20170307_GCGPLSC_Minutes European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 Growth Programme for England Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough ESI Funds Sub Committee Tuesday 7 March 2017, 10am-1pm Future Business Centre, King Hedges Road, Cambridge, CB4 2HY Agenda: 1. Welcome and introduction 2. Minutes of 2 November 2016 and action update 3. European Social Fund (ESF) National Programme Update 4. European Social Fund Opt-in Updates: Big Lottery Fund, DWP, Skills Funding Agency (SFA) 5. ESF Open Calls 6. European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) Programme Update 7. EAFRD Future Business Process 8. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme Update 9. ERDF update on ERDF Applications & Calls 10. AOB 1. Welcome and introductions 1.1 The Chair thanked the ESIF Sub Committee for their attendance and apologies were noted as detailed in Appendix B. 1.2 The Chair reminded the ESIF Sub Committee to make declarations of interest where necessary and provide comments on the local strategic fit of the applications presented to them during this meeting. Jemma Little made a declaration of interest on matters concerning Ixion Holdings. 2. Minutes of 2 November 2016 meeting and action update 2.1. The draft minutes of the 2 November 2016 meeting were approved as accurate. Mark Cooper should be removed from the apologies list in Annex B. 2.2. Actions from the 2 November 2016 meeting were confirmed as completed. The Chair gave an update on the outstanding action concerning the withdrawn Peterborough Community Led Local Development (CLLD) application. It was confirmed that the Chair, Claire Higgins and Michael Barnes, on behalf of the ESIF Sub Committee, had written to Peterborough City Council who formally submitted an apology for the lack of consultation in this matter.
Agreed Action 1: Secretariat to remove Mark Cooper from the Annex B of the Minutes of the 2 November 2016. 3. National Programme Update European Social Fund (ESF) 3.1. Joanna Wright provided some highlights from the ESF written update. It was confirmed that Monya Ladipo had left ESF and that Julie McLachlan would be the new ESF Contract Manager. 3.2. It was reiterated that going forward, all applications would need to highlight how they demonstrate alignment with National Priorities and Value for Money as per the Treasury s requirements. 3.3. It was confirmed that the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area had committed 48% ( 13.82 million) of its 28.52 million allocation which indicated good progress on commitment. 3.4. It was confirmed that the Wisbech CLLD Full Application had been received. Once its appraisal is completed, the ESIF Sub Committee would be asked for comments on local strategic fit. The ESIF Sub Committee noted concerns in securing match funding for CLLD. It was confirmed that ESF Managing Authority was preparing a paper on match funding sources which would be available to future applicants. 4. Opt-in Updates (ESF) Big Lottery Fund (BLF) 4.1. There was no representation from the Big Lottery Opt-in. Joanna Wright highlighted key points from her written update. It was confirmed that going forward, ESF Managing Authority hopes to receive a paper update from the BLF on Performance Management. It was highlighted that for the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area, there are four Building Better Opportunities (BBO) projects up and running. They are Community Connections North, Community Connections South, New Horizons and My Employability. It was noted that all BLF contracted projects have encountered some difficulties and that the ESF Managing Authority would be meeting with the BLF to discuss the issues. 4.2. It was confirmed that Joanna Goodall on behalf of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP formed a networking group with the four BBO projects and the DWP Opt-in deliverer, which would enable the sharing of best practice and create a forum for cross-referrals. Skills Funding Agency (SFA) 4.3. Joanna Wright highlighted key points from the SFA Opt-in summary paper with some contributions from Michael Barnes. These were: Overall, 5.7 million have been awarded to SFA contracts. This figure is different to the forecasted 8.9 million (circulated in papers). 2
A tripartite meeting was held with Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP, the SFA and Ixion Holdings where concerns about the SFA s consultation and transparency were re-affirmed. 4.4. The ESIF Sub Committee discussed concerns about transparency with the Optins contracts and is keen to receive detailed performance management information to ensure that delivery is on track. The ESIF Sub Committee agreed to invite Ixion Holdings to provide performance information at the next ESIF Sub Committee meeting. Agreed Action 2: Michael Barnes to invite Ixion Holdings to the next ESIF Sub Committee meeting. Department for Work and Pension (DWP) Opt-in 4.5. Chris Dunne and Stuart Durrell offered some updates on the DWP opt-in contract with Reed. It was confirmed that the Reed project had been up and running for 6 months. It was noted that the project had a good geographical coverage of Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area but was encountering difficulties in engaging the target audience especially in Cambridge due to a shortage of staff and possible saturation in provisions. DWP is working with Reed to ensure that delivery meets forecasted May 2017 targets. 4.6. The ESIF Sub Committee discussed the challenges with the DWP contract and agreed that Reed should be looking beyond the Job Centre Plus for referrals and looking to increase its publicity in order to guarantee efficiency. 5. ESF Open Calls 5.1. Joanna Wright updated the ESIF subcommittee on preparations for future Calls in the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area. ESF Managing Authority would continue to work closely with the LEP to develop tailored Calls for the area. 5.2. Joanna presented three draft Calls to the ESIF Sub Committee for comments on local strategic fit which are due for publication in April 2017. Investment Priority 1.1: Access to Employment Integrated Employment 5.3. The ESIF Sub Committee discussed the proposed Call and noted that it provided a good opportunity to fill any gaps in existing provisions mainly with the Work in Health Programme and to support the long term unemployed. The ESIF Sub Committee invited the ESF Managing Authority to make this connection clearer in the Call. The ESIF Sub Committee noted that the minimum grant amount in the Call could be a potential barrier to local providers. Overall, the subcommittee agreed that the Call provided local strategic fit. Investment Priority 1.1: Access to Employment Learning Disability 5.4. The ESIF Sub Committee discussed the proposed Call and noted that this Call would support existing provisions. The Sub Committee agreed that the Call provided local strategic fit. 3
Investment Priority 1.2: Sustainable Integration of Young People into the Labour Market 5.5. The ESIF Sub Committee discussed the proposed Call and identified that there was a shortage of integrated employment services for young people which the Call sought to address. The ESIF Sub Committee agreed to local strategic fit. 6. National Programme Update European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) 6.1. Mohua Bhattacharya introduced the item and summarised key points from her written update. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs would commit funds for the EAFRD programme, operating business as usual, as per the Chancellor s previous statement. 6.2. Mohua Bhattacharya confirmed that the EAFRD Managing Authority published three new National EAFRD Growth rolling Calls totalling 120 million. These Calls are open for applications for the next 12 months. Although no application had been received in the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area, the joint Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP and New Anglia LEP EAFRD workshop on the 10 January to promote these Calls was well attended. The Managing Authority encouraged the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP to continue to promote these Calls. 6.3. It was confirmed that in the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area, under the 2015 EAFRD Business Development Call, the Broadpool Farm Potato & Onion Grading Facility project had been contracted. A further 5 Full Applications are expected in March/April 2017. These were discussed briefly and it was highlighted that there may be difficulties with the Croxton Farm Partnership project. 7. EAFRD Future Business Process 7.1. The EAFRD Managing Authority has learnt a number of lessons from its previous Calls leading to a revised Expression of Interest stage focussed on eligibility and strategic fit. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) aim to complete the first stage appraisal and seek ESIF Sub Committee advice within 30 working days of receipt of the application. 7.2. Mohua Bhattacharya and Michael Barnes outlined possible options on how to consider EAFRD Expression of Interest going forward. There were three options including : Monthly ESIF Sub Committee meetings Using written procedures Utilising rural sub-groups mandated by the ESIF Sub Committee to review projects and provide advice on strategic fit 7.3. The ESIF Sub Committee discussed these options and proposed to nominate members to respond on behalf of the ESIF Sub Committee. The ESIF Sub 4
Committee agreed that this targeted group would need to sign up to the Terms of Reference. Agreed Action 3: Mohua Bhattacharya and Phillip Bradshaw to confer on formalising an EAFRD subgroup which would consider Expressions of Interest. 8. National Programme Update European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 8.1. Georgia Pritchard introduced the National Programme overview paper and highlighted the key points from her written update. These were: The overall budget for ERDF is 2.7 billion. We have legally committed 1.034 billion of ERDF in 378 projects. A further 585 million in 212 applications are currently under consideration (figures correct as of 30 November 2016). Overall, 37% of the budget has been committed. Overall the contracted projects, as well as the current pipeline, provide sufficient outputs to enable the Programme to meet its 2018 performance framework output targets. Value for money and strategic fit advice is now being sought for all applications from ESIF Sub Committees following the Chancellor s announcement in October 2016 and an amendment will be made to the Operational Programme to reflect the change to the ESIF Sub Committee Terms of Reference. The Department for Communities and Local Government s Permanent Secretary recently wrote to HM Treasury to report on ERDF project performance. 8.2. The ESIF Sub Committee discussed these updates and asked for more clarity on the new requirement for comments on Value for Money. The ESIF Sub Committee queried the possibility of lowering the minimum grant amount in the ERDF Calls especially for Priority Axis 2. Agreed Action 4: Georgia Pritchard to follow up the ESIF Sub Committee s queries on lowering the minimum grant amount in the ERDF Calls. 9. General Update on Applications and Calls 9.1. Martin Haindl introduced the item and provided the ESIF Sub Committee with an updated position on the progress of applications in each of the ERDF Priority Axes, and the remaining funds available, as per the written paper. Overall, good progress was noted in the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area against the 2018 performance targets. 9.2. Martin Haindl also reported that Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area was on track to exceed its forecasted 2018 output targets. It was noted that there was a good flow of project claims. 5
9.3. The ESIF Sub Committee briefly discussed the contracted projects in the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area and noted figures and performance with enthusiasm. 10. Any Other Business 10.1. Michael Barnes reminded the ESIF Sub Committee of the need to update the membership with two Local Authority posts vacant. This process was briefly discussed and it was agreed that these positions would be open to all Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area Local Authorities. Jemma Little confirmed that she would be leaving Anglia Ruskin University at the end of March 2017. The ESIF Sub Committee agreed that the LEP would seek nominations for the Local Authority replacements at its next Local Authority leaders group meeting. It would also canvas the Universities for a new Higher Education representative. Agreed Action 5: Secretariat to circulate the next meetings dates to ESIF Sub Committee. 10.2. The Chair thanked the ESIF Sub Committee for their time and closed the meeting. Date, time and venue of future meetings: Date: 9 May 2017; Time 10am- 12.30pm, Venue: TBC Date: 9 July 2017; Time 10am- 12.30pm, Venue: TBC Date: 20 September 2017; Time 10am- 12.30pm, Venue: TBC Date: 20 January 2018; Time 10am- 12.30pm, Venue: TBC Annex A List of Agreed Actions for the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough ESI Funds subcommittee 07/03/2017 Meeting. Agenda Action Item 2 Secretariat to remove Mark Cooper from the Annex B of the Minutes of the 2 November 2016. 4 Michael Barnes to invite Ixion Holdings to the next ESIF Sub Committee meeting. 7 Mohua Bhattacharya and Phillip Bradshaw to confer on formalising an EAFRD subgroup which would consider Expressions of Interest. 8 Georgia Pritchard to follow up the ESIF Sub Committee s queries on lowering the minimum grant amount in the ERDF Calls. 10 Secretariat to circulate details of the next meeting as agreed by the ESIF subcommittee Action Assigned to Secretariat Michael Barnes Mohua Bhattacharya Phillip Bradshaw Georgia Pritchard Secretariat 6
Annex B Attendee List Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough ESI Funds subcommittee 07/03/2017 Meeting Chair & Deputy Chair: Name, title and organisation David Gill, St John s Innovation Centre Georgia Pritchard, DCLG Subcommittee Members: Name, title and organisation Jemma Little, Anglia Ruskin University Martin Clark, Allia / Future Business Centre Michael Barnes, GCGP LEP Mohua Bhattacharya, Defra/RPA Joanna Wright, DWP Ostap Paparega, Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council Philip Bradshaw, NFU Martin Haindl, DCLG Sector/Organisation Representing Chair Deputy Chair (ERDF Managing Authority) Sector/Organisation Representing Higher Education Charity LEP EAFRD Managing Authority (DEFRA) ESF Managing Authority (DWP) Local Authority Rural ERDF Managing Authority Others in attendance (non-members - including secretariat): Name, title and organisation Sector/Organisation Representing Stephanie Goulei-Ake, DCLG Secretariat (ERDF Managing Authority) Julie McClachlan, DWP ESF Managing Authority Stuart Durrell, DWP, Job Centre Plus Equalities/DWP Chris Dunne, DWP, Job Centre Plus DWP Mike Walton, DCLG Secretariat (ERDF Managing Authority) Vicki Bidwell, DCLG ERDF Managing Authority Apologies: Name, title and organisation Andrew Thomson, ACER Julie Farrow, Hunts Forum Mark Reeve, GCGP LEP Claire Higgins Aled Jones, Alliance for Sustainable Sector/Organisation Representing Higher/Further Education Non profit organisation Private Sector GCGP LEP Environment 7
Development Julia Nix Jackie Tinkler, DWP Equalities/DWP ESF Managing Authority 8