Confirmed Minutes of the SEMLEP Board Meeting Wednesday 25 September 2019 10:00 – 13:35 Cranfield Innovation Centre, University Way Cranfield, MK43 0BT
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Confirmed minutes of the SEMLEP Board Meeting Wednesday 25 September 2019 10:00 – 13:35 Cranfield Innovation Centre, University Way Cranfield, MK43 0BT Private sector Peter Horrocks CBE, Chair Board Directors: Mary Clarke, Private sector Board Director and Private sector Deputy Chair Yvette Lamidey, Business Locksmith Neus Garriock, Galliford Try Jon Corbett, Barclays Bank Jean Gowin, CityFibre David Bailey, Private Sector Board Director Rachel Mallows MBE DL – The Mallows Company David Sheridan, Europa Components Public sector Cllr Richard Wenham, Central Bedfordshire Council and Public sector Board Directors: Deputy Chair Mayor Dave Hodgson MBE, Bedford Borough Council Cllr Hazel Simmons MBE, Luton Borough Council Cllr Moriah Priestley, Milton Keynes Council (Deputy for Cllr Peter Marland) – arrived at 10:19 Cllr Jonathan Nunn, Northampton Borough Council – arrived at 10:15 Cllr Matthew Golby, Northamptonshire County Council Higher/Further Dr Julie Mills OBE, Milton Keynes College Education representative Board Directors: Accountable Darren Lambert, - Luton Borough Council Body representative: Observers: David Ward, VCSE Observer Mike Todman, BEIS Paul Kellett, BEIS Contributors: Naomi Green, EEH – For item 45.6 only Daniel Lindsay, Hatch Regeneris – For item 45.9b only SEMLEP Hilary Chipping, Chief Executive Officer Executive Team: Judith Barker, Director of Programmes and Governance Apologies: Sir Peter Gregson, Cranfield University Dr Kerry Mashford OBE, Interfacing Cllr Peter Marland, Milton Keynes Council Cllr Ian McCord, South Northants Council Cllr Martin Griffiths, Borough Council of Wellingborough Brian Binley, BCC Marketing Services Ltd Cllr Barry Wood, Observer - Cherwell District Council Quorum Private sector Directors: 4 Public sector Directors: 4 required: 2 Agenda Item No Action 45.1 Introductions and apologies PH welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted the that Cllr Moriah Priestley was attending as a deputy for Cllr Peter Marland. Apologies were noted as above. PH outlined formal proceedings and expectations of Board members during meetings. The definition of a declaration/conflict of interest was clarified and the chair reminded members of the Interests policy and its implementation. 45.2 Declarations of interest PH noted the Registers of Interest are published on the website and asked for any other interests to be declared now and throughout the meeting. Cllr RW declared an interest in M1 A6 and Dunstable High Street which would be discussed under item 45.9b. 45.3 Minutes of the Board meeting held on 17 July 2019 PH asked for any comments. YL noted on page 9 it should read ‘YL was concerned’ rather than LN to ‘confirmed’. amend The minutes were confirmed as a true record. 45.4 Actions Log It was confirmed that all actions had been completed or would be covered as agenda items. 45.5 Implementation of Local Industrial Strategy and Proposal to establish new LIS Implementation Group Following the successful publication of a Local Industrial Strategy for the South East Midlands on 19 July; attention is now focussed on implementing the Strategy. If SEMLEP is to be successful in achieving these LIS commitments, we need to secure buy-in from local partners across the SEMLEP area. SEMLEP are working on a detailed schedule of commitments to take forwards which includes a timeline and how to assess the outcome of commitments. The plan will go to the 27 November Board meeting. 3 A steering group was proposed and the Board discussed the membership of the steering group: It was suggested to amend recommendation ii. to reflect Public Sector Board Directors joining the sub-committee. It was noted it is critical to get businesses involved in implementing the LIS via the ambassadors and sector groups. Cllr Matt G suggested a Northamptonshire representative from the Unitary Strategic Board. Dr JM advised that collectively, must ensure existing plans are aligned and closed down and a new plan is in place to take forward. MT volunteered to join the group. DW reported that from his experience of sitting on sub-committees, it is very helpful to have a lead for each commitment for SEMLEP staff to liaise directly with to enable proposals to be discussed and formulated before coming to meetings for decision. PH noted the suggestions were all very helpful and confirmed a tracker table for accountability and deliverability will be created. The Board agreed the following recommendations subject to the amendment to add public sector to ii: i. To consider how to ensure that the LIS is embedded across HC to work and owned by the whole of the South East Midlands with PH to partnership. set up the ii. To agree a proposal to establish a new LIS Implementation Steering Sub-Committee with private and public sector Board members Group and local authority officers to oversee the implementation of the LIS. iii. Provide views on the proposed approach to developing an Implementation Plan for the Local Industrial Strategy (LIS). iv. Note that for some commitments SEMLEP’s role is one of facilitation rather than direct delivery and that some LIS commitments will require further funding if they are to be realised. 45.6 England’s Economic Heartland Outline Transport Strategy Mayor DH provided a brief outline before Naomi Green from EEH joined the meeting to give a presentation. Copies are available from SEMLEP. Questions following the presentation: MC asked what assumptions, if any, had been made on HS2. 4 NGreen advised that no assumptions had been made but conversations with local authority partners are ongoing. NG & DS to DS asked about the delays in planning permission for key infrastructure. discuss NGreen advised EEH will work with local authorities on a case by case history basis to see what can be done to push things through. behind DS concern Cllr RW asked what the assumptions are for level 5 autonomous vehicles. NGreen advised EEH are working closely with experts on this but also more widely to deal with the congestion challenge. NGreen reported EEH are trying to strike the difficult balance between short term and future needs for an area. NG expressed that the 2050 zero-carbon target has now been accepted by everyone but 2050 is a bit too late, can it be brought down to 2030 or 2040? NGreen advised they need to understand what is achievable first and then have a detailed conversation. YL noted that affordability of decarbonising small business caused immense problems when it was introduced in London. We need to support business to understand the need to plan long term for their businesses when they are starting up. We have great bus services, but they do not support people who do shift work. The routes might go to residential area but do not fit within distance of the workplace if it is out of town or on industrial estates which is a barrier for young people getting to work. NGreen explained EEH are going to the MK Youth forum in November. They will be launching a Vison 2050 competition via local colleges to ask students how they see the transport network in the future. They will try to capture the views and impacts of young people. DB stated it is an excellent piece of work and noted that no projects are ever delivered on time and within budget. DB suggested to look at behavioural and social change before technology change. NGreen acknowledged and advised they are hoping to discuss this given supermarkets experience. Dr JM said the personas are great but drew attention to diversity especially that it is not inclusive of new migrants and young people Cllr MP suggested to map economic infrastructure in a place in addition to transport and hard infrastructure would help to ensure the key link between economic development and transport links. NGreen highlighted that EEH are not yet a statutory body but are moving towards it. 5 Mayor DH asked colleagues to submit any further comments or ideas via the website. 45.7 Oxford – Cambridge Arc Arc Leaders Group update Cllr RW informed the Board a workshop is taking place on Friday 27 September where there will be a further discussion on forming a non- statutory spatial strategy and budget. Concerns were raised at the previous meeting regarding duplicating data and emphasis reinforced to access and use existing data. MT acknowledged there was a concern regarding the amount of work that had been devoted to developing projects that could be supported through a spending review and noted the work had not been forgotten and government are keen to develop projects with us to feed into a future Comprehensive Spending Review.. Central Area Growth Board update HC explained this was initially chaired by Cllr Peter Marland but Cllr Ian McCord had taken on the role of chair with Cllr Peter Marland as deputy chair. There was lots of activity during August with Kris Krasnowski asking the Board to think about projects to be put forward if a fiscal event should take place in September. The event did not happen, however it enabled officers to work together to establish a pipeline of projects for the future. HC reported there are established work streams across the Arc: Connectivity (through the EEH work), productivity, environment and place groups. Government indicated over the summer that they were placing more emphasis on Growth Boards. There are ongoing discussions regarding future opportunities and future funding streams directly to Growth Boards. Officers supporting the Central Area Growth Board will be meeting with MHCLG to discuss further the possibility of a single pot of funding. Following discussions a few months ago regarding commissioning an infrastructure study for projects needed across the area to unlock jobs and homes, Homes England have approved a £95K budget for the central area to deliver the infrastructure assessment. This will put the central area in a good position for building up a pipeline of future projects.