business Case for the STEAM Centre at WISE Campus, Stoke Gifford subject to securing planning consent and design to RIBA stage 3 with the submission of an updated cost plan.

3.    To approve the Full Business Case for the Animal Management Education Centre.

4.    To review the funding position for the Digital and Creative Innovation centre when planning consent and design to RIBA stage 3 has been achieved noting that should the scheme progress, the tail of funding would need to be underwritten by B&NES Economic Development Fund allocation.

5.    To approve the Full Business Case for the Keynsham High Street scheme.

6.    To approve the Full Business Case for the Umbrella project subject to confirmation of the State Aid position and the supply of a detailed programme, specification of the works and cost plan.

7.    To award the Reimagining and Redeveloping the Old Magistrates Court project Local Growth Fund pipeline status should funding become available.

8.    To award the Watershed Development project LGF pipeline status should funding become available.

9.    To approve the Full Business Case for the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension and the award of Economic Development Fund funding subject to supply of a detailed elemental cost breakdown for the highwayworks and securing all necessary land.

10.  To approve the Outline Business Case for MetroWest Phase 2 noting the need to enhance the Benefit to Cost Ratio to at least 2 by Full Business Case stage.

11.  To approve the change requests for the Local Growth Fund schemes set out in Appendix 1.

12.  To approve the change requests for the Economic Development Fund and Regional Infrastructure Fund schemes set out in Appendix 2.

13.  To note the additional funding awarded to the West of England Combined Authority for the South West Energy Hub and delegate approval of the individual Rural Community Energy Fund awards to the West of England Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the South West LEP ChiefExecutives.

14.  To endorse the Low Carbon Challenge Fund and delegate approval for
grant making to the West of England Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the West of England Chief Executives and informed by the advice of the advisory panel.

15.  To endorse the WIDJET (Women Into Digital Jobs, Education and Training) programme and delegate approval for grant making to the West of England Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation the West of England Chief Executives.

16.  To endorse the Creative Scale Up programme and, if a grant process is
used to select intermediary delivery partners, delegate approval to make grants to the selected partners to the West of England Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the West of England Chief Executives.