GCGP LEP Area ESIF Sub-Committee Inaugural Meeting Wednesday 3 rd December 2014, 9:00 to 11.00 Minutes of the Meeting Interim Chair Michelle Burdett DCLG Secretariat Jonathan Gill DCLG Members Andrew Thomson ACER Karen Kelly Skills Funding Agency Robin Healey DEFRA/RPA David Gill St John s Innovation Centre Guy Mills Cambridgeshire County Council Libby Kingsley Rutland County Council Julie Farrow Hunts Forum Pete Northover BIS Aled Jones Alliance for Sustainable Development David Blair Institute of Chartered Accountants Stuart Durrell DWP Amy Wilson Fenland District Council Mark Cooper GCGP Richard Andrews Anglia Ruskin University Michael Barnes GCGP Mark Reeve GCGP Adrian Chapman Peterborough City Council Claire Higgins GCGP/Cross Keys Homes Martin Clarke Allia / Future Business Centre Nicole Kritzinger South Cambridgeshire District Council Apologies Julia Nix DWP Paul Phillipson Rutland County Council Bruce Choto TUC Item 1 - Introduction 1. Members were welcomed to the inaugural meeting of the GCGP ESIF subcommittee and invited to introduce themselves and outline their level of knowledge of European funding. Most attendees had a moderate knowledge of some European funding programmes, with some attendees having been involved in projects in the current programme. 2. It was explained that DCLG would Chair the meetings until a permanent Chair is appointed. Item 2 - Presentation: Background to the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) Growth Programme
3. Michelle Burdett presented on the context for the 2014-2020 ERDF programme. It was noted at the start that the information provided is subject to the approval of the Operational Programme (OP), which is in negotiation between the Managing Authority (MA) and the European Commission (EC). 4. The following points were made in the presentation: Delivering the Europe 2020 agenda is a guiding principle for the ESIF programme. The ESIF programme is made up of four types of funding: ERDF (economic growth), ESF (people: skills & jobs), EAFRD (supporting rural businesses) and EMFF (fishing sector). Each fund has its own set of regulations at EU and national level. Each fund has an OP which sets out how the Partnership Agreement (PA) between the UK Government and the EC will be achieved. The ERDF programme has ten defined thematic objectives (TOs) which are underpinned by investment priorities. Projects delivered under the funds must be aligned with the thematic objectives and priority axes (the combination of investment priorities). There is a strong focus on performance in the new programme with a greater emphasis on qualitative impacts on businesses as well as a focus on quantitative outputs. The Growth Programme Board (GPB) is the body which oversees delivery of ESIF across the country. This will be chaired by the Managing Authority (DCLG) with the 39 LEP sub-committees feeding into this. There are also a number of functional and thematic cross cutting sub-committees reporting to the GPB. Technical Assistance (TA) funding is available which will be 2% of the LEP area allocation. This will be available to support facilitation of development and delivery of projects, but must be applied for. 5. The following points were raised in discussion: The ESIF sub-committee s role is to review project proposals to ensure they have a strategic fit with priorities in the GCGP area and recommend to the MA whether to approve or decline the project. The MA will then undertake contract negotiation and signing contracts with the projects. The LEPs currently do not have intermediary body status. GCGP have asked to be kept in the loop on any developments on changes to this status. This discussion is taking place at senior management level within government and with the LEP Network and the Local Government Association. Multi-LEP projects are very welcome and can often offer greater value for money. However, there remain details to be agreed of how they will be developed and agreed in practice. The formal comments on the OP have been received by DCLG from the Commission. DCLG are working hard to complete the final draft to be submitted before Christmas. The intention is that the programme can launch calls for projects to be designed (at risk) from around March.
Item 3 - Presentation: Background to the GCGP ESIF Strategy and Funding Priorities 6. Michael Barnes presented to the board. The following points were made: The ESIF strategy was developed in consultation with stakeholders across the area. There was a lot of interest in projects crossing the GCGP and NALEP areas, emphasising the strength of links across the East of England. GCGP has an allocation of 71.39m for the programme, split across the funds. As there is a 50% intervention rate, this equates to a total of 142.78m which could be invested into the region. The Local Implementation Plan is in development for EAFRD. The scheme will provide business start-up support in rural areas, support development of nonagricultural business activities and also align with the GCGP s Agri-Tech initiative and LEADER initiatives. Wisbech and the New England and Millfield wards within Peterborough are two potential areas for Community Led Local Development (CLLD) schemes. CLLD schemes are designed for areas where structural funds will not address the very specific needs of the area. It is a type of double devolution whereby responsibility is passed down to the CLLD area. Further guidance on CLLD will be issued in the new year. Three ERDF facilitators who are developing a potential pipeline of projects for GCGP as part of a TA project with NALEP. They are based at Alconbury Weald and are funded until September 2015 with TA from the 2007-13 ERDF programme. 7. The following points were raised in discussion: With the possibility of multi-lep projects, closer contact with neighbouring LEPs should be encouraged, including sharing details of members of ESIF subcommittees and sitting on other boards. The possibility of experts attending meetings was raised, especially for areas such as EAFRD and agri-tech. The links between EAFRD and LEADER groups are areas to explore. Action 2014 001 - presentations from the meeting to be circulated to attendees Action 2014 002 glossary of ESIF terms and acronyms to be circulated Action 2014 003 contact details of the ERDF facilitators to be circulated Action 2014 004 details of neighbouring sub-committee membership to be circulated Item 4 - The role and status of local ESIF committees 8. Michelle Burdett presented to the board. The following points were made:
The MA s role will be ensuring projects are eligible and compliant for funding, undertake an appraisal, agree and sign funding contracts. The LEP s role will be to co-ordinate the ESIF sub-committee and partners in their area. The LEP and other legal entities can apply for Technical Assistance to fund promotion and publicity, pipeline and project development work and capacity building. Board members are expected to be in place for three years, there is an expectation of regular attendance and adherence to the European Code of Conduct on Partnership. Members must name their deputies. Colleagues unnamed on the board as either members or deputies will be unable to attend. The Chair is expected to facilitate an inclusive discussion and can commission the Secretariat to undertake discrete pieces of work. The Deputy Chair advises the Chair and may lead on specific agenda items. The Secretariat will administer meetings and advise on governance arrangements. 9. The following points were made in discussion: Board members are encouraged to promote the scheme and can help businesses apply for funding but will have to declare whether they have an interest in any projects being presented to the board. Meetings will take place quarterly. 60% or more of the core membership of the board will need to agree on a proposal for it to be taken forward. Board business can be undertaken through written procedure. Following discussions of applications, projects can be asked for further information or given recommendations from the board. It would be useful to facilitate discussions between LEP sub-committees on multi- LEP projects. The MA will look into how this might be done. Further reading materials, such as the ESIF strategy and the draft OP, should be circulated to the board, along with the slides. Action 2014 005 board members to nominate named deputy Action 2014 006 DCLG to explore the options for discussions between LEPs on multi-lep projects Action 2014 007 further reading materials to be circulated to the board, including the Operational Programmes Item 5 - Election of the Chair 10. David Gill volunteered and was agreed as the Chair. Item 6 - ESF Opt-ins
11. Mark Cooper presented. The following points were made: Three key features of ESF; i) it is business-led, ii) it is localised, and iii) it is inclusive. Big Lottery, DWP and Skills Funding Agency (SFA) can all provide opt-ins to ESF funding. 12. Karen Kelly presented. The following points were made: The SFA has a budget of 4bn a year and funds apprenticeships and traineeships. It can provide 50% match funding for ESF projects. The SFA s opt-in service assists with the pre-procurement and specification process, the procurement and tender process and performance management, including contract managing awards. 13. The following points were made in discussion: Employment is a challenge within the LEP area, with a large proportion of people on Jobseekers Allowance. The Big Lottery presents an opportunity to get people in the area into pre-employment, although it was noted that ESF is a new area to Big Lottery. A key challenge is ensuring a longer-term impact on the skills development of individuals in the region, rather than solely growing businesses. An agenda item on ESF should be included in the next meeting. Action 2014 008 a substantive item on ESF will be included in the next meeting. Item 7 - Schedule of meetings 14. Jonathan Gill outlined the provisional dates for board meetings in 2015: Thursday 5th March Thursday 11th June Thursday 17th September Thursday 3rd December 15. It is anticipated that the meetings will take place between 10-12, with venues to be confirmed in the new year. 16. These dates have been set to coincide roughly one week later than the NALEP ESIF sub-committee meeting, to enable a common understanding of national programme issues at the same periods of the year. This will also help the programme calls to be set later. Action 2014-009 - the timings and locations of the 2015 meetings to be confirmed.
Summary of actions Reference Action Owner Target date 2014 001 Presentations from the meeting to be circulated to attendees 2014-002 Glossary of ESIF terms and acronyms to be circulated 2014-003 Contact details of the ERDF facilitators to be circulated 2014-004 Details of neighbouring sub-committee membership to be circulated Jonathan Gill 16/01/15 2014-005 Board members to nominate deputy Board members 19/12/14 2014 006 DCLG to explore the options for discussions between LEPs on cross-lep projects 2014 007 Further reading materials to be circulated to the board 2014-008 Substantive item on ESF to be included in the next meeting 2014 009 The timings and locations of the 2015 meetings to be confirmed and circulated Michelle Burdett 19/12/14 Jonathan Gill 05/03/15 Jonathan Gill 09/01/15