Discussion with the Chief Executive Officer D2N2.
Minutes:
Members received a presentation from the D2N2 Chief Executive Officer that provided an update on how the D2N2 LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) operated and recent progress it had made. This included:
· LEP review – strengthened purpose to drive economic growth with stronger private sector engagement
· Investment to support growth – over £250M capital investment and over £200M of European funds to support business and skills
· D2N2 structure
· Statistics for the area covered by D2N2
· Vision 2030 (‘A Green Heart Powering Energetic Minds’) and its guiding principles – enhance the capacity and capability of our people and businesses to prosper and innovate, lead the most ambitious carbon turn-around in the country, and deliver connectivity-led growth
· D2N2 Capital Programme
· Local Growth Fund projects – former Coalite site, Seymour Link Road and A61 Corridor
· European Structural and Investment Fund 2014-2020
· European Structural and Investment Fund Priorities 2014-2020
· What the European Structural and Investment Fund will buy in D2N2
· D2N2 Growth Hub – model and service
· D2N2 Enterprise Adviser Network
· North Derbyshire Careers Hub
· North Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone
Members were informed that D2N2 had an updated management restructure with the Leader of the Council as a Member of the D2N2 Board.
Members discussed how D2N2 could sometimes be seen as city centric. The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer explained that this was because cities were quicker to request funding.
Members requested that the D2N2 presentation be circulated to them after the meeting.
The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer referred to the “enhance the capacity and capability of our people” guiding principle, and how this responded to individuals in the area not upskilling. The Chair felt it was a difficult situation, because large businesses coming into the area would increase the workforce’s skill, but businesses didn’t want to enter an area with an unskilled workforce.
Councillor N Whitehead believed that public transport and autonomous driving in rural areas needed to be considered as part of D2N2’s connectivity ambition. The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer explained that D2N2 were undertaking a rural mobility review.
Members discussed the upcoming HS2 railway project and were concerned that it would only bring money into cities. The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer explained that D2N2 would work with Midlands Connect (a partnership of LEPs and Councils from across the Midlands) to ensure the connectivity of the project. The D2N2 Head of Strategy and Policy added that the HS2 railway lines would open up capacity for freight trains and reduce carbon emissions.
The Chair referred to the ESIF (European Structural and Investment Fund) in the presentation and asked if the UK’s exit from the European Union would impact this. The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer explained that the ESIF would be tied into the exit deal by the Government.
Members discussed the (ERDF) European Regional Development Fund and asked what the deadline to spend it was, and if the deadline was still in place. The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer explained that the deadline to spend it was 2023, and D2N2 were confident the funding would still be there until 2023.
Members also discussed the D2N2 Growth Hub and the assistance it could offer businesses. Councillor N Whitehead advised that his company employed a ‘Digital Upscaler’ through the Hub, and the person has advised the company on digital business needs. He added that his business also engaged with children. The D2N2 Head of Strategy and Policy encouraged Members with business backgrounds to engage with schools and children in this way, so Members requested circulation of contact details for Dan Heffernan (D2N2 Growth Hub Lead) so they could liaise with him about school and child engagement.
Councillor N Whitehead believed it was important for D2N2 to have provisions in place for the mobility of people, since younger people were not using cars as much. The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer explained that D2N2 had a Mobility Strategy to address this.
Councillor J Funnell referred to the D2N2 Strategy from four years ago, which mentioned the A61 corridor development and other proposed developments in Wingerworth, Clay Cross and Dronfield. He asked what tangible progress had been made since the Strategy was published. The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer explained that since the Strategy was published, D2N2 had created 70,000 jobs, and a more specific breakdown for North East Derbyshire District would be investigated and circulated to the Committee. She added that the A61 corridor development had received funding recently, but the project had been held up by the owner of a property.
Members revisited the issue of D2N2 being perceived as city centric, and asked the D2N2 Chief Executive Officer what the Council could do to position itself to receive funding and develop. She explained that Districts needed to make themselves delivery ready to be at the front of the queue.
The Strategic Director – Place informed Members of some of the relevant changes made since the District elections. She explained that there were new performance indicators, and an interim Director for Economic Growth had been appointed with a permanent post to come soon. Members were pleased that the Council would have a dedicated Director.
Councillor N Barker was pleased to learn that the Leader of the Council was a Member of the D2N2 Board, because he felt it gave the Council more of a voice.
The Strategic Director – Place revisited the issue of the HS2 railway project, and explained that the Leader of the Council had asked the Government to set out what the benefits would be for the District. She agreed to circulate the reply to Members.
Members requested information to be circulated about what exactly the D2N2 plans were for the A61 corridor, including aspects like cycle paths and transport hotspots.
Councillor D Ruff asked if the A61 corridor development would include the Avenue Site. The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer advised that a scheme for the site was being worked on.
The Strategic Director – Place advised Committee Members that the Council’s Growth Strategy would be circulated to them.
Sajeeda Rose and Will Morlidge left the meeting.
RESOLVED – That:
(1) The D2N2 presentation be circulated to the Members of the Committee after the meeting.
(2) Contact details for Dan Heffernan from D2N2 Growth Hub be circulated to Members, so Members with businesses can liaise about engaging schools and children.
(3) A specific breakdown be circulated to Committee Members setting out tangible progress that had been made in the North East Derbyshire District area since D2N2 published the D2N2 Strategy four years ago.
(4) The Government’s reply to the Leader of the Council asking them what the benefits of the HS2 railway project would be for the District be circulated to Committee Members.
(5) The D2N2 plans for the A61 corridor, including aspects like cycle paths and transport hotspots, be circulated to Committee Members.
(6) The Council’s Growth Strategy be circulated to Committee Members.
(Governance Officer/Strategic Director – Place/Monitoring Officer)