Agenda item

Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership - Accountable Body Progress Report

To receive a report by Justin Brown (Commissioner for Economic Growth), which provides an update from the Accountable Body on the progress of the Single Local Growth Fund operated on behalf of Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report by Linsay Hill Pritchard (Principal Commissioning Officer (Accountable Body)), which provided an update from the Accountable Body on the progress of the Single Local Growth Fund, which was operated on behalf of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). 

 

The reported covered three key areas of activity, as detailed below, and the Principal Commissioning Officer (Accountable Body) provided an update on each of those areas: -

 

·       Annual Conversation – it was noted that the aim of the review was to provide sufficient assurance to the Accounting Officer and ministers that LEPs fully implemented existing requirements for appropriate governance and transparency;

·       Governance – Following a report by the Public Affairs Committee in July 2016, the Government had requested Mary Ney to conduct a review (Mary Ney Review) into LEP governance and transparency.  In January 2018 Local Enterprise Partnership Governance and Transparency: best practice guidance was published to support LEPs in meeting some of the recommendations made by the review; and

·       Year-End target and Progress – An update on the current spend position and proposed arrangements for formal sign off of the LEP financial report was provided to the Committee, which was detailed at pages 73 – 76 of the report.

 

The Committee was reminded that the growth deal spend target was £15.8 million and remained a challenge following high levels of funding released in previous years.  The majority of projects were successfully delivering on the ground and with some projects complete.  A full project update was provided at Appendix B to the report.

 

It was highlighted as part of the update on the current spend position that three projects had been identified to the LEP Investment Board as high risk in terms of milestones to the programme; Skegness Countryside Business Park (Skegness Gateway Scheme); Grantham Southern Relief Road; and Lincolnshire Lakes. 

 

The report stated that there was a small delay on the publication of the statutory orders for the Grantham Southern Relief Road. However, the Committee was advised that statutory orders for the scheme would be published by the end of the week commencing 26 February 2018.

 

The report had also stated that progress with the Lincolnshire Lakes scheme had been delayed to with regard to the required land transfers which were meant to take place in November 2017.  However, the Committee was advised that progress had been made and access to land had now been confirmed and would be transferred by the end of the financial year 2017/18.

 

In response to a question, the Committee was advised that the Skills Capital Programme would deliver a small number of apprenticeships as part of the programme and that the Bishop Burton Scheme would deliver NVQ training.  It was agreed that information on the number of apprenticeships as part of the Skills Capital Programme would be emailed to the Committee.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  That the current progress being made on the Growth Deal Programme for Greater Lincolnshire be endorsed.

 

(2)  That continued support be given to the role of Lincolnshire County Council as Accountable Body of the Single Local Growth Fund.

Supporting documents:

 

 
 
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