1. Agenda
AGENDA for a meeting of the HERTFORDSHIRE GROWTH BOARD to be held via Teams Teleconference on Tuesday 4th August 2020, 16:30- 18:30
Members of the Board
Council Leaders
L Cocking, Broxbourne Borough Council
A Williams, Dacorum Borough Council
L Haysey, East Herts District Council
D Williams, Hertfordshire County Council
M Bright, Hertsmere Borough Council
M Stears-Handscomb, North Hertfordshire District Council
C White, St Albans City and District Council
S Taylor, Stevenage Borough Council
S Bedford, Three Rivers District Council
P Taylor (Mayor), Watford Borough Council
T Kingsbury, Welwyn and Hatfield Borough Council
Council Chief Executives
J Stack, Broxbourne Borough Council
S Marshall, Dacorum Borough Council
R Cassidy, East Herts District Council
O Mapley, Hertfordshire County Council
S Bijle, Hertsmere Borough Council
A Roche, North Hertfordshire District Council
A Foley, St Albans City and District Council
M Partridge, Stevenage Borough Council
J Wagstaff, Three Rivers District Council
D Nolan, Watford Borough Council
R Bridge, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership
M Bretton, Chairman
N Hayes, Chief Executive
Hertfordshire Growth Board
P Dell, Director – Hertfordshire Growth
2. Minutes
To confirm the Minutes of the Board meeting held on 7 July 2020.
3. Feedback from MHCLG Deputy Director John McManus and Harry Roberts Head of Local delivery on Hertfordshire Growth Deal discussions
View Report
30 – 40 mins for feedback and questions
4. Hertfordshire Growth Board (HGB) Growth Board Programmes Update
Programme updates from Political and Chief Executive leads:
- MHCLG Engagement Workstream
- Hertfordshire Southern East – West Growth Corridor Programme Board
- Hertfordshire Northern East – West North Growth Corridor and NEC Joint Planning Update
5. Hertfordshire Growth Board (HGB) – Growth Board Programmes & Growth Board Governance
View Report
6. Hertfordshire Growth Board (HGB) – MHCLG Workstream: Growth and Recovery Prospectus 2020 (working draft version 8) and Sequenced Delivery Plan
Confidential item – not for future publication due to the confidential and developing nature of the strategic matters covered by the report and appendices
7. Standing items
South West Herts Joint Plan
S Marshall, Dacorum Borough Council (verbal update)
8. Date of next meeting
The next planned meeting will be held on 8 September 2020 9.30 to 11.30 via Teams Teleconferencing unless advised otherwise.
9. Any other business
If you require further information about this agenda, please contact Elaine Manzi, Democratic and Statutory Services, Hertfordshire County Council on Telephone 01992 588062, or email elaine.manzi@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Minutes
Attendance
Members of the Board
Council Leaders
L Cocking, Broxbourne Borough Council
A Williams, Dacorum Borough Council
L Haysey, East Herts District Council
D Williams, Hertfordshire County Council
M Bright, Hertsmere Borough Council
M Stears-Handscomb, North Hertfordshire District Council
C White, St Albans City and District Council
S Taylor, Stevenage Borough Council
S Bedford, Three Rivers District Council
P Taylor (Mayor), Watford Borough Council
T Kingsbury, Welwyn and Hatfield Borough Council
Council Chief Executives
J Stack, Broxbourne Borough Council
S Marshall, Dacorum Borough Council
R Cassidy, East Herts District Council
S Bijle, Hertsmere Borough Council
D Scholes, North Hertfordshire District Council
A Foley, St Albans City and District Council
M Partridge, Stevenage Borough Council
J Wagstaff, Three Rivers District Council
D Nolan, Watford Borough Council
R Bridge, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Local Enterprise Partnership
M Bretton, Chairman
N Hayes, Chief Executive
Hertfordshire Growth Board
P Dell, Director – Hertfordshire Growth
1. Apologies
1.1
There were no apologies for absence.
2. Minutes
2.1
The Minutes of the Board meeting held on 2 June 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.
Admin note- due to the fact that the meeting was held virtually, the minutes of the meeting will be signed by the Chairman at the next non virtual meeting of the Committee.
3. Hertfordshire Growth Board (HGB) – Growth Board Programmes Update
3.1
The Board received a report providing an update on the overall progress of the key Growth Board programmes.
3.2
Board members were pleased to learn that that a recent meeting with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had been positive and the Ministry representatives had welcomed the direction of travel and details of the projects.
3.3
It was noted that Ian Charie had been appointed as the Project Director of the Hemel Garden Project and would be joining later in July.
3.4
The Board learnt that an inception meeting had been held to establish the new Programme Board overseeing both joint planning and Growth Corridor work for the North East- West Growth Corridor and the areas of development and objectives were beginning to take shape. There will now be a monthly meeting to build on this and maintain momentum.
3.5
Further to a Member suggestion it was agreed that progress updates from each growth corridor programme board would be shared between them to ensure coordination of joint work and useful updates on the wider work programmes.
3.6
Members discussed the wider issue of prospective devolution and local government reform (LGR) within Hertfordshire. It was noted that government were offering incentives to Local Authorities for this to be undertaken by 2023 but that reform particularly in two tier areas appears to be a clear direction of government policy. Further to debate it was broadly agreed that the Growth Board work and plans should continue, despite the uncertainty regarding LGR. It was acknowledged that the matter should be discussed in greater detail at a separate meeting to be arranged by the Chairman’s office.
3.7 RESOLVED
Leaders noted the overall progress across the Growth Board programme and individual workstreams since the last meeting.
4. Hertfordshire Growth Board (HGB) MHCLG Workstream – Growth and Recovery Prospectus 2020
Not for future publication because of the confidential and developing nature of the strategic matters this Paper deals with.
5. Hertfordshire Growth Board (HGB) Communications Update
5.1
The Board considered a report and presentation regarding updates to the communications strategy, including changes to milestones for the roll out of communications branding.
5.2
In considering the presentation of the HGB microsite, it was agreed that consideration should be given to emphasising ‘Hertfordshire’ more within the mission statements on the microsite to ensure Hertfordshire remained visible and prominent in the branding.
5.3
The Board discussed the forthcoming webinar sessions designed to promote the work of the Growth Board, and assurance was received that preparation work would be undertaken and shared with board members to ensure that a consistent message was presented.
5.4
In response to a Board member question, it was explained that the ‘More for Life’ branding campaign had been temporarily deferred due the potential sensitives around its meaning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
5.5 RESOLVED
Leaders
- Noted the progress and reasons for the amended milestones and gave feedback on progress and next steps, and
- Gave feedback on the new HGB microsite.
6. Standing items Hertfordshire Growth Board (HGB) Budget Update
6.1
Members noted the budget profile and commitments for use for the Growth Board growth fund in 2020/21.
6.2
The Board learned that the Business Rate Pilot mechanism meant that the Growth Board Growth Fund was expected to reach £4m in 2019/20 and £4.5m in 2021/22.
6.3 RESOLVED
Leaders noted the report and agreed the revised spend profile and commitments.
7. Standing items
South West Herts Joint Plan
7.1
It was noted that a meeting had been convened to discuss details of the plan and consultation was being undertaken with members.
Single Housing Investment Grant Harlow Gilston Garden Town update
7.2
It was noted that thus project was moving into the contracting stage.
8. Date of next meeting
8.1
It was agreed that the date of the next meeting would be 4 August 2020 at 4.30pm
9. Any other business
9.1
It was noted that Cheryl Davenport had been appointed Chief Executive lead for the East of England Local Government Association
9.2
It was noted that the Prime Minister had recently announced a £900m Getting Building Fund, of which Hertfordshire LEP had been allocated £16.8m. It was noted that that it was not only the north who required support for levelling up and development schemes.
9.3
It was noted that Joanna Averley had been appointed as the new Chief Planner for the MHCLG.
Agenda item 4 - Growth Board Programmes Update
Report Author: Patsy Dell, Hertfordshire Growth Board (Tel: 07949 887794)
1. Purpose of report
1.1
This report provides a short update on the overall progress of the key Growth Board programmes. More detailed updates also appear in other reports on this agenda as follows:
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Workstream – Submission of Growth and Recovery prospectus and delivery Plan (item 6 on this agenda);
2. Overall Growth Board Work Programme Update
2.1
By way of recap, the March HGB meeting agreed priority work for the next 6-9 months (at that time the period of focus for negotiations with HM Government) to cover and including:
Meeting the commitments set out in the letter to the Secretary of State from January 2020 on behalf of all Leaders;
Responding to the invitation from MHCLG to work with them to develop a proposition to secure HM Government support (including our level of ambition, what can be achieved in next five years (delivery and devolution new models);
An initial portfolio of prioritised corridor delivery projects known as ‘Wave 1’ including:
- Where detailed Business Cases for infrastructure interventions could be developed in time for Spending Review (SR) 2020 (i.e. before summer recess);
- Progress that can be made over the next 0 – 5, 6 – 10 years development and delivery window;
- Projects which will contribute to accelerated outcomes and recovery: employment sites, jobs and housing delivery (with increased affordable housing availability).
3. Updates on Corridor Growth Delivery Programmes and workstreams
3.1
Further development work has been undertaken on the ‘Wave 1’ projects/programmes featuring in the prospectus to MHCLG, including; assessing for post Covid-19 contributions to economic recovery, tightening the delivery proposals and quantifying the initial investment asks. The detail of this background work in business case development is set out in the delivery plan attached to the Growth and Recovery prospectus.
3.2
The two Growth Corridors have now established Programme Boards with a focus on overseeing the development of the Wave 1 projects into fully fledged delivery programmes, working to a set of key deliverables and milestones linked to the timetabling agreed with MHCLG.
3.3
Project Management Office (PMO) supporting arrangements are now establishing a common suite of planning and reporting documents for use at the programme board and project team level. These are being tested and trialled within both East – West corridor boards to ensure that they provide a consistent, streamlined and fit for purpose level of accountability and milestone reporting from local project management levels through the corridor programme boards and into HGB.3.
3.4
The Southern East – West Growth Corridor Programme Board is now set up under the new arrangements and met for the second time on the 28 July 2020 to progress a forward programme and review further development work priorities to ensure each project is on track to meet MHCLG milestones over the coming year and into 2021/22. Initial gateway reviews on the current status of individual projects have been initiated with Lead Leader and Chief Executives. Those for Creative Industries, Harlow & Gilston, Resetting the South East Herts Economy and Watford Junction Quarter have been completed. Reviews for the other projects are underway.
3.5
The North, East and Central Joint Planning work and Northern East-West Growth Corridor Programme Board met on 2 July and again on 30 July 2020. Work has been prioritised to fully scope out the suite of corridor delivery projects and to establish a clear forward work programme. This will include the development of supporting project management arrangements and identifying capacity to oversee further and more detailed development work, including gearing up to produce the fuller business cases needed to meet MHCLG milestones and timetabling. Initial gateway reviews are taking place on those projects that have reached that stage in their development.
4. Update on Place Narrative, Branding and Communications workstream
4.1
The last Growth Board received a presentation on the progress with implementing the new HGB branding and visual identity work as well as the new micro-site. The HGB Micro site was launched on 12 July 2020 and is now live at www.hertfordshiregrowthboard.com .
4.2
Other communications activity in July included the first of a series of three webinars hosted by the Voice of Authority https://www.thevoiceofauthority.co.uk/webinar/ and featuring the work of the Growth Board and its partners. Feedback from the participants polls in the first webinar was overwhelmingly positive on the work of Growth Boards and their potential contribution to delivering growth and infrastructure.
5. Update on Growth Board Accelerated Housing Delivery Programme
5.1
The team is now working directly with the virtual MHCLG/Homes England team that are reviewing the Hertfordshire data as part of the Growth Deal discussions.
6. Next Steps
6.1
Priorities for the coming month are to move forward on the MHCLG engagement and the corridor projects feeding into the prospectus work. Over the summer it is expected that there will be feedback from MHCLG and a process of check and challenge back to Hertfordshire on the details that are included within our deal proposals.
6.2
Communicating this progress and next steps beyond the Growth Board will also be important. Briefing key stakeholders, and keeping other members and staff involved on the wider work in touch with what is happening will be needed. The communications workstream will be identifying actions to address that need. A set of common briefing slides and notes will also be made available as soon as possible after the August Growth Board meeting.
7. Recommendation
7.1
That Leaders note the overall progress across the Growth Board programme and individual workstreams since the last meeting.
Agenda item 5 - Growth Board Programmes Update
Report Author: Patsy Dell, Hertfordshire Growth Board (Tel: 07949 887794)
1. Purpose of report
1.1
This report is to consider the Growth Board governance arrangements and moving to a Statutory Joint Committee.
2. Background
2.1
The Hertfordshire Growth Board is currently operating to provide strategic co-ordination around growth and place leadership for the eleven councils and Local Enterprise Partnership in Hertfordshire. The Growth Board Governance is through an agreed Terms of Reference (TOR), latest version from March 2020, and a collaboration Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (October 2019).
2.2
Hertfordshire Growth Board is in negotiation with HM Government to secure a Growth Deal which will require a formal governance model to provide accountability to government and good governance and transparency in the local management and use of any funds received under such an arrangement. In addition, the Growth Board model has served and is likely to continue to need to serve the aligned functions of:
- Strategic direction, monitoring, delivery and co-ordination of current and future Growth Board strategy, programmes and implementation of any Growth Deal
- Governance body that secures strategic collaboration and delivery across the councils and with the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) on place, economic performance and infrastructure matters
- Acts as the place leadership body for Hertfordshire that provides a single voice to Government, also identifies, promotes, lobbies for Hertfordshire’s interests and for funding
- Oversight, accountability for and prioritisation of the Growth Board Growth fund
2.3
At a workshop in late June 2020, Leaders agreed that a statutory Joint Committee was their preferred governance model for the Growth Board in the event that Hertfordshire was successful in negotiating a Growth Deal with HM Government.
2.4
In the Growth and Recovery prospectus (at item 6 on this agenda) partners have proposed evolving the Growth Board into a joint (s.101 type) committee to formalise its status as a statutory joint committee. This would be the formal governance body for any deal between the Hertfordshire councils, the LEP and government. The timing of this change in status has not been confirmed but was expected to be in place not later than relevant contractual milestones in any agreed Growth Deal.
2.5
Giving the Growth Board formal joint committee status under s.101 would require it to be appointed and empowered under the following legislative provisions: –
- S.101(5) and S.102(1)(b) Local Government Act 1972
- S.9EB Local Government Act 2000
- Part 4 Local Authorities (Arrangements for Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations (2012)
3. The Growth Board and its current programmes
3.1
The Hertfordshire Growth Board Partners have invested significant capital in the work that has been undertaken on the Growth Board programmes so far, through the dedication of political, officer and financial resources. The Growth Board is a unique construct for Hertfordshire and the progress that it has made is important. The programmes that have been developed and the outcomes that are being sought in place and economic terms are overwhelmingly the right ones for Hertfordshire, now and in the future.
3.2
Through the Growth Board work we have signalled to HM Government that there is unity and joint commitment to the Growth Board programmes across Hertfordshire and to pursuit of a Growth Deal. That messaging will need to be reinforced over coming weeks. It will also be important to focus on the timeline for this opportunity to try to secure a first Growth Deal for Hertfordshire, keeping that focus separate from other questions about the future delivery of public services in Hertfordshire.
4. Establishing a statutory joint committee as the Governance for the Growth Board
4.1
Notwithstanding the above comments. Given recent announcements by Ministers about future structures in two tier local government, the merits of establishing the Growth Board as a statutory joint committee sooner need to be considered.
4.2
Other areas have moved to this governance model before or after receiving some form of City or Growth Deal funding, Oxfordshire and Greater Norwich are two examples:
https://www.greaternorwichgrowth.org.uk/
https://www.oxfordshiregrowthboard.org/
4.3
There are advantages for Growth Board partners in signalling the strong local commitment to the Growth Board work, its delivery programmes and co-ordinating role now and in the future (going above the commitments set out in the existing MOU) including:
- Early establishment of the formal governance structure for the Growth Deal and current Growth Board programmes will make it easier for that work to be kept separate from and continue to make progress whilst discussions about the implications of the forthcoming white paper take place
- Helps maintain government and investor confidence in the visible alignment of business, political and civic support to delivery commitments in Hertfordshire
- Would aid openness and transparency in decision making for Leaders and councils whilst the Growth Deal negotiations move forward over the next 6 months
- Provides a governance vehicle that would not compromise, advantage or disadvantage any future devolution position or option but would allow Hertfordshire to pursue a Growth Deal within the current window of opportunity
4.4
Setting up the Growth Board as a statutory joint committee will in most cases require formal Executive (or Mayoral Executive or Committee) and Council approval in councils and Board approval for the LEP (as a co-opted member of the joint committee). There would be Legal and administrative time needed to support making this change.
4.5
If Leaders were comfortable with moving to a statutory joint committee at this stage then the Hertfordshire Monitoring Officers (MO) Group (which represents all the local authority partners) could be asked to develop the Terms of Reference for the joint committee including preparation of a common committee report for all councils to use in taking this through their democratic processes.
4.6
Principals of good governance require that there should be some form of scrutiny of the decision-making process within the Joint Committee and this can be provided for either via each of the partner councils’ individual Overview & Scrutiny process or jointly via an aligned scrutiny process. The timing for scrutiny functions being established could however be aligned to the start of implementation of any Growth Deal. The MO Group could also be asked to advise on these arrangements at the same time as the joint committee work.
4.7
The following sets out the key legal provisions relating to the establishment of a joint committee for the Growth Board. Appendix A includes more detail.
5. The Establishment of a Joint Committee
5.1
The eleven Hertfordshire Local Authorities (LA’s) are empowered to establish a joint committee to which they may delegate functions and powers of their LA’s to exercise on behalf of those founding authorities. The Joint Committee would primarily have responsibility for overseeing delivery of the Growth Board programmes and any Growth Deal with HM Government. The founding LA’s have discretion as to the number of members, their term of office and subject to legislative requirements, the standing orders that govern the joint committee’s operation, but the model proposed is that each LA is represented by the Leader or Chairperson in the case of Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Voting would be one per LA/LEP as now.
6. Procedural Requirements for a Decision to Establish the Joint Committee
6.1
In a Leader Cabinet model LA, the decision to approve the establishment of a Joint Committee (JC) must have the approval of both Full Council and the Executive of the authority. In councils with alternative governance models, such as Mayoral Cabinet or Committee models, there will be some technical differences in the requirements placed on the LA’s in relation to the appointment of their members, none of which are insurmountable.
6.2
On the assumption that the JC will undertake both ‘Executive’ and non-Executive functions the following rule applies: –
- Where the LA only appoints one member to the JC that appointee may, but need not be, a member of the Executive of the authority. Or
- Where the LA appoints more than 9one of its members to the JC, at least one of them must be a member of the Executive of the appointing LA.
7. Recommendations
7.1
That Leaders/LEP Chair support:
- Moving the Growth Board to a statutory joint committee this autumn
- The Hertfordshire Monitoring Officers Group being asked to prepare Terms of Reference, common committee reports and advise on the steps needed to implement the joint committee and future scrutiny arrangements.
- All councils and the LEP taking the necessary decisions through their individual processes to be able to implement this change within the desired timescale.