Norfolk & Suffolk Agri-Food Industry Council

Terms of Reference

April 2021

Purpose & Principles

To provide strong and clear leadership for the industry to drive forward the aspiration to be

recognised as the UK’s leading region, the Norfolk & Suffolk Agri-Food Industry Council will

provide:

• Clear Leadership - demonstrating strong and clear leadership for the industry

• Communication - enhance strong and clear communication to speak with one voice

• Collaboration - instilling a spirit of cooperation and collaboration to strengthen

industry-government-education strategic partnerships for the benefit of the whole

industry sector

• Coordination - improving the coordination of activity and initiatives to add value,

enhance service delivery and knowledge transfer

• Capability - building knowledge, intelligence and expertise to help strengthen

capability and capacity within the cluster

• Competitiveness - driving innovation and productivity improvements to help drive

down costs, enhance efficiencies and boost global competitiveness for export and

investment

Strategic Objectives

Ensuring all partners play a part in delivering the ambitions of the sector and the Economic

Strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk, the Council will drive forward a set of strategic objectives as

set down in the delivery plan, including:

1. International Trade - Branding and marketing the area and cluster to national and

global audiences. Proactively promoting the offer to attract global investment and boost

exports across the sector.

2. Lobbying and Regulation - strengthening links with Government and other bodies to

attract support and investment and improve regulations.

3. Supply chain development - strengthening the sector, helping businesses work with

each other, including tier one corporates, and maximising export and investment

opportunities.

4. Innovation support - helping businesses improve their performance and enabling

them to enter new markets, develop new products, enhance processes and improve

productivity.

5. Skills development - overseeing the skills sector plan, connecting employers with

providers and responding to industry demands in developing the skilled workforce of

tomorrow.

6. Infrastructure - attracting investment to enhance and build the infrastructure required

to support the growth of the industry and improve connectivity and business

productivity.

Responsibilities

• Act as the LEP sector group for agri-food, considering the bigger picture and providing

strategic direction in delivering the aspiration to be recognised as the UK’s leading Agri-

Food region.

• Drive and coordinate activity which delivers the ambitions to develop the sector

• Act as clear and coherent reference point for dialogue with Government, being a single

point of contact.

• Support the development of the Local Industrial Strategy, identifying actions,

interventions and best practice.

• Engage with relevant national Sector Deals to ensure our ‘place’ is appropriately

mapped.

• Commission task and finish groups where appropriate and where no other sub-group

or committee can fulfil the task.

• Connect to and collaborate with regional boards and committees that play a role in

delivering the ambitions for developing the Agri-Food sector, continuing to identify gaps

and opportunities.

• Influence stakeholders and government - to coordinate resources and investment to

deliver the objectives.

Membership and Appointment

The Industry Council will comprise of around 25 members - the Chair, the Vice-Chair,

representatives from business and the education sector, Norfolk and Suffolk County Council,

and New Anglia LEP representatives. The Council will include at least one LEP Board member,

providing the link back to the LEP Board and as ambassadors for the Economic Strategy.

Council members represent their sector and area of specialism, and not just their business or

organisation. Where members are invited to give updates on specific issues, such as Brexit or

Covid, they will do so first and foremost from the perspective of their sector and area of

specialism rather than just their own business or organisation.

Council membership will be for a period of three years initially, with an option to be re-

appointed. No more than a third of the council will stand down on an annual basis. Council

members will be responsible for attending at least two meetings a year. Members failing to

take part in at least two successive meetings will have their membership revoked. With the

exception of representatives of membership organisations, in line with LEP policy, Council

members unable to attend a meeting are not able to nominate a substitute without agreement

from the chair, vice-chair or an officer of New Anglia LEP.

Council members, including co-opted members, or additional observers, are selected by

nomination. Nominations for Council membership or as an observer will be presented to

Council and formally minuted accordingly at the next Council meeting. Decisions will be based

on how well nominated individuals can represent their sector and on ensuring a balance of

representation across the Council by geography, size of businesses and area of specialism.

Decisions on co-opted members, observers and working party membership will be based on

the specialist advice, knowledge and networks required.

The Council may co-opt specialists to support specific project development and delivery and

to sit on sub-groups or task-and-finish groups.

The Council may invite observers from other LEP groups or interested parties, on a reciprocal

basis and for a fixed period of time.

Attendance of non-members at meetings

Members of the LEP executive team, sub-boards and committees may also be invited to attend

meetings where appropriate.

Meeting Frequency

Meetings will be held quarterly and scheduled to avoid clashes with the dates of other LEP

Board meetings.

Delegated Authority

Can hold other groups including Delivery Groups, to account. It has the authority to task a sub-

group or committee to deliver action within the delivery plan.

Standards of Conduct

Council members are expected to adhere to a Standards of Conduct Policy, which can be

viewed here. The policy requires Council members to declare their interests and any gifts or

hospitality received in connection with their role in within the LEP. A declaration of interest form

is provided for this purpose and will be held by HR at New Anglia LEP.

Reporting procedures

The minutes of meetings will be circulated to all members of the Council and published on the

LEP website. The Norfolk & Suffolk Agri-Food Industry Council will be required to report

annually to the main LEP Board on progress.

Secretariat

Secretariat will be provided by Agri-TechE.