Agenda and draft minutes

South Midlands Authorities Board - Tuesday 21st January, 2025 10.00 am

Venue: Room 1.05, Civic, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes, MK9 3EJ

Contact: Roslyn Tidman  Email: democracy@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

SMA33

Welcome and Introductions

The Chair to welcome members of the Committee, officers, any external witnesses, and the public to the meeting and introduce committee members, officers and witnesses who are present.

Minutes:

Councillor Marland welcomed attendees to the meeting.

SMA34

Minutes pdf icon PDF 117 KB

To approve, and the Chair to sign as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting of the South Midlands Authorities Board held on 12 November 2024.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the South Midlands Authorities Board held on 12 November 2024 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

SMA35

Disclosures of Interest

Councillors to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests, other registerable interests, or non-registerable interests (including other pecuniary interests) they may have in the business to be transacted, and officers to declare any interests they may have in any contract to be considered.

Minutes:

None received.

SMA36

Devolution Update

To receive an oral update on devolution.

Minutes:

Councillor Marland introduced the item noting that the government had published its Devolution White Paper on the 16 December 2024 and had given all authorities until the 10 of January 2025 to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) in the Devolution Priority Pathway. It was further noted that the tight deadline was not particularly helpful and had presented some challenges.

It was indicated that North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire had submitted an EoI based on the South Midlands geography, Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes had submitted an EoI based on the BLMK geography and that Central Bedfordshire had submitted a letter to government based on its preference to continue to work towards a Strategic Authority.

Councillor Marland noted that the government was due to make a decision before the end of January.  It was highlighted that each Council had its own priorities but it was agreed that the authorities would continue to work together as the South Midlands Authorities Board until the Secretary of State made any statement about the future.

RESOLVED:

The Board noted the update on Devolution discussions.

SMA37

DWP Connect to Work Programme pdf icon PDF 79 KB

To receive an update on the DWP Connect to Work Programme.

Minutes:

The Head of Economic Growth and Inward Investment (West Northamptonshire Council) provided an update on the DWP Connect to Work Programme.

The following points were noted:

·            The Connect to Work Programme would provide intensive support for people with long-term health conditions or other barriers to the labour market to help them to get into work and to sustain employment.

·            In the South Midlands area, the programme would support around 2,600 people at its peak which would be in two to three years.

·            DWP had provided a grant of £100,000 to support the planning and the development for the programme and a programme management group had been established to start developing the delivery plan.

·            This was an exciting opportunity to work together to support those in our communities that were most in need and to help them to get back into work and sustain employment.

·            A more detailed update would be brought to the next meeting to seek agreement on governance and sign off the delivery plan with the intention that the programme would start by the summer.

Councillor Smithers noted that of the estimated 2,600 people who would be supported by the programme, six hundred of those would be from North Northamptonshire (NNC). This would attract significant DWP funds to the area and the existing team at NNC had the expertise and capacity to deliver such a programme. NNC’s Executive would be meeting in February to consider submitting a local delivery plan to DWP. It was further noted that there had not been any discussions amongst the partners as to who would be the accountable body for this programme but that North Northamptonshire considered that they would be well positioned to take on that role.

Officers from West Northamptonshire noted that they were having active discussions with officers from North Northamptonshire and valued their input and expertise. It was anticipated that they would form a key part of the programme management team going forward. It was indicated that discussions on this matter could take place outside of the meeting including the statutory requirements of the Accountable Body and Delivery Body.

RESOLVED:

1.             The Board noted the update on the Connect to Work Programme launched with the Department of Works and Pensions to support people into employment.

2.             That officers at West Northamptonshire Council be asked to engage with officers at North Northamptonshire Council as to their involvement with the delivery of the Connect to Work Programme.

SMA38

Business Board update pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To receive an update on the South Midlands Business Board including consideration of confirming the appointment of the Business Board Chair as a co-opted member of the South Midlands Authorities Board.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Weir introduced the item noting that the recruitment to the Business Board was completed in October and they had held their first meeting on the 5 December 2024.

The meeting had focused on introductions, future activities of the Board and a consultation session with Lichfields on the economic growth strategy. Board members were working with officers to develop an annual program of meetings and activities aligned with regional priorities.

The report sought to request the co-option of the Chair of the Business Board to the South Midlands Authorities Board as set out in the SMAB Terms of Reference. It was noted that the Chair of the Business Board would not have voting rights or be included for the purpose of the quorum. Co-opting the chair of the Business Board would enhance alignment and collaboration between the SMAB and the business community ensuring business perspectives were included in economic development decisions.

The Chair of the Business Board, who was unable to attend the meeting due to a prior commitment, submitted a written paper. The paper provided an update on activity and requested the following:

·            SMAB support for the SMBB to take the lead in reviewing the new regional strategy to ensure that it delivered a strategy that underpinned the existing economy, sector diversity and sought to unlock new high growth potential and that SMBB sign off would be sought in the sign off process.

·            Clarification on SMAB’s position on a short to medium term extension for the Pan Regional Partnership, to support funding and resources to drive the South Midlands into the proposed devolution process.

Members noted that the Business Board members had a number of positive ideas to contribute and they looked forward to working with them in the future.

With regard to SMAB’s position on the Pan Regional Partnership it was noted that the government had indicated that they were likely to cease funding of these and that the current arrangement was not seen as particularly helpful in this region.  However, it was noted that there was a clear need for some sort of sub-national body but this may be secondary to establishing combined authorities.

Members noted that it may be helpful to hold a roundtable discussion between the Leaders, the Business Board Chair and wider interested parties to consider what future sub-national arrangements might look like.

Members noted that as part of their agenda setting meetings, they would consider how they would take regular reports from the Business Chair in the future.

RESOLVED:

1.             The Board:

a)      Noted the updates on the South Midlands Business Board activity.

b)      Confirmed the appointment of the South Midlands Business Board Chair as a co-opted member of the South Midlands Authorities Board and future Joint Committee.

2.             The Board agreed for the South Midlands Business Board to take the lead on reviewing the new regional strategy and that endorsement by the Business Board would be part of the sign-off process.

3.             The Board welcomed discussions with the Chair of the Business  ...  view the full minutes text for item SMA38

SMA39

South Midlands Services - Proposed Budget for 2025/26

To consider a report on the proposed budget for 2025/26.

Minutes:

Councillor Marland proposed, and Councillor Brown seconded the following motion:

“that the public and press be excluded from the meeting by virtue of Paragraph 3 (Information relating to the Financial or Business Affairs of any particular person including the Authority holding that information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, in order that the meeting may consider the following item.”

The motion was agreed by acclamation.

RESOLVED:

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting by virtue of Paragraph 3 (Information relating to the Financial or Business Affairs of any particular person including the Authority holding that information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, in order that the meeting may consider this item.

 

 

The Chair closed the meeting at 11.22am