Confidential

New Anglia Board Meeting Minutes (Unconfirmed)

31^st March 2021

Present:

Kathy Atkinson (KA)

Kettle Foods

Sam Chapman-Allen (SC)

Breckland Council

Claire Cullens (CC)

Norfolk Community Foundation

David Ellesmere (DE)

Ipswich Borough Council

C-J Green (CJG)

Brave Goose

John Griffiths (JG)

West Suffolk Council

Matthew Hicks (MH)

Suffolk County Council

Pete Joyner (PJ)

Shorthose Russell

Helen Langton (HL)

University of Suffolk

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

Peter Brady (PB)

CEO Orbital Media, Stowmarket Labs - For Item 2

Tim Robinson (TR)

Chair of the Council for Digital Tech - For Item 3

Neil Miles (NM)

Chair of Tech East - For Item 3

Louise Aynsley (LR)

Suffolk County Council

Mark Ash (MA)

Suffolk County Council

Vince Muspratt (VM)

Norfolk County Council

Chris Dashper (CD)

New Anglia LEP - For Items 9 & 10

Julian Munson (JM)

New Anglia LEP - For Items 6 & 7

Chris Starkie (CS)

New Anglia LEP

Rosanne Wijnberg (RW)

New Anglia LEP

Helen Wilton (HW)

New Anglia LEP

Actions from the meeting: (31.3.21)

Industry Council for Digital Tech Progress Update Report

An meeting of the chairs of the Industry Councils, SAP, Innovation Board and Local Transport

Board to be set up.

Welcome from the Chair

CJ Green (CJG) welcomed everyone to the meeting including Louise Aynsley, Section 151 Officer,

Peter Brady, CEO of Orbital Media, Neil Miles, chair of the Council for Digital Tech and Tim Robinson,

Chair of Tech East.

Presentation from Presentation from Peter Brady, CEO Orbital Media (Stowmarket Hub)

CJG welcomed Peter Brady (PB), CEO of Orbital Media and founder of Innovation Labs in

Stowmarket.

PB provided the board with an overview of the project which brings together businesses to encourage

entrepreneurship and innovation and aims to develop an AI centre of excellence.

PB noted membership has grown during the pandemic and many members had reported growth over

the last year as companies moved online and required more digital support.

The LEP supported programme was launched in November 2020 providing a 12 month programme to

2 virtual cohorts. Members receive one to one support sessions and the programme also delivers 2

sessions per week where members exchange ideas, develop their networks and receive public

speaking and presentation guidance.

PB gave board members an overview of future plans including an AI avatar to provide answers to

standard questions, providing accredited training programmes and establishing specifically aligned

mentoring.

Helen Langton (HL) confirmed that the University of Suffolk has been working with Innovation Labs

and was keen to continue this work in the future when the students physically return to study to

promote entrepreneurship and innovation.

Johnathan Reynolds (JR) queried what support the LEP can provide. PB advised that they were keen

to promote the opportunities to all businesses as the membership fee prevents some from joining so

continuing to support the virtual memberships was very important.

CJG thanked PM for the presentation and PB left the meeting

Apologies

Apologies were received from Sandy Ruddock.

Declarations of Interest

Andrew Proctor (AP), David Ellesmere (DE) and John Griffiths (JG) declared an interest in

Item 7.

Tim Whitley (TW) and Matthew Hicks (MH) declared an interest in Item 10 and left the room

for the duration of this item.

Actions/Minutes from the last Meeting

The minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting held on 24^th February 2021.

RW confirmed that the actions from the previous meeting had been completed.

Options for alternative funding have been identified and if money is released it will be re-

allocated to existing sub-projects.

Industry Council for Digital Tech Progress Update Report

Julian Munson (JM) introduced Neil Miles (NM) and Tim Robinson (TR) who provided a

presentation on the work of the Council for Digital Tech which is one of the 3 industry councils

and one which underpins all other sectors.

The success of the Council results from the commitment of its 27 active members and the 4

task and Finish Groups which have been established to focus on the priority themes -

Connecting Innovation, Communication, Talent & Skills and Access to Programmes &

Finance.

TR confirmed that the pandemic has benefitted parts of the sector from the rapid digitalisation

of businesses and reviewed recent success in Norfolk and Suffolk noting the multiple scale up

successes within the region.

The Board received details of the Council’s forward view and plans for each of the priorities.

Corrienne Peasgood (CP) noted that the Agri-Food council had identified similar themes and

proposed that there was a need for councils to work together. She asked whether the chairs

of the councils and main sub-boards met up regularly. It was agreed that this would be

beneficial.

ACTION: An initial meeting of the chairs of the Industry Councils, SAP, Innovation Board and

Local Transport Board to be set up.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report and presentation

CJG thanked NM & TR for their presentation and they left the meeting

Norfolk and Suffolk Enterprise Zones: Strategic Plan 2021-26

JM provided the board with an update on two Enterprise Zones (EZs) and presented a new

Strategic Plan for 2021-26 which supports a repositioning of the EZs with a greater focus on

innovation and clean growth to help attract new investment and support economic recovery in

priority locations.

JM reviewed the key successes of the EZs which have boosted over 3,800 jobs and

supported over 180 businesses since their formation.

Johnathan Reynolds (JR) noted that there is no reference to environmental targets in the

outcomes and proposed a mapping exercise of sites to establish their green credentials.

JM advised that discussions were ongoing regarding the use of part of the Pot C income to

support clean growth and to contribute to the Clean Growth Taskforce. Chris Starkie (CS)

noted that the new buildings on EZs are built to higher, cleaner standards but agreed that a

mapping exercise could be worthwhile. The board will receive details of the Clean Growth

Taskforce at the May meeting.

HL proposed that the link to the SAP and skills also needs to be included in the plan.

Sam Chapman-Allen (SCA) suggested link the plan to the new funds announced in the March

Budget. JM confirmed that the EZ strategy supports the wider plan for growth of which the

levelling up fund is apart.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

• To approve the Enterprise Zones Strategic Plan 2021-26

Future Role of LEPS

CS provided the board with a presentation on the review of LEPs which was announced in the

Budget.

He advised that the review was the result of changes in Government policy around capital

funding of local projects and will focus on evolving LEPs to build on their strategic role and

ensure that business leaders have a strong voice.

A number of areas of responsibility have been identified - business support, innovation, skills,

The move to net zero, inward investment and trade and wider strategic influence.

Terms of Reference are being finalised and the aim is to complete the review before the

summer recess.

CS noted that the LEP has a fully funded budget for 2021/22 and will continue to focus on

executing its delivery plan while engaging fully in the review.

JR asked what the LEP wanted from the review and queried how it fitted in with a wider

partnership framework. CS confirmed he has had discussions with local partners and will

focus on areas where the LEP can maximise value such decarbonisation projects, transport

and alternative fuels and will continue to work extensively with partners.

CS advised that work was ongoing to pull together the Local Industrial Strategy, the Economic

Strategy, and the Recovery and Investment plans to bring together the funding pots and

identify opportunities.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Large Company Grant Scheme Application - Confidential

GBF - Suffolk Broadband Scheme - Confidential

MH & TW left the meeting.

MH & TW returned to the meeting.

LEP Delivery Plan 2021/22

Rosanne Wijnberg (RW) presented the delivery plan which was circulated with the papers

and noted that the outputs and final financial details will be added in at the end of the financial

year.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

• To approve the Delivery Plan and delegate authority for final sign-off to the LEP CEO and

COO

LEP Operating Budget 2021/22 - Confidential

RW presented the 2021/22 operating budget and highlighted key items.

It was noted that the LEP is continuing to apply for additional funding and that the budget will

be amended as additional funding opportunites are identified and confirmed.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

• To approve the operating budget for 2021/22

New Anglia LEP Governance

RW presented the Assurance Framework, Scheme of Delegation and Accountable Body

Agreement which have been updated to ensure they are in line with newly published Government

guidance and noted that the date on the Accountsbale Body Agreement would be updated to

2021.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

• To approve the documents as presented.

Chief Executive’s Report

CS highlighted key items from the report noting the success of the Freeport bid and its

importance for the region.

CS confiremd that work is ongoing mapping support for busnesses across the districts which

will also include skills.

The LEP has offered suport to the local authorities in their applications to the Community

Renewal fund.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

March Performance Reports

RW presented the reports to the Board and highlighted key items.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the reports

Board Forward Plan

CJG confirmed that the board does not meet in April therefore the next meeting will be in

May.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the plan

Any Other Business

CJG advised the board a survey on diversity survey would be circulated to members on behalf

of the LEP Network.

Chief Executive’s Pay Award - Confidential