Agenda item

To receive a report from the Chief Executive’s Department updating Members on some of the latest developments relevant to both the Leeds City Region and to the issue nationally and including possible recommendations for Members’ consideration.

The Chief Executive’s Department submitted a report outlining some of the latest developments to the Leeds City Region and to the issue nationally.  Attached to the report was a letter from the Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to the joint Leaders of Leeds City Council outlining a number of questions that her Department would like to see explored by September 2006.

Nicole Brock, Head of Regional Policy, Chief Executive’s Department, presented the report and updated Members on the latest developments.  She was accompanied by Rob Norreys, Project Manager in the Regional Policy Team also from the Chief Executive’s Department.

Members were advised that a written response to the Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP’s letter would be sent on 18^th September and Members would be circulated with a copy.  The City Region Development Programme had also been agreed in principal and a report would be going to the Executive Board on 20^th September prior to its launch in November 2006.  Members were also informed that the concept of a Leeds City Region had the support of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government but not yet of others who were more in favour of stronger Regional Development Agencies co-existing.

Members expressed their support for the Leeds City Region concept and there followed general discussion on this topic, in particular on issues concerning governance and accountability.  Members were advised that Leeds City Region leaders were not in favour of an elected mayor.  Exploring delivery structures and more formal governance arrangements were now high on the agenda, although the name of ‘Leeds City Region’ had already been accepted.  It was explained that other city regions were further ahead in terms of robust governance arrangements but theirs were built on existing structures, whereas it did not make sense to build the Leeds City Region on the West Yorkshire administrative region.

The Chair thanked Officers for their hard work on this fascinating project and also for their time attending and presenting reports to the Board.

(NB: Councillor Davey left the meeting at 12.15pm during the course of the above discussions.)

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Board supports the city region approach as the functionally coherent unit for developing interventions aimed at achieving enhanced economic growth, particularly relating to interventions around transport connectivity; economic development (including innovation); skills and housing/building sustainable communities (ie places where people choose to live) where city region working can bring real added value.

(b)  That the Board endorses Leeds City Council’s contribution to the broader city region partnership and to its efforts to enhance overall economic performance.

(c)  That the Board endorses the view that other regional and national public bodies, government agencies and departments with a remit to promote economic growth, improve transport connectivity, improve skills levels etc, should seek to align their strategy and delivery plans to the city region.

(d)  That the Board recognises that developing a city region strategy and policy in all areas will proceed at different rates dependent on the level of existing understanding, so for example transport thinking at a city region level is well advanced and moving forward, whereas a distinct city region skills offer is less well developed.

(e)  That the response sent to the letter received from the Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP be shared with the Board.

(f)  That an update report be presented to the Board in a year’s time or when there were significant developments particularly with regard to governance arrangements.

(g)  That further information be provided to Members on other city regions particularly regarding their governance arrangements.