Public

New Anglia Board Meeting Minutes (Confirmed)

19th July 2023

Present:

Katy Davies (KD)

Shift Momentum

C-J Green (CJG)

Brave Goose

Claire Cullens (CC)

Norfolk Community Foundation

Pete Joyner (PJ)

Shorthose Russell

Neil MacDonald (NM)

Ipswich Borough Council

Kay Mason Billig (KMB)

Norfolk County Council

Andrew Mellen (AM)

Mid Suffolk District Council

Johnathan Reynolds (JR)

Opergy

Carl Smith (CS)

Gt Yarmouth Borough Councl

Mike Stonard (MS)

Norwich City Council

Attendees

Mike Todman (MT)

BEIS

Chris Starkie (CS)

Norfolk County Council

Rob Hancock (RH)

Suffolk County Council

Iain Dunnett (ID)

New Anglia LEP

Nicky Jeffries (NJ)

New Anglia LEP

Julian Munson (JM)

New Anglia LEP

Chris Starkie (CSt)

New Anglia LEP

Rosanne Wijnberg (RW)

New Anglia LEP

Helen Wilton (HW)

New Anglia LEP

Actions from the meeting: (19.7.23)

None

Welcome from the Chair

C-J Green (CJG) welcomed all board members to the meeting in particular Carl Smith and Andrew

Mellen who were attending their first LEP Board meeting.

Apologies

Apologies were received from David Pomfret, Steve Oliver, Kathy Atkinson, Mathew Hicks, Peter

Brady and Helen Langton.

Declarations of Interest

Peter Joyner declared an interest in Item 9 - Growing Places Fund Loan Application.

Johnathan Reynolds declared an interest in Item 7 - Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan

It was agreed that, as the meeting was not quorate, the above board members could remain

for the discussion of these items but could not vote on them when decisions were circulated

for agreement by written procedures.

Actions/Minutes from the last Meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 24th May were agreed as accurate.

Integration of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership functions

Kay Mason Billig (KMB) presented the board paper and advised that it provided an overview

of the current position in the integration planning process.

Rob Hancock (RH) reviewed progress against the plans agreed to date and noted that the

Government guidance on LEP integration was still outstanding meaning that plans could not

be progressed as much as wished as this point.

RH advised that, given the announcement that the Government is minded to stop funding

LEPs, all LEPs are now going through the transition process but New Anglia was already on

this path due to the proposed Country Deals.

RH reviewed those areas of work as cited on the Government’s list of LEP functions and also

noted those cross county areas of work which would also remain. The board was provided

with details of the principles to which all partners had agreed:

 Agreed Principals

o Some specific joint county programmes

o Funds will be recycled to support businesses and aid growth

o Assets will be split as per location

o Advice is being taken on TUPE & staff transfer

o NAC to be considered separately

RH advised that Suffolk County Council will mobilise a business board responsible for

providing strategic direct and priorities.

He noted that current proposals may need revisiting following the release of Government

guidelines.

Chris Starkie (CSt) advised that due to changes in the leadership and staff within Norfolk

County Council the position is not quite as developed as originally planned but work is

ongoing around LEP assets and a conversation had been started with districts on the agreed

approach with the preferred option being to pool assets.

The development of the business board is also being considered.

Mike Todman (MT) confirmed that the guidance would be issued tomorrow accompanied by a

ministerial statement and letters to Leaders and LEP chairs/CEOs. He advised that the

proposals announced by CSt & RH were in line with the guidance.

Claire Cullens (CC) highlighted the fact that the LEP board has successfully included the 3rd

sector and it would be a shame if this voice was lost going forwards specifically in the skills

area.

Andrew Mellen (AM) noted that one district representative on the business board would be

lost going forward. RH advised that the make up of the board has not yet been agreed.

Johnathan Reynolds (JR) asked whether there had been any consideration of a joint Norfolk

& Suffolk forum to consider overall strategy.

RH and CSt both agreed that this could be useful and a wider conversation would be needed

which could also potentially include colleagues from Essex & Cambridgeshire and other areas

as required.

CSt noted that within NCC a skills board would be set up to sit alongside the full business

board.

Pete Joyner (PJ) asked if it was still realistic to complete the all the work required for the

integration within 8 months.

KMB agreed that timing was tight and much depended on Government providing further

information in a timely manner.

Rosanne Wijnberg (RW) agreed that the window was getting shorter due to delays in

receiving the guidance, but the working assumption was still to integrate next April but this

was being closely monitored.

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

 To endorse the approach outlined in the paper towards integration

 To receive the integration plans for endorsement when ready for submission

Norfolk & Suffolk Enterprise Zones Progress Update

Julian Munson (JM) provided the board with a slide presentation to highlight the progress

made against the EZ five year plan and provided details of key success and current building

developments.

JM noted that overall the EZs had delivered 5386 jobs, supported 223 businesses and

generated £893m in private and public capital investment. JM also highlighted the successful

partnership working which was evidenced in a number of the sites and cited the Ella May

Barnes building, Crane Park and LHD LaDoria as key examples of this.

AM noted that the Gateway 14 site is designated as a EZ and Freeport and further details will

be agreed over the next year. The retention of business rates will need to be agreed between

the Freeport board and LEP.

CSt advised that the O&M Campus had won at the LGC awards and noted that it was a great

example of partnership working.

JR asked how the New Anglia sites compared with other EZs around the country.

JM advised that reports are submitted twice a year but little information is circulated by

Government although discussions indicate that we are among the most successful.

MT agreed that New Anglia was among the highest performing and that lessons could be

learned on site selection and understanding the needs of key sectors.

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan – Confidential

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

 To endorse the outline proposal

 To delegate authority to the LEP leadership team to approve the bid for submission due to

tight deadlines

LEP Draft Accounts 2023/2024 – Confidential

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

 To approve the draft annual financial statements and audit Management Letter for signature

noting the amended accounting policy on Going Concern

Growing Places Fund Loan Application – Confidential

10.

New Anglia LEP Governance

RW confirmed that the annual review of the LEPs policies and procedures had been

completed and presented those requiring board approval:

 Modern Slavery Statement

 Equality & Diversity Policy and Statement

 Board Attendance & Observers Policy

 Gender Pay Gap report.

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

 To endorse the policies as listed above

11.

Chief Executive’s Report

RW presented the report and highlighted the business support programme advising advised

that work is ongoing with districts with the focus on ensuring that there is continuity of support

for businesses.

RW noted that the UKSPF funded business support activity runs from 1st July 2023 through to

31st March 2025.

In Suffolk the LEP is part of a consortium with all the districts and have procured Growth Hub

delivery to a third-party provider, YTKO.

In Norfolk SLAs have been signed with North Norfolk, West Norfolk and Norwich and the LEP

is the final stages of signing SLAs with Breckland and Great Yarmouth.

In North Norfolk and West Norfolk the LEP is also delivering their Rural England Prosperity

Fund, a £2.3 million grant programme operating until March 2025.

RW noted that, unfortunately, at this time, there has been no agreement with Broadland or

South Norfolk, so there will be a very limited signposting service in those areas.

The Connected Innovation Programme, new GTI grant scheme and High Growth Programme

will operate LEP wide.

JR noted that a new provider would be covering Suffolk and highlighted the risks around this

in terms of reputation and the quality of service provided as staff were viewed as LEP staff.

RW agreed that it was not an ideal situation but the focus was on provision of service. TUPE

will apply from Suffolk Chamber to the YTKO team.

The board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

12.

Quarterly Management Accounts – Confidential

RW presented the board with an update on the LEP’s finances for the 3 months ending 30th

June 2023.

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the report

13.

July Performance Report

RW presented the performance reports for July namely the reports for the Careers Hub and

the Community Renewal Fund.

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the reports

14.

Board Forward Plan

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

The Board agreed:

 To note the content of the plan

15.

Any Other Business

None