To approve that Herefordshire Council become a Public Sector Member of The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership Limited.

Following a national review, the government has issued a directive that all Local Enterprise Partnerships should have a legal personality. The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) must incorporate as a company before any further local growth funding is released.

Herefordshire Council as a public sector body within the geographical area of the LEP has the right to become a Public Sector Member of the company. Doing so will confer the right to appoint a director to the board of the company to represent the council and participate in decision-making.

That:

a)    Herefordshire Council apply to become a Public Sector Member of The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership Limited;

b)    subject to approval of recommendation (a) above the leader of the council shall nominate the appointment of the public sector member; and

c)    the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership Limited be added to the council’s register of strategic partnerships and list of outside bodies to which the council makes appointments.

The council could choose not to become a member of the company. This is not recommended as the council would not be able to nominate a director to be appointed by the board of the company and would lose the ability to directly influence decision making at the LEP.