Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Board Room, Council Offices, Coalville

Contact: Democratic Services  01530 454512

Items
No. Item

93.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

 

 

94.

Declaration of Interests

Under the Code of Conduct members are reminded that in declaring disclosable interests you should make clear the nature of that interest and whether it is pecuniary or non-pecuniary.

Minutes:

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Members declared the following interests:

 

Councillor N J Rushton declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 3 – Midlands Engine Development Corporation as a member of the Oversight Board of the Development Corporation.

 

Councillor R Ashman declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 3 – Midlands Engine Development Corporation as a member of the Oversight Board of the Development Corporation.

 

 

95.

Midlands Engine Development Corporation pdf icon PDF 492 KB

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder, Councillor R Ashman presented the report to Members.

 

He explained the purpose of this report was to update Members on the Development Corporation programme and seek endorsement for the next steps, including the statement of intent.

 

Councillor Ashman explained that as East Midlands Airport in North West Leicestershire was one of the three proposed sites, the establishment of the Development Corporation would have an impact on the Council. Therefore, it was important that Councillors support the ongoing involvement of the Council in the development of the business case as the work progresses.

 

Councillor Ashman explained that if established and supported with the required resources and expertise, the Development Corporation would attract nationally and internationally significant investment and development into the East Midlands. This would support the developments at East Midlands Airport with improvements to connectivity on a scale and at a pace that could not be achieved by the Council or the airport acting alone.

 

Councillor Ashman explained that the report provided background on the Development Corporation proposition, details of the three sites to be included at Toton, Radcliffe Power Station and East Midlands Airport and the programme’s governance

 

Councillor Ashman identified the potential risk that the Development Corporation could progress through east Midlands Engine without North West Leicestershire’s involvement, meaning the Council would not have a seat at the table to shape the vision for the Development Corporation and its impact on North West Leicestershire and the region. Therefore, it was important the Council continued to be involved in order to play a key role in shaping the Development Corporation to ensure the delivery of maximum benefit for North West Leicestershire and the region.

 

Councillor Ashman also acknowledged several uncertainties around exact implications such as on planning powers and business rates. He drew attention to the statement of intent included as appendix 1 and explained its intention to mitigate these concerns in lieu of the level of detail available at present. He added that as further details emerge, further reports and updates would be provided to members as required.

 

Councillor Ashman also explained that financial implications in relation to business rates arising as a result of the Development Corporation would be assessed, he added it was not intended that existing rates received by the Council would be redirected to the Corporation.

 

Councillor Ashman then outlined the proposed next steps going forward.

 

He explained that the Development Corporation Project Team would submit the outline business case to the Government in Spring 2020. He added that due to the required legislation changes to enable the establishment of the type of locally led development corporation being proposed, it was unlikely it would be in place until 2022 at the earliest.

 

Councillor Ashman explained that the Chief Executive and Officers from the Council continued to be engaged in weekly conference calls as well as focussed workshops to help shape the final stages of the outline business case. Additionally, he would attend the Oversight Board to ensure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.