Decisions

Following the endorsement of the Joint Green Infrastructure Strategy (JGIS), at the WECA Committee in June 2020, £300,000 was allocated to support the development of Full Business Cases for Strategic Green Infrastructure projects. The approval of the Feasibility and Development Funding application form to release this funding was delegated to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent Councils.

The West of England Green Infrastructure Working Group has been working with key partners to develop the overall pipeline of Green Infrastructure programmes/projects within the West of England, and have initially identified 3 programme areas, on the basis that the allocation of £300,000 could be utilised to develop business cases for projects expected from later this year.

These are:
• WaterSpace: A programme of work re: the green spaces and rights of way along the River Avon and Bristol Harbour corridor between Bitton and Avon Gorge. Works include the Summerdale footbridge at Hanham Lock, upgrading paths and improving access links.
• Cotswolds to Mendip Hills Link: This landscape programme is to deliver on the benefits and options of achieving links between the two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty for wildlife and people. As the approach is developed, it will deliver increased public access, wildlife connectivity, community engagement, sustainable water management and support land-use planning and land management decisions.
• Common Connections: This will deliver a rich Green Infrastructure landscape that protects key natural heritage and delivers a better quality, better connected and better accessed Green Infrastructure for people and wildlife.

A completed Feasibility and Development funding application form prepared for consideration by the Chief Executives set out the tasks, costs and timescales for bringing forward the Full Business Cases for three specific projects within these programmes: Chew Valley Lake recreational trail, Somerdale Bridge and Common Connections.

That approval be given to the Feasibility and Development funding application form and the release of £300k to develop the Green Infrastructure Full Business Cases for three specific projects within these programmes: Chew Valley Lake recreational trail, Somerdale Bridge and Common Connections.

This proposal sought approval for proposed core delivery partners for the Workforce for the Future core service.

Workforce for the Future is an £8m programme, funded with 50% Investment Fund and 50% European Social Fund (ESF) monies, which runs until December 2023.

The application process in relation to core delivery partners requested that potential delivery partners identified whether their proposal could be part of the core service or one which had a project specific focus for example, a sector, geography or cohort.

The Expression of Interest stage closed on 17 April 2020; those areas identifying as part of the core offer were contacted and asked to submit full applications. These were received by 24 July. The applications received responded to a core support service specification which had, in line with WECA’s principles of working in partnership, been developed in conjunction with the Director of Business and Skills, Head of People and Skills, Service Lead for Enterprise, Inward Investment and Trade and the potential delivery partners. Procurement and Grant Management and Assurance Teams were also involved in the process to ensure compliance with WECA’s policies and operating frameworks and to undertake due diligence checks. The full applications were reviewed by an internal panel of WECA officers from across People and Skills, Enterprise, Inward Investment and Trade and Grant Management & Assurance.

Through a delegation approved by the WECA Committee, the WECA Chief Executive had delegated authority to take the decision to approve core delivery partners in consultation with the constituent council Chief Executives.

That approval be given to the following delivery partners and their areas of focus as shown below (which will run for the entirety of the programme to December 2023):
* Business West - SME needs analysis
* Adviza - Talent retention
* University of the West of England - Digital skills
* Western Training Provider Network - Apprenticeships
* College Consortia (Bath, City of Bristol, South Glos & Stroud & Weston) - Skills pathways
* Internal Service – Careers Enterprise Hub - School engagement
* Internal Service - Growth Hub incl. communication and marketing, CRM - SME Engagement

This proposal sought approval for grant funding businesses in the second cohort of the Creative Scale-Up programme up to a maximum of £2,000 per business for business development activity, at a total cost of £40,000 and a maximum of £6,000 per business for mentoring, at a total cost of £120,000. These proposals had been approved by DCMS who were fully funding the programme.

Through a delegation approved by the WECA Committee, the WECA Chief Executive had delegated authority to take the decision in consultation with the constituent council Chief Executives.

That the following businesses receive grant funding through the second cohort of Creative scale-up grants, and that the grant process be progressed accordingly:
Squarebird; Soap Creative; Noiser; Mangostone; Cirque Bijou; Invisible Circus; Moonraker; Village Design; Limbic Cinema; Moresoda; Factory Studios; Studio Diva; nymbl; Box 2 Media; Open Bionics; Funnel Music; Fleur of England; Uniquity; Motion Impossible; We Are The Collaborators.