1
Public
New Anglia Board Meeting Minutes (Confirmed)
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)
BT
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
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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.
HW
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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.
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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
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Apologies were received from Sandy Ruddock.
4
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
HW
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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
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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.
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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
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MH & TW left the meeting.
MH & TW returned to the meeting.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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RW presented the reports to the Board and highlighted key items.
The Board agreed:
To note the content of the reports
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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
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