Issue - meetings

At its meeting on 8 July 2020 the Executive Committee considered an extension to the operating period of the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee and RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

1.       That the notice period of 12 months, contained in the Inter Authority Agreement of the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee in respect of the extension of that agreement, be waived and removed.

2.       That it works in partnership with all Gloucestershire local authorities to enable the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee to continue to operate for a further 18 months from 30 September 2020 until 31 March 2022, with Tewkesbury Borough Council as a member, under the terms of the existing Inter Authority Agreement.

3.       That authority is delegated to the Borough Solicitor to conclude the necessary legal agreements associated with recommendations 1 and 2 above.

16.16              At its meeting on 8 July 2020, the Executive Committee had considered an extension to the operating period of the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee and recommended to Council that the notice period of 12 months, contained in the Inter Authority Agreement of the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee in respect of the extension of that agreement, be waived and removed; that the Council works in partnership with all Gloucestershire local authorities to enable the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee to continue to operate for a further 18 months from 30 September 2020 until 31 March 2022, with Tewkesbury Borough Council as a member, under the terms of the existing Inter Authority Agreement; and that authority be delegated to the Borough Solicitor to conclude the necessary legal agreements associated with the previous two resolutions.

16.17        The report which was considered by the Executive Committee had been circulated with the Agenda for the current meeting at Pages No. 94-100.

16.18        The Chair of the Executive Committee proposed the recommendation and noted that the time limit of this important partnership was nearing an end and an extension was required to enable it to continue its good work. The recommendation was seconded by the Vice-Chair.

16.19        A Member questioned what the key successes of the Committee were. In response, the Chief Executive advised that the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee was the only joint decision-making body in the County for economic growth. It managed the Gloucestershire business rates pool; had set up a strategic economic development fund - which had peaked at £4.5 million in terms of its ability to support growth in the county - and had funded a range of projects and continued to do so; and had taken a principle role in co-ordinating the economic response to COVID-19 across the county. In essence, this was a very important Committee which held a lot of funding for projects in the county. The 18 month extension would also be used as time to look at the governance arrangements generally and understand the best approach going forward.

16.20        Accordingly, it was

                 RESOLVED           1.   That the notice period of 12 months, contained in the Inter                                   Authority Agreement of the Gloucestershire Economic                                            Growth Joint Committee in respect of the extension of that                                        agreement, be waived and removed.

2.     That the Council works in partnership with all Gloucestershire local authorities to enable the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee to continue to operate for a further 18 months from 30 September 2020 until 31 March 2022, with Tewkesbury Borough Council as a member, under the terms of the existing Inter Authority Agreement.

3.     That authority be delegated to the Borough Solicitor to conclude the necessary legal agreements associated with resolutions 1 and 2 above.

To consider a request from the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee to extend the operation of the Joint Committee for a period of eighteen months from 4 September 2020 together with agreement to waive the 12 months’ notice period set out in the Inter Authority Agreement between the partner authorities, to enable the Joint Committee to continue.

That it be RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

1.           That the notice period of 12 months, contained in the Inter Authority Agreement of the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee in respect of the extension of that agreement, be waived and removed.

2.           That it works in partnership with all Gloucestershire local authorities to enable the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee to continue to operate for a further 18 months from 30 September 2020 until 31 March 2022, with Tewkesbury Borough Council as a member, under the terms of the existing Inter Authority Agreement.

3.           That authority is delegated to the Borough Solicitor to conclude the necessary legal agreements associated with recommendations 1 and 2 above.

17.1          The report of the Chief Executive, circulated at Pages No. 94-100, asked Members to consider a request from the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee to extend the operation of the Joint Committee for a period of 18 months from 4 September 2020 together with agreement to waive the 12 months’ notice period set out in the Inter Authority Agreement between the partner authorities to enable the Joint Committee to continue. Members were asked to consider the report and make a recommendation to Council.

17.2          In introducing the report, the Deputy Chief Executive advised that this was a procedural issue. It was in the Council’s interest to agree the extension of the Joint Committee as it meant that all Gloucestershire authorities could work together through an effective governance mechanism in respect of the county’s economy, including economic recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In that regard, the Committee’s operation of the countywide strategic economic development fund, which currently stood at £4.5million, would be vital.

17.3          Accordingly, it was