A representative of OXLEP will provide a verbal update about the work of the Partnership and progress on the LIS and the Oxfordshire City Deal Programme

An update on the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Operating Plan 2017/18 is attached.

Nigel Tipple, Chief Executive of OxLEP, drew attention to the details in the circulated operating plan and reported that OxLEP were working apace on the Local Industrial Strategy, consulting on this over the summer and aiming to submit this to government in October. There was discussion with BEIS on international aspects of the strategy. This was not a bid for funds as such but set out an investment plan for government and the private sector. The strategy would come to the Board in December.

He reported that the Growth Board members from OxLEP for 2018/19 would be:

Purpose: to consider a presentation and update from the Chief Executive of OxLEP.

Nigel Tipple, Chief Executive of OxLEP, reported that:

·         Work on the Local Industrial Strategy was continuing as planned, including work with government ministers on strategy and budget requirements;

·         The Local Industrial Strategy was taking account of government guidance documents on clean growth and environmental strategy;

·         OXLEP were seeking senior officers’ input into the strategy and would take account of the JSSP as it developed;

·         It was intended to be a dynamic strategy reviewed periodically to reflect progress and activity.

A representative of OXLEP will provide a verbal update about the work of the Partnership, covering the Local Industrial Strategy and matters not dealt with earlier the agenda.

Nigel Tipple, Chief Executive of OxLEP, reported:

1.    Discussions had taken place with BEIS and MCHLG on the productivity strand of the growth deal

2.    OxLEP were working on their Local Industrial Strategy (LIS) over the course of 2018 to develop a unique proposal based on the county’s strengths in response to the government industrial strategy for adoption in March 2019.

3.    A review of the LEP itself had shown that oversight and statutory compliance was up to date and adequate: new members of the Board had been appointed to replace two members standing down;

4.    The Harwell link road opened on Friday 28 March; improvements at Didcot station were well underway;

5.    Work on the STEM skills and innovation centres was progressing well.

The Board noted the update.

A representative of OXLEP will provide a verbal update about the work of the Partnership, covering matters not dealt with earlier the agenda.

Nigel Tipple gave an update on the work of OxLEP.

In summary he outlined:

·         Work on funded projects in the Local Growth Fund 3 programme was progressing at a good pace

·         There was good progress on remaining Local Growth Fund 1 and Local Growth Fund  2 projects and on City Deal projects as highlighted in the programme reports,

·         BEIS (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy) had confirmed 2 years of funding from BEIS for extended support for the Business Growth Hub

·         EU funds running to 2020 were in place including EU social fund programme for developing apprenticeships and working with those far from the workplace: in Oxfordshire about 19,000 people were not working while 16,000 of those were not registered as seeking work. 

·         OxLEP was piloting The Local Industrial Strategy response, and was starting work towards an agreed delivery-focussed plan to mutually reinforce the Growth Deal over the summer, aiming to submit for funding to start 1 March 2019.

Councillor Price reported that the Local Government Association were putting pressure on the government to set out how the EU funded programmes would continue after 2020.

The Growth Board noted the update.

A representative of OXLEP will provide a verbal update about the work of the Partnership.

Nigel Tipple gave an update on the work of OxLEP in particular in response to the National Industrial Strategy.

In summary he outlined:

·         The key points of the industrial strategy and OxLEP’s response including working on a delivery-focused response and bidding for funds to develop skills and career paths and underpin STEM skills at all levels.

·         Proposals to secure funding to attract substantial inward investment, and five principal areas for growth.

·         The key themes for improving productivity including support for growth hubs; engagement with the Department for Education to provide apprenticeships and vocational training; and increasing skills to fill skills-gaps in the workforce.

The Board noted the update.

A representative of OXLEP will then provide a verbal update on:

·         Transformative Technologies SIA

·         Programme Delivery

·         Other relevant matters

Nigel Tipple provided a verbal update on:

• the Transformative Technologies Science and Innovation Audit (SIA) process, currently in the evidence gathering stage, the outcome of which was to support innovation in four areas of new technology and allied disciplines to lead to commercial applications.
• the status of the four Innovation Centres agreed as part of the City Deal programme:

·         Culham Advanced Manufacturing Hub is near capacity

·         Begbrooke Innovation Accelerator is at about 80% occupancy.

·         Harwell Innovation Hub is nearing completion

·         Oxford Bioescalator (Churchill Hospital/ Old Road Oxford) is nearing completion

Report Purpose

This report provides the Growth Board with an update which sets out indicative proposals from the England’s Economic Heartland Alliance (EEH) for the formation of a Strategic Transport Body (STB) covering its current footprint covering an area including Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, to Cambridgeshire.

The report is supported by Annex One – EEH: Developing A Sub-National Transport Body Briefing Paper (attached)

Recommendation

That the Growth Board:

1.    notes the proposals for the development of a Strategic Transport Board (STB) across the EEH geography and

2.    agrees the continued engagement in developing the proposal supported by EOG.

The Board considered a report and annex setting out indicative proposals from the England’s Economic Heartland Alliance (EEH) for the formation of a Strategic Transport Body (STB) covering its current footprint covering an area including Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, to Cambridgeshire.

Nigel Tipple and Jeremy Long, OxLEP, said discussions on the STB were in very early stages and did not reflect the views or input of all 28 local authorities covered by the proposals. The Board noted that there was a need to have a single joint and consistent message to allow focus in talks and development.

The Board:

1.    noted the proposals for the development of a Strategic Transport Board (STB) across the EEH geography and

2.    agreed the continued engagement in developing the proposal supported by EOG.

1.    Reports attached on:

a)    England’s Economic Heartland Alliance (EEH) formation of a Strategic Transport Body (STB) consultation and

b)    Growth and City Deal Programme

2.    A representative of OXLEP will then provide a verbal update about the work of the Local Economic Partnership.   

A representative of OXLEP may provide a verbal update.

The Growth Board noted a verbal update from Richard Byard on the work of OxLEP.

·         Three European Social Fund projects for Oxfordshire have been announced to support:

o   Skills opportunities for growth in Oxfordshire;

o   Training and employment for jobseekers and inactive people in Oxfordshire;

o   Skills for business in Oxfordshire.

·         In addition there were substantial EU funds available for projects around social enterprises and access to finance.

·         There was no confirmation of availability of place-based funding.

·         OxLEP was looking for a ‘long list’ of viable projects to enable quick responses to funding opportunities.