Agenda and minutes

Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) - Wednesday, 12th March, 2025 2.00 pm

Venue: Diamond Rooms 1 and 2 - Council House. View directions

Contact: Michelle Salmon, Governance Services,  Email:  michelle.salmon@coventry.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

24.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

25.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 337 KB

(a)  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 19th February 2025

 

(b)  Matters arising

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 19th February 2025 were agreed and signed as a true record.

26.

Rail Update pdf icon PDF 214 KB

Briefing Note of the Director of City Services and Commercial

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a briefing note and presentation which provided an update on Network Rail’s 5-Year Plan; the Coventry – Leicester – Nottingham direct rail link project and the Heart of England Community Rail Partnership’s work on engaging young people and families with the rail network.

 

Mr S Ireland (Network Rail) and Mr A Clarke (Midlands Connect) attended the meeting in support of this item.

 

With regards to the Network Rail 5-Year Plan, Mr Ireland explained that the Plan covered the 2024 to 2029 control period.  The figures within the Plan may be subject to change and there will be further updates in due course as the Plan is currently going through the Department for Transport (DfT).

 

The presentation provided information in respect of the Central Route – Heart of Britain’s Railway; Lead Train Operators; Non-Lead Train Operators and Freight; Asset Base; Overarching Principles; Access Utilisation; and Start of Control Period 7 by Numbers.

 

It was noted that the central route covers a major part of the national rail network.  Network Rail are the infrastructure manager for the main link between the West Midlands and London, a key commuter line in and out of Birmingham; and a vital freight route.  The central route is also home to Birmingham New Street, the busiest station outside of London and the hub of the national rail network.  With more than 160,000 passengers using the station every day, Birmingham New Street helps connect the Southwest with Scotland and the Northwest with East Anglia.  Some key statistics were highlighted as follows:

 

·  More than 2,400 trains a day carry passengers across routes

·  188,000 tonnes a week of nationally-important freight

·  160,000 passengers per day through Birmingham New Street

·  152 Stations

·  1,103 miles of track

·  1,216 sets of points

·  505 wire runs (OLE)

·  1,668 colour signals

·  136 semaphore signals

 

Mr Clark presented information in respect of the work undertaken by Midlands Connect, particularly in respect of the Coventry – Leicester – Nottingham direct rail link and the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) to Government.  The presentation indicated that the SOBC had been resubmitted to Government and set out the costs and benefits of improving the rail service, including a new direct service to the East Midlands.  Midlands Connect were seeking money for the next stage, an Outline Business Case, and ultimately the construction by the early 2030s.  The Presentation also highlighted the following:

 

·  The Rationale – Economic Growth, Access to Opportunity and Railfreight.

·  The current indirect route from Coventry to Leicester.

·  What is needed – the preferred option of 1 train per hour local and 2 trains per hour regional.

·  The infrastructure required – Coventry Bay Platform Capacity (twin bay for preferred option), Higher Speeds from Coventry to Nuneaton (from 45mph to 60mph), Nuneaton ‘Diveunder’, and Leicester 4-Tracking (South Wigston to Leicester).

·  Key Headlines:

o  Journey Times – now 56 minutes – future 30 minutes

o  People using Rail – now 3% - future greater than 25%

o  Value  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

27.

Green Power Park and West Midlands Investment Zone pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Briefing Note of the Director of Regeneration and Economy

Minutes:

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a briefing note which provided an update on the Greenpower Park and West Midlands Investment Zone.

 

The Board noted that the Council owns the freehold of Coventry Airport, a 125Ha site within Warwick District.  In 2021, the Council formed a joint venture with Coventry Airport Limited, which has a long leasehold over the site, in order to promote the site as the location for a battery gigafactory.

 

The note indicated that the costs of preparing the planning applications have been funded on a 50:50 basis, with each party committing £2m. In addition, the Council has provided a further £0.25m for preparation of the economic case for battery manufacturing on the site and for marketing the site to international investors bringing the Council’s total commitment to £2.25m

 

In January 2022, Warwick District Council gave outline planning approval for a total of 530,000m2 of development on the site for battery manufacturing and associated uses such as battery recycling, research and development (R&D), supply chain and HQ functions.  Economic modelling suggested that if the site was fully developed, up to 6,000 jobs could be supported in the local economy.

 

Realising full delivery of the Investment Zone site was vital to achieving the objectives of both the One Coventry Plan (particularly “Enhancing the Economic Prosperity of the City and Region) and the Coventry Economic development Strategy 2022-2027.  The site has huge potential to secure inward investment into the city and also position Coventry as a leader in the green industrial revolution, given the site’s target focus of electric vehicle and battery production, recycling and R&D and associated Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain activities.  Through the delivery of supply chain support programmes, and skills support programmes, there would be major opportunities to facilitate the successful growth and diversification of local businesses operating with Advanced Manufacturing supply chains, and to tackle inequalities by supporting local residents to upskill and secure new job opportunities. 

 

The site has attracted interest from a variety of potential investor occupiers. This ranges from a large-scale battery manufacturer with significant output requirements through to smaller cell manufacturers looking to develop technology and scale up production over time. In addition, there is also interest from the wider supply chain with battery component suppliers, battery R&D and testing companies, battery recyclers and some vehicle manufacturers all engaged. 

 

In the UK government budget in March 2023, it was announced that eight areas including the West Midlands would be invited to develop proposals for Investment Zones. The aim of Investment Zones was to use tax reliefs, planning mechanisms and innovation, skills and business support to create private sector growth and quality jobs. Each Investment Zone must have a sector focus, and the West Midlands has selected Advanced Manufacturing, which is an excellent fit with Coventry’s economic ambitions, and specifically our plans for battery manufacturing at Greenpower Park.  The West Midlands Investment Zone (WMIZ) would focus on Coventry-Warwick Gigapark, Birmingham Knowledge Quarter and Wolverhampton Green  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

Work Programme 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 291 KB

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

Minutes:

The Business, Economy, and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator that detailed issues on the Board’s Work Programme for meetings of the Board for 2024/25.

 

As this was the last meeting of the year, the Board noted the items they had considered over the course of the year and requested that two additional items be added to the list of matters to be considered during 2025/26.  These were Destination Coventry and UK BIC.  In respect of UK BIC, it was agreed that a tour of the factory be undertaken.

 

RESOLVED that the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3):

 

1.  Note the matters considered during the 2024/25 municipal year.

 

2.  Request that Destination Coventry and UK BIC be added to the list of matters to be considered during 2025/26 municipal year.

29.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved

Minutes:

There were no other items of public business.