Agenda and decisions

Councillor Adrian Andrew (Walsall), Anita Bhalla (Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP), Councillor Ian Brookfield (Wolverhampton), Stuart Croft (Higher Education sector), (Councillor George Duggins (Coventry), Tom Westley (Black Country LEP) and Sarah Windrum (Coventry & Warwickshire LEP).

Agreed as a correct record.

The current economic conditions in the West Midlands, including insight from the region’s businesses, were noted.

The approach to the review of the West Midlands Growth Company, including approving the terms of reference for the review and noting the status of activity and key milestones in early 2023, was endorsed.

(1)      The progress of the task & finish working group since the approval of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund business support funding by WMCA Board on 28 October in beginning the process of mobilising UK Shared Prosperity Fund funded business support activity from April 2023 was noted.

(2)      The proposed headline approach of local authorities in delivering local approaches to business support was approved, and the further development of West Midlands-wide programmes, with a view to commencing commissioning of these activities in Q4 2022 and Q1 2023, was agreed.

(3)      It was noted that commissioning responsibility was delegated by the WMCA Board to the Executive Director for Economic Delivery, Skills & Communities, in consultation with the s151 Monitoring Officer and in discussion with the Portfolio Lead for Economy & Innovation.

(1)      Progress on the monitoring of Plan for Growth, with the Creative Content and Production cluster (led by Create Central) as a proposed model for future reporting into the Economic Growth Board, was noted.

(2)      The opportunity for the West Midlands provided by the Government’s changes to the Investment Zone programme was noted.

(1)      The progress made to date and the revised commitment and timeline arising from the Government’s Autumn Budget Statement was noted.

(2)      The development of a West Midlands International Strategy was agreed, with the West Midlands Growth Company to develop the strategy in partnership with local and national stakeholders.

(1)      The status of the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator project selection, following the deadline for final project proposals and ahead of the project selection process, was noted.

(2)      The final details on the project selection decision-making, consistent with the criteria agreed by the Economic Growth Board on 23 September 2022, was endorsed.

(3)      The steps to exploit the wider strategic power of the Innovation Accelerator, including connections with business support, skills, inward investment and land development, was agreed.

The updated work programme was noted.

To pass the following resolution:

That in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

The press and public were excluded for the remainder of the meeting.

(1)      Progress in developing the LEP Integration Plan ahead of submission to the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy by 27 January 2023 was noted.

(2)      It was noted that the report had been prepared in advance of the receipt of written legal guidance, and was therefore presented subject to that guidance and without prejudice.

(3)      Progress against the following key areas was noted:

·       Embedding a strong, independent and diverse local business voice;

·       Transfer of key functions and the potential TUPE implications thereof;

·       Key risks.

(4)      Authority was delegated to the Executive Director of Economic Delivery, Skills & Communities to develop the formal plan ahead of submission to the WMCA Board on 13 January 2023.