Agenda item

Report of Martin Yardley, Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Board considered a joint report and received a presentation from Paula Deas, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which informed how partners were working together with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and the LEP to create good growth and reduce health inequalities in Coventry.

The report highlighted that ensuring that people were able to get into work would reduce health inequalities, but they must be good quality sustainable jobs which provided a reasonable wage, opportunities for development and safe working conditions. The unemployment rate in the city was currently 6% compared to the national rate of 5.1%.

The Marmot Steering Group provided an effective mechanism for the LEP and Chamber of Commerce to work with other key statutory and voluntary organisations to address health inequality issues linked with growing economic prosperity in the city and to recognise and build upon the links between a healthy population, good work and economic growth. The vital role of employers was emphasised. Reference was made to the Strategic Economic Plan produced by the LEP and the Marmot Strategy which were aligned in some of their overall goals. The LEP worked across Coventry and Warwickshire in alignment with the Health and Wellbeing concordat. The report indicated that the focus of the LEP upon economic growth and development, if successful, would result in an increase of over 50,000 new jobs by 2031, improving the skills of the workforce and increasing the productivity of the area, so reducing health inequalities.

The report provided an update on Marmot to date. Since Coventry became a Marmot City in 2013 there had been progress in outcomes across health and across society including improvements in school readiness at 5, health outcomes, life satisfaction, employment and reductions in crime in priority locations. Key areas of focus for the next three years were detailed. Reference was made to the effective partnership working between members of the Marmot Steering Committee. All partners had signed up to the three year Marmot Action Plan and the priorities were outlined.

The Chamber of Commerce was a committed member of the Marmot Steering Group who worked with employers to educate them about the benefits of recruiting locally and also increase the number of apprenticeships. The Chamber was also keen to explore ways to encourage employees to maximise their use of funds to support the employment of people with physical disabilities and mental health issues. The Board were informed that the LEP was not a member of the Marmot Steering Group. Inclusion of a representative from the LEP would be beneficial to all Marmot partners and would enable practical discussions around ways of working that would bring together the aims and objectives of the Strategic Economic Plan with those of Marmot and other statutory and voluntary organisations.

The presentation set out the background to the development of the LEP; provided information on its governance arrangements; informed of the LEP’s achievements to date which included over £300m of government investment in local priorities and 2,928 jobs created; and drew attention to the assets of the area. Further information was provided on the benefits to the Coventry and Warwickshire area. The presentation concluded with the issues for the next five years including the Local Growth Fund; more devolution of powers and finance; the mayoral influence; and the changing political landscape.

Members expressed support for the work of the LEP and the opportunities for partnership working. Further information was requested about the funding opportunities available for local businesses and whether funding had been made available to support the health economy. A request was made for assistance for an individual company and the officer undertook to investigate.

RESOLVED that:

(1) Approval be given for the LEP to become a member of the Marmot Steering Group and contribute to the Marmot Action Plan.

(2) Approval be given that the Chamber of Commerce continue to attend the Marmot Steering Group and contribute to the Marmot Action Plan.

(3) The Health and Wellbeing Board contribute to the LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan.