To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors K Barrow and KS Sahota.

To receive details of any Executive Member nominated to attend the meeting in place of the voting Member representing their Authority.

Councillor S Charmley substituted for Councillor K Barrow and Councillor B McClements substituted for Councillor KS Sahota.

To receive any declarations of interest by members of the Committee in respect of items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2014.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To approve the draft framework for submission to Government.

The Committee considered the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership Accountability and assurance framework for submission to Government.

The report stated that the LEP Partnership Board had reviewed the draft Framework at its meeting of 4 March 2015.  The Board had requested some amendments which were reflected in the updated draft framework appended to the report.  The Board had also suggested that consideration be given to an alternative name for the joint executive committee to provide greater clarity regarding its role, observing that the term “executive” could have different interpretations.

The Assistant Director, Governance (Herefordshire Council) reported that the Committee’s formal title in the Constitution approved by the three constituent Councils was the Marches Enterprise Joint Committee.  He suggested that adopting this name for the Committee would address the comments of the LEP Board and would not require further consultation with the constituent authorities.

RESOLVED:

That      (a)     the Marches LEP accountability & assurance framework (at appendix 1 to the report) be approved as a working document for submission to government, noting the elements requiring further work;

              (b)     a further report be received to approve the final framework, including a scheme of delegation,  following further consideration by the LEP Board; and

(c)     the name Marches Enterprise Joint Committee be adopted as the Committee’s name to provide greater clarity regarding its role.

The Committee discussed how to make effective use of the time of Members and officers in discharging the Committee’s role, having regard to Government expectations, the need to provide for public engagement and meet access to information requirements.

The Assistant Director, Governance (Herefordshire Council) undertook to produce a briefing paper setting out options for consideration. 

Mr Wynn suggested that he could then discuss proposals and issues as appropriate with the national LEP networking group which could in turn make representations if it saw fit.