Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Metcalfe.

A copy of the Register of Interest for each Selby District Councillor is

available for inspection at www.selby.gov.uk.

Councillors should declare to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary

interest in any item of business on this agenda which is not already

entered in their Register of Interests.

Councillors should leave the meeting and take no part in the

consideration, discussion or vote on any matter in which they have a

disclosable pecuniary interest.

Councillors should also declare any other interests. Having made the

declaration, provided the other interest is not a disclosable pecuniary

interest, the Councillor may stay in the meeting, speak and vote on that

item of business.

If in doubt, Councillors are advised to seek advice from the Monitoring

Officer.

There were no declarations of interest.

Report E/18/21 asks the Executive to agree its response to the government’s LEP review ‘Strengthening Local Enterprise Partnerships, and to give authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to negotiate the implementation of the preferred option.

Councillor Mark Crane, Leader of the Council presented the report that detailed the background and key issues for the District Council to consider when agreeing its response to the government’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) review.

The Executive discussed the options outlined in the report. In relation to the government’s proposal to have the membership of the LEP boards at 66% private sector and 33% public sector, the Executive confirmed that they disagreed with this proposal and that there should be an equal 50% / 50% split so that elected representatives to provide greater accountability.

With regard to the geography element of the review, the Executive expressed their disappointment that the government had stated there would not be any overlapping geographies. They expressed a view that the Council should remain a member of both the York and North Yorkshire and Leeds City Region LEPs through the continuation of an overlap area between the two LEPs. Discussion also took place on a fall-back position should this not be possible, it was agreed that the fall-back position would be for the Council to join the North and West Yorkshire LEP Model providing that the ‘red lines’ outlined in the report were incorporated.

The Executive stated that they wished their response to be sent to both LEPs and the government.

RESOLVED:

i)             To recommend an equal 50/50% split between elected and private sector representatives on the LEP Boards to provide greater accountability.

ii)            To recommend remaining a member of both the York and North Yorkshire and Leeds City Region LEPs through the continuation of an overlap area between the two LEPs with a fall-back position being that the Council would join the North and West Yorkshire LEP Model provided that the ‘red lines’ outlined in the report were incorporated. 

iii)           To send a consultation response to both the York and North Yorkshire and Leeds City Region LEPs and the government.

iv)          To give delegated authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to negotiate the implementation of the preferred option.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The Executive’s preferred option for future LEP boundaries best reflects:

·           The overlapping economic geographies within Selby District, which has strong relationships with both York and North Yorkshire and the Leeds City Region, together strategic links to the East Riding and the Humber;

·           The future needs of Selby District to work in close partnership with the LEP to deliver the significant investment and growth that is planned in the area.

Report E/18/22 updates the Executive on the arrangements for a 75% business rates retention pilot, and asks the Executive note the position and endorse the action taken.

Councillor Cliff Lunn, Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources presented the report which updated the Executive on the arrangements for a 75% business rates retention pilot.

The Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources explained that at this stage, an application had been submitted to be part of a wider North Yorkshire pool. It was noted that the pilot would last for one year and any further updates would be provided to the Executive when received.

RESOLVED:

                        To note the position and endorse the action taken.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To ratify the decision made by the Executive when they considered the Medium Term Financial Strategy.