Agenda and minutes

The clerk opened the meeting. 

The Board were requested to note that the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham had not passed a resolution to participate in the Section 102 joint committee and were not therefore members of the committee as listed on the cover page of the agenda.  Cllr Stephen Cowan of LB Hammersmith & Fulham had therefore been incorrectly listed as a member of the Committee

The Board were requested to note that the agenda front page will be amended for future meetings to include details of Substitute Members appointed by participating boroughs.

The clerk sought nominations for the position of Chairman.  Councillor David Perry (LB Harrow) proposed Councillor Richard Cornelius (LB Barnet).  The proposal was seconded by Councillor Julian Bell (LB Ealing).  Councillor Richard Cornelius was duly elected as Chairman. 

Councillor Richard Cornelius in the chair.

The Chairman advised the Board that rule 5.1 of the Functions and Procedure Rules adopted by participating boroughs, required the chair of the joint committee to be appointed for 12 months.  In order for the chair to rotate in accordance with the municipal calendar, it was proposed that the chair be appointed for 18 months.  The Board agreed to this proposal and noted that the Chairmanship would rotate in May 2017.

The Chairman suggested that the chair and administrative support should rotate in alphabetical order as follows: Barnet; Brent; Ealing; Harrow; Hounslow; and Hammersmith & Fulham.  On that basis, the Chairman proposed that the Vice-Chairman be Councillor Muhammed Butt (LB Brent).  The proposal was duly seconded.  The Board agreed that Councillor Muhammed Butt be elected as Vice-Chairman until May 2017.

Apologies for absence had been received from:

·           Councillor Muhammad Butt (LB Brent) who was substituted for by Councillor Roxanne Mashari; and

·           Councillor Steve Curran (LB Hounslow) who was substituted for by Councillor Theo Dennison

None.

N/A.

N/A.

The Chairman announced a variation in the order of the agenda.  Agenda Item 10 (Functions and Procedure Rules) would be considered before Agenda Item 6 (West London Economic Assessment).  Rule 26.1 of the Functions and Procedure Rules requires that the Functions and Procedure Rules are adopted at the first meeting and it was appropriate that this took place before the Board transacted any business.

A Member questioned how Lead Members participate and be represented on the Board.  The Chairman advised that it had been agreed amongst the participating boroughs that the Board should have representation from the Leaders (Members) and Chief Executives (Observers).  The Board noted that Rule 14.1 allowed any elected member of any of the participating boroughs to address the Board. 

The West London Economic Prosperity Board noted that the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Harrow and Hounslow had all formally agreed:

1.       To enter into arrangements to discharge certain functions jointly between the participating boroughs, following agreement by the individual authorities.

2.       To adopt the arrangements attached as Appendix 1, “Functions and Rules of Procedure for the West London Economic Prosperity Board”.

3.       That the arrangements will consist of a Joint Committee (to be known as the West London Economic Prosperity Board or “WLEPB”).

4.       To instructs West London Alliance Growth Directors, in consultation with the Board, to identify and approach ‘special representatives’ from the list or sectors/organisations attached as Appendix 2 to join the WLEPB at its next and future meetings. 

5.       To note that the functions to be discharged by the WLEPB will be with the intention of promoting economic prosperity within the local government areas of the participating boroughs.

6.       To note that the participating boroughs will initially be Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Harrow and Hounslow but that other WLA member boroughs (namely Hammersmith & Fulham and Hillingdon) are also invited to join or observe as appropriate.

7.       To notes that the WLEPB will not discharge any Borough’s non-executive functions. 

Brendon Walsh (Director of Regeneration, Economic Development and Environment at LB Hounslow) introduced the report.  He advised the Board that Growth Directors had jointly appointed Peter Brett Associates to undertake the West London Economic Assessment.  Andrew Clarke and Russell Porter presented their interim findings.

The Board noted that the West London sub-region was becoming less deprived as a result of gentrification.  It was highlighted that this created an economic and social problem for existing residents due to housing shortages and costs. 

The Board requested that the following be reflected in the emerging priorities for consideration at the next Board meeting:

·           Skills Escalator – investing in improving the skills of low paid workers

·           Connectivity – an investment in super high speed broadband; and

·           Leveraging New Technology – development of more formal links between universities, the tech sector and creating the right environment for innovation.

·           Minimal Government Intervention

·           Brand – consider developing a West London ‘brand’ to differentiate the West London offer (e.g. Heathrow, HS2, population diversity, etc.)

The West London Economic Prosperity Board:

1.         Noted the interim findings of the Economic Assessment and the presentation contained in Appendix 1 to the report.

2.         Commented on the emerging priorities (section 3) in the draft Economic Assessment, as detailed in the preamble above.

3.         Agreed for the consultants to complete the economic assessment in line with the direction of the Board, as detailed in the preamble above.

4.         Agreed to receive a Growth Action Plan for these priority areas to promote growth in West London at the February 2016 meeting of the Board.

5.         Agreed for the West London Growth Directors’ Board to plan the development of the action plan and present financial / resource implications to the at the February 2016 meeting of the Board.

Following consideration of the item above, Councillor Theo Dennison (LB Hounslow) left the meeting at 3.08pm.

Andrew Donald (Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth at LB Brent) presented a report on the London Proposition on Devolution and Public Service Reform. 

The West London Economic Prosperity Board:

1.         Supported further devolution of key functions from Whitehall to West London Government, and the role of the Board in overseeing such devolved functions in West London where a sub-regional approach is appropriate.

2.         Supported the three areas of focus for a devolved employment support system set out in section 2.1 of the report.

3.         Supported the West London Government proposals on devolution of skills and enterprise support, and the proposed West London approach to Post-16 Education and Training Area Reviews in London.

4.         Agreed to receive a report on the Housing and Planning Bill at its February 2016 meeting to agree priorities for the sub-region.

5.         Requested that the Director of the West London Alliance, in consultation with Board Members, prepares a public statement from the Board in response to the Spending Review, summarising the Board’s position on the issues set out in the report and ambitions for its future work programme.

6.         Agreed that the West London Growth Directors Board should be tasked with organising an event to engage a wider constituency of West London businesses, including SMEs, to review the priorities for business support and how best to support and engage in the Board’s emerging priorities for economic prosperity, before the next meeting in February 2016.

Andrew Travers (Chief Executive of LB Barnet) presented a report which set out the approach being taken in London to reviewing post-16 education and skills provision and the role of sub-regional partnerships in leading this approach. 

The West London Economic Prosperity Board:

1.         Agreed in principle (and subject to FE college agreement) that a borough leader could be nominated to chair the sub-regional Steering Board that will be established to lead the West London response to Area Review.  It was agreed that the nomination was Councillor Steve Curran (LB Hounslow).

2.         Endorsed the proposed membership of the West London Steering Group as representative of the sub-region and relevant sectors as set out in section 1.25 of the report

3.         Agreed the objectives of the Area Review for the West London sub-region as set out in section 1.12 of the report.

4.         Agreed that each borough will nominate a lead officer to engage on the Review and co-ordinate borough contributions to the economic analysis that will be undertaken across the sub-region to inform the outcome of the Area Review.

5.         Instruct officers to take appropriate action to prepare the analysis required to enable the Area Review to be reported back to the February 2016 meeting of the Board. 

The Board approve the Forward Work Programme and agreed that the following items be added:

·                West London Economic Assessment – Growth Action Plan (February 2016)

·                Housing and Planning Bill – Priorities for the West London Sub-Region (February 2016)

None.

Weds 17 February 1pm-3pm

Weds 8 June 9:30am-11:30am

Weds 21 September 9:30am-11:30am

Weds 7 December 9:30am-11:30am

The Board noted the dates of the next meetings as follows:

·                Wednesday, 17 February 2016, 1.00pm-3.00pm

·                Wednesday, 8 June 2016, 9:30am-11:30am

·                Wednesday, 21 September 2016, 9:30am-11:30am

·                Wednesday, 7 December 2016, 9:30am-11:30am

The Board agreed that it would be preferable for meetings to be held at Central London locations.  The clerk was requested to review the following meetings venues and confirm with the Board as soon as practicable:

·                London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, Hammersmith Town Hall, King Street, London, W6 9JU

·                London Councils, 59½ Southwark St, London SE1 0AL

·                London Chamber of Commerce, 33 Queen Street, London, EC4R 1AP