New Anglia Board Meeting Minutes (Confirmed)

21^st July 2020

Present:

Sam Chapman-Allen (SC)

Breckland Council

Claire Cullens (CC)

Norfolk Community Foundation

David Ellesmere (DE)

Ipswich Borough Council

Doug Field (DF)

East of England Coop

C-J Green (CJG)

Brave Goose

John Griffiths (JG)

West Suffolk Council

Matthew Hicks (MH)

Suffolk County Council

Pete Joyner (PJ)

Shorthose Russell

Dominic Keen (DK)

Britbots

Steve Oliver (SO)

MLM Group

Corrienne Peasgood (CP)

Norwich City College

Andrew Proctor (AP)

Norfolk County Council

Johnathan Reynolds (JR)

Opergy

Alan Waters (AW)

Norwich City Council

Jeanette Wheeler (JW)

Birketts

Tim Whitley (TW)

Attendees

Louise Aynsley (LA)

S151 Officer, Suffolk County Council

Vince Muspratt (VM)

Norfolk County Council

Shan Lloyd (SL)

BEIS

Julian Munson (JM)

New Anglia LEP for Item 6

Chris Starkie (CS)

New Anglia LEP

Rosanne Wijnberg (RW)

New Anglia LEP

Helen Wilton (HW)

New Anglia LEP

Actions from the meeting: (23.06.20)

None

Welcome from the Chair

Doug Field (DF) welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies

Apologies were received from Sandy Ruddock and Helen Langton.

Declarations of Interest

None

Full declarations of interest can be found at http://www.newanglia.co.uk/about-us/the-board.

Minutes of the last meeting

The minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting held on 23^rd June 2020.

Chris Starkie (CS) reviewed the actions from the last Board meeting and confirmed that all

actions from the last meeting had been completed.

LEP Response to COVID-19

CS presented the paper to the board noting that this is will be the last paper where the

Covid-19 response is provided separately and in future it will be incorporated into the Chief

Executive’s Report.

Key items were highlighted to the board.

Getting Building Fund - CS provided an update on the submission to the detailing New

Anglia’s allocation of £32.1m.

R&R: The fund has been very successful with £1.3m awarded covering a wide range of

businesses and a healthy pipeline in place.

Workforce: Work has been ongoing to understand the range of schemes available and a

script will be produced for businesses to use. An initial meeting has been held with key

partners and a Job Support programme is being established. Work is also being carried

out to identify and engage with companies with large numbers of staff on furlough and

which are at risk of making redundancies.

PPE: the database has been expanded to include cleaning products and other support for

businesses opening up and BEIS is now referring businesses to the database.

Peer to Peer: BEIS are progressing this project and have asked for numbers of companies

being invited. New Anglia will be engaging with 250-300 businesses.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Visitor Economy Recovery Plan

Julian Munson (JM) presented the paper highlighting the impact the pandemic is currently

having and is predicted to have in the future and provided an overview of the process

which has been carried out to produce the plan.

The work has been carried out in collaboration with partners and provides a strategic

approach which promotes all areas of the region not just the more well known coastal

areas.

The improved and increased use of innovation and technology were also highlighted as

they will be used to better effect to target potential visitors to the region.

Claire Cullens (CC) noted that improved transport links were vital to encouraging more

tourists. JM confirmed that this was a 6 month plan which could not address large scale

infrastructure projects but that the importance of this was noted and was continuing to be

promoted as key.

Pete Joyner (PJ) highlighted the LEP’s success in bringing the key partners together to

produce the plan. He noted that support for businesses was important but that the LEP

should also be ambitious in its aims in projects which will attract tourists to the region.

Matthew Hicks (MH) asked if the DMOs had approved the plan. JM confirmed that they

had all been involved in its compilation and signed off but that promotion was key to its

success.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

• To approve the Visitor Economy Recovery Plan

Large Company Grant Scheme: CONFIDENTIAL

Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Scheme

CS provided the board with an update on the Apprenticeship Levy Transfer scheme which

has been operating since December 2019 and informed them that, to date, 37 transfers have

taken place to date, with a further 11 in the pipeline pending recruitment with a total monetary

value of over £300k.

The Board was advised that the pandemic has significantly reduced the numbers of

apprenticeships available and there are concerns that some of those on furlough will be

made redundant. The coordinator will therefore also be supporting redundant/at risk

apprentices and working with stakeholders to rebuild apprenticeship numbers and advocate

their value to the business community.

DF noted that the Coop had transferred some of its Apprenticeship Levy to the Scheme.

Corrienne Peasgood (CP) backed the support being given to apprentices facing redundancy

and CC asked board colleagues for their support in transferring any unused levy to the

scheme.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Continuing Business

Rosanne Wijnberg (RW) presented the report and highlighted key issues specifically noting

that the pandemic has impacted on issuing offer letters to recipients from the Innovative

Projects Fund but most projects are still progressing and, given that this is a New Anglia

fund there is no set deadline.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Capital Budget - Confidential

July Performance Reports

RW presented the July Project Performance Reports.

The meeting was advised that the New Anglia Capital report has been postponed as work

is still ongoing on the review of its investments to assess the impact of the pandemic on

performance.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Management Accounts

RW presented details of Q1 2020 and highlighted key areas.

It was noted that that 1/3 of the grant income had been delayed following the change in the

allocation process and was expected in September.

Recharges are down as less money has been spent on events.

Wages & salaries are below budget as there are some vacancies and Keith Spanton has

not been replaced on a like for like basis.

Motor expense & room hire costs are down. Some of these are part of core operations

and some are for programmes which will be reflected in a corresponding reduction in

income.

General expenses have been allocated across the year but some invoices have been

received during Q1 such as LEP Network membership.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Board Forward Plan

CS noted the August meeting had been booked which would have a reduced agenda to

include the 19/20 Accounts and a Chief Executive’s report which would now include the

Covid-10 update.

DF noted that planning had begun on the AGM which would be held virtually.

CS asked for any requests for board items to be submitted to him.

JR asked whether Brexit would be included as a separate item. CS confirmed that this will

be included in the Chief Executive’s report unless key issues arose.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the plan

Any Other Business

JR noted that the roundtable session with Nadim Zahawi was very positive and New Anglia had

once again been able to table questions which were addressed by the Minister.