Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Assistant Director, Policy and Strategic Commissioning.

           The LCR Combined Authority considered the report of the Assistant Director, Policy and Strategic Commissioning, which provided an update on the development of the Local Industrial Strategy and its strategic framework.

           Dr Aileen Jones, Assistant Director, Policy and Strategic Commissioning, provided Members with a presentation which covered the following key issues:-

·         An update on the engagement and consultation work to inform the development of the Local Industrial Strategy;

·         Set out the key messages which had been received from the public consultation and engagement with the business community;

·         Explained how the Strategic Framework would inform and provide a foundation for the structure of the Local Industrial Strategy and policy interventions; and

·         Summarised the next steps, with the aim of having a draft Local Industrial Strategy completed by the end of December 2019.

Councillor R Polhill, Portfolio Holder: Low Carbon and Energy Renewables welcomed the development of the Local Industrial Strategy but sought clarity on how climate change would be reflected within it.

Dr A Jones advised Members that the issue of climate change was a significant factor within the Local Industrial Strategy. She explained that the City Region had a distinct opportunity to utilise the River Mersey to generate clean energy.  

Councillor P Hackett, Portfolio Holder: Inclusive Economy and Third Sector, enquired about how this strategy would be different to previous economic strategies?

Dr A Jones reported that the Local Industrial Strategy would reflect the distinctiveness of the City Region and it would also need to be attuned to the National Industrial Strategy. This would be an ambitious Strategy and the extensive consultation undertaken to inform the Strategy would also make it different to previous economic strategies.

           RESOLVED – That:-

(i)             the ongoing progress made in the development of the Local Industrial Strategy be supported;

(ii)            the emerging strategic framework for the strategy that is set out in the Appendix to this report be noted; and

(iii)           the final Local Industrial Strategy be submitted to Government at the end of March 2020.