In the absence of the standing chairman Councillor Lester took the chair for this meeting.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Johnson and Davies and from Mr Wynn.

Apologies were also noted from the LEP Director.

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

Councillor JG Lester substituting for Councillor AW Johnson.

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

None.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2017.

Resolved that:

the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To advise members on the production of the Marches and Mid Wales Freight Strategy and seek Marches Enterprise Joint Committee endorsement of the Strategy.

The draft freight strategy was discussed. Councillor Lester noted the importance of having such as strategy.

Councillor Nutting stated that it was important this strategy aligned with others such as Midlands Connect and the strategies of the combined west midlands authorities.

The project development officer stated that wide ranging consultation had taken place during the creation of the strategy to ensure alignment with other strategies and policies. This included consultation with the freight industry, parish and town councils, Midlands Connect, Highways England and Network Rail among others.

Resolved that:

(a)   Joint Committee members endorse the Marches and Mid Wales Freight Strategy.

To seek the views of MEJC Members on the draft Marches LEP Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest Policy.

The draft Marches LEP code of conduct and conflicts of interest policy were discussed.

The programme manager explained that the LEP board had undertaken a workshop in March 2017, facilitated by the centre for public scrutiny, to develop a more robust code of conduct and conflicts of interest policy. This work had pre-empted to a degree some of the recommendations in the review of LEP governance and transparency carried out by Mary Ney for the DCLG.

The monitoring officers of the three partner authorities had worked on the draft code and policy. The draft was approved by the LEP board at its meeting on 19 September 2017.

Resolved that:

(a)   The MEJC approves the LEP Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest Policy and this document be attached as an Annex to the LEP Accountability and Assurance Framework and be added as a download on the LEP website.

Arrangements for joint committee meetings in 2018 were discussed. Provisional dates to be circulated, taking account of existing commitments wherever possible.