Public

New Anglia Board Meeting Minutes (Confirmed)

22nd June 2022

Present:

David Ellesmere (DE)

Ipswich Borough Council

C-J Green (CJG)

Brave Goose

John Griffiths (JG)

West Suffolk Council

Pete Joyner (PJ)

Shorthose Russell

Matthew Hicks (MH)

Suffolk County Council

Dominic Keen (DK)

Britbots

Steve Oliver (SO)

SWECO

Corrienne Peasgood (CP)

Norwich City College

Johnathan Reynolds (JR)

Opergy

Alan Waters (AW)

Norwich City Council

Attendees

Mike Todman (MT)

BEIS

Carolyn Reid (CR)

Norfolk County Council

Rob Hancock (RH)

Suffolk County Council

Ellen Goodwin (EG)

New Anglia LEP

Julian Munson (JM)

New Anglia LEP

Chris Starkie (CS)

New Anglia LEP

Rosanne Wijnberg (RW)

New Anglia LEP

Actions from the meeting: (27.7.22)

Draft Annual Financial Statements – 31 March 2022 – Confidential

Board members are asked to return any outstanding Related Party Forms which are required

for the audit

All

Welcome from the Chair

C-J Green (CJG) welcomed all board members to the meeting.

Apologies

Apologies were received from Sandy Ruddock, Andrew Proctor, Claire Cullens, Kathy Atkinson,

Jeanette Wheeler, Stuart Dark and Helen Langton.

Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

Actions/Minutes from the last Meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 25th June were agreed as accurate.

CJG noted that there are no outstanding items on the action log.

Innovation Board Report

Julian Munson (JM) presented the New Anglia Innovation Board report and gave examples of

good progress with partners under each of the four main workstreams of innovation

infrastructure, public and private sector investment in Innovation, supporting the Innovation

Ecosystem and assisting and developing the best talent for delivering innovation.

JM highlighted that a key priority is sustaining the Connected Innovation programme beyond

the current funded phase as funding runs out March 2023.

JM noted the continued support to the delivery of the Innovation Grant Mentoring scheme with

7 businesses supported recently with mentoring.

JM highlighted the successful cross sector work being undertaken, for example, the Offshore

Wind meets Tech event which was hosted by OrbisEnergy and which was attended by 25

businesses. Also, the LEP is advancing relationships with the wider Catapult Network and

working with various agencies to support the innovation ecosystem in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Johnathan Reynolds (JR) noted the excellent progress being made across the innovation

agenda and acknowledged the work led by the LEP’s Sectors and Innovation Team. Good

progress is being made with the Catapult network, the Satellite Applications Catapult and

organisations such as Innovate UK. Important to continue to raise our national profile to

showcase our assets and capabilities. JR was pleased to see plans for a regional innovation

showcase event and work in train to develop a strategic plan and roadmap for innovation

activity across our region. The key focus is to support the progression of the Connected

Innovation activity and help identify any funding opportunities.

Corrienne Peasgood (CP) recognised the importance of this work and was keen to ensure

that the SAP and changes to the skills agenda is responsive to innovation and important that

the strong links continue to be made across skills and innovation

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

Clean Growth Taskforce

Pete Joyner (PJ) and Ellen Goodwin (EG) presented the Clean Growth Taskforce Update. EG

noted that the taskforce was launched 12 months ago and is a collaboration of the private

sector, public sector and representatives from our two counties.

They noted that is has been a challenge to define what we need to do. The starting point has

been targets, focusing on what the LEP could directly impact. EG noted the long term

objective to move to a zero carbon economy so there is a need to set targets as the

landscape changes.

They highlighted that the initial focus is on 5 key areas – leadership and collaboration,

evidence and impact, decarbonising transport, transition business support and workforce for

the future.

They noted the ‘Clean Growth for Business’ programme of events scheduled for w/c 14

November which will coincide with COP27 which is due to take place between 7 and 18

November. This will bring businesses together across the region and be a mix of online and in

person sessions. This is building some momentum and PR nationally.

Board observations included the:

 Importance of green curriculum, upskilling in industry, green skills and short ‘add-on’

courses

 LEP role as an influencer and enabler needs to be drawn out

 Work with Industry Councils and Innovation Board to broaden the clean growth work

throughout the LEP

The meeting discussed the need to build in wider trends into the strategy and bring everyone

together. It was noted that there are bids already looking at separate things but there was a

need to make sure these were brought together in a co-ordinated and joined up way.

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

 To endorse the strategic direction of the Taskforce

 To offer support and spread the collaboration and leadership message around the

November event/s entitled ‘Clean Growth for Business’

Alternative Fuel Strategy

EG presented the Alternative Fuels Strategy and Action Plan and outlined the importance of

public/private sector collaboration in terms of delivery as well as that of broader transport

decarbonisation, specifically Transport East. Element Energy were commissioned to

undertake the study with the Alternative Fuels Strategy being part of the solution.

Matthew Hicks (MH) raised whether the strategy is being delivered by others, e.g. Transport

East and that the Suffolk Climate Change Emergency Plan is not mentioned in the report. MH

highlighted the need to work collaboratively and questioned whether more work needs to go

into the paper before bringing it back to the Board.

Steve Oliver (SO) highlighted the influencer and enabler role and whether it is adequately

captured in the report.

John Griffiths (JG) raised concerns around duplication and that the report should be amended

with due regard to the Combined Authority and Transport East.

JR noted that the area was complex and integrated therefore need to align both energy and

infrastructure. As this is a joint piece of work we can look at collaborative solutions.

Board observations included:

 Public sector role in this agenda, specifically the Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan,

needs to be mentioned to provide strategic context

 Link to energy and water with respect to EVs and hydrogen and the criticality of

infrastructure integration

 Wider ambitions of the disbanded Transport Board

The Board resolved to:

 Agree to adopt the Strategy in principle, noting the work being done by the public

sector in this space and the importance of collaboration/adding value and avoiding

duplication

 Agree to ask the executive team to ensure the strategy connects with the work of key

partners including Transport East

 Delegate the Clean Growth Taskforce to consider next steps with respect to

prioritisation and delivery pathways noting that the Combined Authority will not be

considering it until the autumn due to public consultation

 Note the Clean Growth Taskforce observations with respect to the wider transport

decarbonisation agenda and agree to this direction of travel/approach

Chief Executive’s Report

Chris Starkie (CS) highlighted the launch of the Business Transition to Net Zero Grant (BTNZ)

and noted that some interesting proposals have come in but to be eligible businesses will

need to have a Net Zero action plan in place.

CS highlighted the work of the Growth Hub and noted how it has been particularly successful

through the pandemic however funding comes to a close at the end of June 2023. Funding

streams are being replaced by the UK Shared Prosperity fund with funding being devolved

down to districts. The LEP team has been working with the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce to

develop business proposals to extend the Business Growth Programme. An initial proposal

has gone to our local authorities.

CS noted that we are about to appoint contractors to deliver Skills Bootcamps – part of the

Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

CS noted that we continue to provide significant resource to Freeport East and that a Chief

Executive has been appointed.

Pete Joyner (PJ) queried progress of the LEP review. CS responded that talks are still

progressing but nothing material has changed since the last update. We have agreed to start

budgeting for next year as the timeline is expected to run to April 24.

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

Draft Annual Financial Statements – 31 March 2022 - Confidential

Quarterly Management Accounts - Confidential

Proposed Amendments to Articles of Association

RW advised that some private sector board members were coming to the end of their term as

directors and, given the extended timescales to agree County Deals, it was felt that it would

be beneficial to have more flexibility around private sector director tenure.

RW presented the revised Articles of Association which would provide additional flexibility and

allow for an extension of the term of a private sector director if necessary. RW confirmed that

appropriate legal advice had been taken.

RW advised that the written resolutions would be circulated to all members of the LEP for

signing. This process will commence in the middle of August to accommodate the holiday

period and to allow for the 28 day return window to extend into September.

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

 To approve the following:

o The recommendation that we amend the Articles of Association as detailed to extend

the term of a private sector director if necessary.

o The Articles of Association of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Limited,

amended to reflect the proposed changes to the LEP Board.

o The special resolution to be sent to the LEP’s members to approve the adoption of the

new articles.

o The letter to the company’s auditors informing them of the proposed written resolution.

Subject to the passing of the written resolution:

o It was noted that the company is required to keep records comprising copies of the

Written Resolutions in accordance with section 355 Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006)

and to ensure that the same is available for inspection in accordance with section 358

CA 2006; and

o A director of the Company was instructed to arrange for the filing of the Written

Resolutions and a copy of the newly amended articles of association of the Company

at Companies House within 15 days in which the Written Resolutions were passed.

July Programme Performance Reports

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

Business Growth Programme – the quarterly forecast for Qtr 1 shows £1.1m. with spend at

£369k. The gap to forecast is due to delays in businesses claiming grant awards. We will

focus on promoting the grant scheme. There is also a lag on output targets as we struggle to

gather some evidence from the Growth Hub.

Community Renewal Fund – RW highlighted the intention to report twice on this scheme and

noted the fact that there were 4 sub programmes – Road to Net Zero (RTNZ) and Enabling

Self Employment (ESE) which are delivered in Norfolk and Suffolk. This programme is

progressing well with RTNZ grants largely allocated and good spend across Norfolk and

Suffolk. ESE support has been red flagged but the assumption was that this would be back

ended, but the focus will now be on these as other programmes have ended.

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

Board Forward Plan

CJG reviewed the items on the agenda for the September meeting.

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the plan

Any Other Business

It was noted that this was Corrienne Peasgood’s last meeting as she is due to retire although

she will continue as Chair of the Agritech Industry Council. CJG thanked Corrienne for her

contribution to the Board and Audit and Risk Committee and wished her well in her retirement.

She was presented with a gift from the LEP as a mark of appreciation of all her work as a board

member.