Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillors Isobel Darby, Carl Etholen, Sue Chapple and Qaser Chaudhry.

Cllr Nathan Thomas was present as substitute for Cllr Isobel Darby.

Cllr Simon Rouse declared an interest in item 5, as an adviser to a UK-wide apprenticeship and adult skills provider.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 16^th February 2022 were agreed as an accurate record.

Public Questions is an opportunity for people who live, work or study in Buckinghamshire to put a question to a Select Committee. The Committee will hear from members of the public who have submitted questions in advance relating to items on the agenda. The Cabinet Member, relevant key partners and responsible officers will be invited to respond.

Further information on how to register can be found here: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/your-council/get-involved-with-council-decisions/select-committees/

There were no public questions.

The Committee will review the Buckinghamshire ‘place-based’ governance arrangements. The new Buckinghamshire Place Based Growth Model approach was approved at Cabinet on 14^th February 2023.

Contributors:

Cllr Martin Tett, Leader

Lisa Michelson, Service Director, Economic Growth and Regeneration

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Martin Tett, Leader, Ian Thompson, Corporate Director, Planning, Growth and Sustainability, and Lisa Michelson, Service Director, Economic Growth and Regeneration to the meeting.

The following points were highlighted from the report:

•             Buckinghamshire Council inherited strong economic credentials from its predecessor Councils, from projects including The Exchange by Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Eden Centre by Wycombe District Council.

•             Skills were highlighted as important to the economic development of the county.

•             In future, the Council would be financially more dependent on local council tax and business rates rather than central government funding. A strong and prosperous local economy was therefore important for future Council funding.

•             Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP’s) were introduced by the coalition government - Capital funding was channelled through them into local areas. Buckinghamshire was fortunate to have a good relationship with its LEP, partly due to the coterminous boundaries of the LEP with the Council. This allowed the Council to align very well with the LEP, along with Bucks Business First (BBF).

•             The New Buckinghamshire Place Based Growth Board would aim to bring together the strength of the voluntary sector, private business and other key stakeholders under the local Council.

•             The Structure was laid out in the appendix. Beneath the top level board, there were 4 key strands. Place, Housing & Regeneration Board, Opportunity Bucks Board, Skills Board, and the Enterprise & Investment Board.

During discussion, comments and questions raised by the Committee included:

•             The new structure could enable Buckinghamshire to achieve an improved devolution deal. The deal would compare to Tier 3 Combined Authorities, which require an elected mayor, and combine the LEP with the Local Authority to receive extra funding from the government. Buckinghamshire Council, by agreeing the new Place Based Growth Model would effectively achieve a Tier ‘2.5’ deal. Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, had been lobbied for approval of this new arrangement. It was noted Buckinghamshire Council would not receive extra government funding from this.

•             Success for the new arrangement would be assessed by key metrics to be confirmed by each work stream. Progress made in Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Chesham would be assessed separately. Skills were highlighted as particularly important, and skill shows were being run around the county. Some of these were to be targeted at adults, not just school leavers.

•             The Investment Fund Board would not have a large pot of money and would primarily focus on the Council’s strategic aims. Transport projects would be examined carefully, but the board would not be replacing the function of Cabinet regarding very large sums of money.

•             The Staffing arrangements of the new Place Based Growth Model would be examined to ensure the best outcome for the Council and LEP staff. There were various options, such as TUPE. These would be compared to ascertain the most appropriate way to staff the new model.

•             It was reported Opportunity Bucks had conversations with Local Members to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Committee will discuss and agree the scoping document for the proposed scrutiny review into the Legacy of ‘everyone in’ and homelessness in Buckinghamshire. Members are encouraged to volunteer to be part of the review group.

Members reviewed The Legacy of 'Everyone in' and Homelessness in Buckinghamshire review scope.

•             Several Members expressed interest in joining the review group and would be contacted by the Scrutiny Officer.

•             The first meeting for the review group would be with the Council’s Housing team to set the scene of Everyone In and Homelessness in Buckinghamshire. From there, the review group would seek to meet with other partners, to be agreed by the review group.

A work programming meeting will be held in early May with Select Committee Members to explore topics for the Select Committee to discuss for 2023-24.

The Work Programme for the next municipal year would be drafted in due course. Members were asked to suggest items they wished to be considered for the future work programme to the Chairman and Scrutiny Officer.

The date is to be confirmed and will be circulated in due course.

The next meeting date was to be confirmed.