Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive, which sought approval for the establishment of a Sub-Regional Joint Committee for Coventry and Warwickshire.

Coventry City Council worked closely with a number of other local authorities and other organisations to promote the economic growth and prosperity of Coventry.  Local economic geography along with Government policy on economic growth, including the establishment of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), had led to increased partnership working between the seven local authorities in Coventry and Warwickshire along with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

The delivery of a Coventry and Warwickshire City Deal and the future allocation of Government local growth funding both require the establishment of formal local government arrangements at a sub-regional level.  After consideration of the governance options that were available to the sub-region, it was proposed that a sub-regional Joint Committee be set up to address economic development, regeneration and strategic planning at a sub-regional level, with the view towards moving to a sub-regional Economic Prosperity Board when this is possible. 

Appendix 1 of the report set out the recommended draft terms of reference for the Coventry and Warwickshire Joint Committee and it was proposed that authority be delegated to the Leader of the Council to agree any final outstanding details with the other members of the Joint Committee.

It was expected that Local Authorities be represented on the Joint Committee by the Leader of the Council.  The draft terms of reference required each council to appoint a named substitute elected member.  It was recommended that Coventry should nominate the Cabinet Member (Business, Enterprise and Employment) to be the Council’s named substitute. 

RESOLVED that the Cabinet recommend that Council:

1.  Approve the establishment of Coventry and Warwickshire Joint Committee to address economic development, regeneration and strategic planning at a sub-regional level.

2.  Approve the draft terms of reference set out in appendix 1 in principle, and delegate authority to the Leader of the Council to agree final details with the other local authorities on the Joint Committee.

3.  Agree that there is potential to widen the remit of the Joint Committee over time with the agreement of the constituent local authorities.

4.  Approve that the Leader should represent Coventry City Council on the Coventry and Warwickshire Joint Committee with the Cabinet. Member (Business, Enterprise and Employment) as named substitute member.

5.  Endorse the approach of moving towards a sub-regional Economic Prosperity Board when this is possible.