VCS D2N2 Representative Feedback

Partnership Date 1. April 2016 Representative Sylvia Green D2N2 Present Apologies Private sector representatives County, City and District council leaders & CEOs Cllr Jon Collins, Cllr Ranjit Banwait, David Ralph, Paul Robinson, prof Sir David HE / FE Representative Greenaway, David Williams. Chamber of Commerce BIS VCS Representative D2N2 Officers

Agenda item Background Impact on VCSE sector

Work is ongoing to ensure the East Midlands is fully represented on the Midlands Too early to call Midlands Engine Engine board and in the plans and promotional materials.

It was reported that real progress has been made in terms of improvements to Governance and shared understanding.

The government continues to suggest devolution deals are there for the asking but If a combined authority is established there is likely to Devolution / that is not the local experience. The North Midlands Devolution deal seems to have be increased expectations for the Voluntary sector to combined authority. been bogged down in other agendas around local government restructuring which relate to structures which cover a larger area. This has not proven helpful. may prove problematical for smaller, local groups and increases the importance of effective partnership It was agreed we would press ahead to establish one combined authority for D2N2 working across the VCSE sector. area, it would be made up of a coalition of willing councils.

Arts Council A presentation was given by Darren Henley CEO of the Arts Council. He explained the I asked if the Arts council would be prepared to take role of the Arts Council in championing creative industries and investing in culture and part in the funding workshops held by local CVSs to the arts. The focus was (naturally) on the economic benefits of the arts but the social inform front line groups of their grant programmes. impact was also recognised. They said they would. Can CVSs let me know if they have requested this input before and any response they have had – and whether you wish me to follow this up. Funding Local Growth Fund for 2016/2017 has been confirmed for D2N2 of £55 million. Further details will be required before we can identify opportunities for VCSE to bid or be included in cross- It has been confirmed by Whitehall that there will be a new Local Growth Fund of £1.8 sector consortia bids for LGF. billion (nationally) and more details will be released later in 2016.

The Midlands Engine is setting up an Investment Fund of £250 million to invest in VCSE are small businesses so we should look at this smaller businesses. as an opportunity to secure development funds. Again VCSE may be well placed to align with this EARDF and ESF – open calls are planned for May / June 2016, there will be a two stage programme. process. Some VCSE agencies are partners in Employ Local Employ Local will hopefully be contracted by October 2016. bids and so may benefit from this funding.

Any other comments?

I plan to ask for a slot on a future D2N2 Board agenda to give a presentation on the VCSE in the D2N2 area – how it contributes to the local economy and how it might be more engaged with D2N2, but probably towards the end of the year.

Date of next meeting 23rd May 2016 Comments by (date) Comments to (name) Sylvia Green Email [email protected]

Telephone 01629592971 Address Town Hall, Bank Road, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3NN