Agenda and decisions

To appoint Councillor Bob Sleigh to chair this specific meeting, and to note that Councillor Stephen Simkins has been appointed by the Mayor as Portfolio Lead for Economy & Innovation and will assume the chair of the board with effect from its next meeting.

The current economic conditions for the West Midlands including the monthly dashboard (Appendix 1) and insight from the region’s businesses via the WM Business Insights Forum and the WM Regional Business Council be noted.

1.    The economic rationale and approach to the Strategic Productivity Partnership, as set out in paragraphs 2.4- 2.7 of the report be endorsed;

2.    The draft terms of reference for the Strategic Productivity Partnership attached as Appendix 1 be agreed and

3.    The approach to the Trade and Investment strand, including the West Midlands International Strategy and to agree the West Midlands Growth Company acts as the lead agency for trade and investment on behalf of WMC be endorsed.

1.    The updates be noted and

2.    The proposed approach for delivering additional support to West Midlands businesses be agreed.

1.    That WMCA area further education colleges are invited to submit bids for a share of £2.5m grant funding from Innovate UK to run further education innovation policies be noted;

2.    That the WMCA is convening and supporting relevant education colleges to develop bids for the grant that align to the West Midlands Local Skills Improvement Plan and the West Midlands Plan for Growth be noted and

3.    Authority be delegated to the interim Director for Employment, Skills, Health & Communities in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer, to make the local selection decision for funded projects.

1.    Approval be given to the following documents which were considered and agreed by the Major Events Advisory Group:

(a)  the governance for the Major Events Fund;

(b)  the guiding principles for evaluation;

(c)  the process timeline and process flow;

(d)  the application form which has been issued to all eligible authorities, the scoring mechanism and criteria and

2.    That a prioritised list of projects be submitted to the November meeting of the board for consideration and approval be noted.

1.    Approval be given to increase the investment of leadership and management skills training across the WMCA through the devolved adult education budget and

2.    The WMCA response to the local skills investment plan report specific to leadership and management training needs to employers be noted.

The updated work programme attached at appendix 1 of the report be noted.