Issue - meetings

(1)       The creation of the West Midlands Innovation Board was approved, reporting to the SEP Board, to take a strategic lead in ensuring that innovation

(i)         drives economic growth and public service reform, and

(ii)        was embedded across the activities of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

(2)       The West Midlands Innovation Board would take a new delivery orientated approach for innovation, building on the findings of the West Midlands Science and Innovation Audit, to ensure that innovation delivered tangible economic growth and public service reform across the West Midlands Combined Authority geography.

Councillor Ian Ward presented a report seeking approval to establish a West Midlands Innovation Board to take a strategic lead in ensuring that innovation drove future economic growth and public sector reform.

Councillor Alex Phillips enquired whether membership of the Innovation Board would include representatives from non-constituent authorities, and whether the University of Shrewsbury should be included in its work. The Mayor confirmed that the Innovation Board covered the ‘three-LEP’ geography and so would include non-constituent authorities within that. However, he understood that the University of Shrewsbury was not involved with the West Midlands Combined Universities or Midlands Innovation partnership arrangements, which were the groupings that were involved in the Innovation Board.

Resolved:

(1)       The creation of the West Midlands Innovation Board be approved, reporting to the Strategic Economic Plan Board, to take a strategic lead in ensuring that innovation

(i)         drove economic growth and public service reform, and

(ii)        was embedded across the activities of the West Midlands Combined Authority; and

(2)       The West Midlands Innovation Board take a new delivery-orientated approach for innovation, building on the findings of the West Midlands Science and Innovation Audit, to ensure that innovation delivered tangible economic growth and public service reform across the West Midlands Combined Authority geography.