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Issue - meetings
South East Local Enterprise Partnership Sector Support Fund
Meeting: 07/01/2019 - Cabinet (Item 133)
133 South East Local Enterprise Partnership Sector Support Fund PDF 159 KB
Minutes:
Councillor Chowney having declared a prejudicial interest in this matter left the chamber for this item. Councillor Batsford took the chair.
The Director of Operational Services, presented a report;
1. To brief members on the success of the Coastal Communities Group of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) in securing Sector Support funding to develop a prospectus/supplement to complement the SELEP Economic Strategy Statement (previously known as the Strategic Economic Plan) and the forthcoming Local Modern Industrial Strategy of £40k matched against funding from a number of local authorities.
2. To seek authority to procure the consultants to develop and deliver this work on behalf of the Coastal Group.
SELEP is the Local Enterprise Partnership covering the local authorities within East Sussex, Kent, Essex, Southend, Thurrock and Medway. It has the responsibility for leading and co-ordinating economic growth within the region and is a channel for government funds.
The SELEP structure is a federated one. A central accountability board exists to assess bids for funding to ensure funds are directed at regionally appropriate and deliverable projects. A Strategic Board exists which is primarily intended to consider regional strategic issues and have oversight of the organisations work.
A more long term and strategic approach to coastal issues is required. There have been considerable successes but the fact remains that SELEPs coast contains many places that continue to underperform economically but also offer great potential for improvement – and to raise the overall performance of the SELEP region. This is due to the unique challenges coastal towns face.
Councillor Fitzgerald proposed approval of the recommendations of the Director of Operational Services report. This was seconded by Councillor Rogers.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that:
1. That the Director of Operational Services or his nominees are authorised to procure contractors to undertake the work of developing a SELEP Coastal Communities prospectus.
2. The Chief Legal Officer is authorised to sign the contractual relationship to secure this work.
3. That agreement is given to the acceptance of grant aid via SELEP/East Sussex County Council and contributions from other councils towards this work.
4. That authority is given for the expenditure for this project up to a maximum value of £60k.
The reason for this decision was:
The work proposed is undertaken on behalf of a wider body of local coastal authorities with the aim of increasing support for regeneration and investment in the SELEP coastal communities. The Economic Strategy Statement and Local Modern Industrial Strategy are likely to be highly influential on future SELEP priorities. Future UK Shared Prosperity Funds are likely to be informed by these documents.
The work is intended to lead to enhanced co-operation between coastal partners and the development of more strategic relationships with potential funders, such as Arts Council, Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery as well as the SELEP funding opportunities.
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