Norfolk and Suffolk Clean Growth Taskforce

Tuesday 20

July 2021

Agenda Item 5

Terms of reference

Author: Ellen Goodwin

Summary

This paper looks at the role of the Norfolk and Suffolk Clean Growth Taskforce.

Recommendations

The Board are asked to:

 consider the Board’s purpose and functions;

 approve the terms of reference for the Taskforce; and

 consider how it might like to connect with other parts of the LEP governance.

Background

In February 2020, following the publication of the Local Industrial Strategy, the LEP board

agreed to establish a Clean Growth Taskforce whose members would be ambassadors for

the ‘UK’s Clean Growth Region’ and help drive forward focused actions that can achieve the

biggest gains and impact.

It was also agreed that:

 There was a need for local partners to identify and agree the areas that the biggest

gains can be achieved, and which actions will be focused on.

 The LEP would work with Government to develop and agree robust ways of

measuring and monitoring the impact of interventions and actions.

 The LEP would work with partners to develop a mitigation and adaptation clean growth

action plan which provides the right balance for sustainable economic growth.

Due to the pandemic the establishment of the Taskforce was put on hold as LEP executive

resources were diverted to support the response efforts.

However, as we move into recovery phase with the development of the Renewal Plan – the

development of the Clean Growth Taskforce seems more relevant than ever if the LEP is to

play its part in delivering on our clean growth aspirations.

Terms of reference

The purpose of the Clean Growth Taskforce is:

To provide leadership and collaboration on net zero. Promoting Norfolk and Suffolk as the

UK’s Clean Growth Region helping to raise the profile of the major contribution the area

plays in the UK’s transition to a post carbon economy, representing the area nationally,

regionally, and locally. To drive the shared ambition for a clean and inclusive economic

recovery that tackles the challenges and opportunities of climate change.

Key Considerations

Whilst clean growth and net zero are critical areas of focus for the LEP, there are already a

number of organisations and partnerships doing constructive work in this space.

The Taskforce must therefore be able to add value to this work and not duplicate activity.

For example, the Taskforce will work closely with the Norfolk Climate Change Partnership and

Suffolk Climate Change, Environment and Energy Board and play a distinctive role to support

the aims and aspirations of both partnerships. Both groups sit on the Taskforce and the LEP

in turn sits on both Partnerships.

The Taskforce will provide leadership and collaboration and promote Norfolk and Suffolk as

the UK’s Clean Growth Region helping to raise the profile of the major contribution the area

plays in the UK’s transition to a post carbon economy, representing the area national,

regionally and locally.

As with other LEP groups, the Taskforce will be able to bring together entrepreneurs,

academia, local authority and other public sector partners to identify innovative way to deliver

on our clean growth aspirations and ensure clean growth is considered in the decisions made

within the region.

Although the establishment of the Taskforce was paused progress has been made on

identifying areas where a LEP coordinated Taskforce will make a big impact and achieve the

biggest gains.

Wider Ambassador group

In addition to the Taskforce, it is proposed that the Taskforce brings together a wider clean

growth ambassador group once a year to create an opportunity to share activity, develop

innovative ideas and hold each other to account on their role in delivering the region’s clean

growth aspirations as the UK Clean Growth Region.

Recommendations

The Board are asked to:

 consider the Board’s purpose and functions;

 approve the terms of reference for the Taskforce; and

 consider how it might like to connect with other parts of the LEP governance.

Appendix A – terms of reference (2021)

Appendix A – Terms of Reference for Clean Growth Taskforce

Purpose of

the

Taskforce:

To provide leadership and collaboration on Net Zero. Promoting Norfolk

and Suffolk as the UK’s Clean Growth Region helping to raise the profile

of the major contribution the area plays in the UK’s transition to a post

carbon economy, representing the area nationally, regionally, and locally.

To drive the shared ambition for a clean and inclusive economic recovery

that tackles the challenges and opportunities of climate change.

Functions: Members of the Taskforce will be expected to:

i. Attend meetings, contribute ideas, experience, expertise, and resource

as considered appropriate, and gather views from colleagues in

respective group, industries or organisations.

ii. Oversee the development of the key areas of focus further developing

the action plan and engaging relevant partners to securing their buy in to

deliver the action, through respective groups and networks.

iii. Provide direction to creating a clean growth evidence baseline that

identifies and recommends to the LEP board the areas of focus that the

biggest gains can be achieved, and which actions will be focused on.

iv. Promote Norfolk and Suffolk as the UK’s Clean Growth Region helping

to raise the profile of the major contribution the area plays in the UK’s

transition to a post carbon economy, representing the area national,

regionally and locally.

v. Ensure clean growth is embedded in the discussion, actions and

decision of your respective group, reporting back to the Taskforce as

appropriate.

vi. Recommend or source appropriate experts to inform certain aspects of

the action plan, convene working groups as appropriate and consult with

sector peers as agreed within the Taskforce under the direction of the

Chair.

vii. Oversee the development and agree robust ways of measuring and

monitoring the impact of interventions and actions, making

recommendations to the LEP board on any relevant targets or pledges.

viii. provide the LEP Board with six monthly progress reports.

ix. Annually, bring together the wider network of clean growth champions

to share knowledge and best practice and hold regional partners to

account.

Membership:

The Taskforce would have an independent chair and be accountable to

the LEP Board.

With a representative from the LEP Board and one from each LEP of the

sub board – LEP’s Innovation Board, Skills Advisory Panel, Transport

Board and Business Growth Programme Board. In addition,

representatives from businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk, FE, HE and

the County Climate Change Boards.

Frequency The Taskforce would initially meet every 6 to 8 weeks looking to move to

quarterly meetings once established.

Accountability

The taskforce would report to the LEP Board.

Reporting

procedures

The agenda and minutes of meetings will be published on the LEP

website and the Taskforce will report to the LEP Board through the sub

board reporting mechanism.

Attendance of

non-members

at meetings

Members of the LEP team, sub boards, committees and Local Authorities

may also be invited to attend meetings where appropriate.

Delegated

Authority

Can hold other groups – including Task and Finish groups – to account. It

has the authority to task a sub-board, group or committee to deliver action

within the delivery plan.

Where the Taskforce convenes working groups, it should set out the terms

of reference for the working group to guide its objectives, ways of working,

handling of information and the rules on external

communication.

Managing

Conflicts of

Interest

Members of the Taskforce are all representatives of their industry sector

or community of interests and have a responsibility to act on behalf of

their wider constituency at all times in relation to the work of the LEP

Clean Growth Taskforce.

Members of the board will be asked to complete an annual declaration of

their interests which will be held in a register at the LEP office and

members will be asked at the beginning of each meeting to declare any

conflicts of interest pertaining to the agenda items to be discussed.

Review

The ToR of the Taskforce will be review annually and agreed by the LEP

board.