Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Kath Mitchell (Associate Further Education and Higher Education Representative).

To receive any declarations of interest.

Item 8. UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025-26.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Non Pecuniary, As a member of the Marketing Derby Board of Directors.

Item 8. UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025-26.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Non Pecuniary, As Vice-Chair of the Destination Chesterfield Board.

Members of the public may ask questions if they have given notice and provided the text of the question to Governance Services (governance@eastmidsdevo.org.uk) no later than 5pm on Monday 3^rd February and include the name and address of the questioner and the name of the Member to whom the questioner would like the question put.

The total time set aside for such questions and answers will be limited to 30 minutes with no extension of time, and questions not dealt with in this time will be dealt with by written responses.

The Mayor reported that a question had been received from a member of the public and the answer provided had been published on the EMCCA website.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the EMCCA Board meeting held on Monday 16^th December 2024.

The draft minutes of the previous meeting of the Board were circulated in advance of the meeting.

The EMCCA Board RESOLVED to unanimously agree:

That the minutes of the meeting of the EMCCA Board held on 16 December 2024 be approved as a correct record.

To receive a Mayoral update on key activity since the previous meeting of the EMCCA Board.

The Mayor noted that at this meeting of the Board, Members would be presented with the Budget and emphasised that this was a key milestone for the authority, presenting EMCCA with an opportunity to demonstrate the impact that having a Combined County Authority and an elected Mayor could make on the region.

The Mayor reported that since the last Board meeting she had attended numerous meetings and events across the EMCCA region and beyond, including;

·       Meeting with Peak Cluster to discuss decarbonisation.

·       Holding a meeting with the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions to discuss alleviating child poverty.

·       Attending the Mayoral Innovation Exchange and Mayoral Council in Sheffield.

·       Attending the Derby Annual Business Event.

·       Visiting Laing O’Rourke in Worksop to discuss modern construction and the opportunity for green skills pathways.

·       Holding a roundtable with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on affordable housing.

·       Attending the launch of the Sherwood Observatory.

·       Holding EMCCAs first Youth Committee.

·       Visiting 10 Downing Street to celebrate the UK’s AI ecosystem.

To consider and approve proposals for the 2025/26 budget.

EMCCA Board:

a)    Approved the final budget for 2025-26 and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2025-30.

b)    Approved the proposed changes to Earmarked Reserves as detailed in the report.

c)     Noted the results of the consultation process

Nick Bell, Interim Director of Finance and S73 Officer, introduced a report which presented the final revenue budget and capital programme for 2025-26, together with the final Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2025-2030, to the Board for approval. The report also asked the Board to note the results of the consultation which was undertaken on the budget and MTFP over a period of 6 weeks during December 2024 and early January 2025.

The main changes included in the budget and MTFP in comparison to the current approved budget were set out in section 3 of the report.

The Committee discussed the report and asked questions of the officers present.

The Board RESOLVED to unanimously agree:

a)    That the final budget for 2025-26 and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2025-30 be approved.

b)    That the proposed changes to Earmarked Reserves as detailed in the report be approved.

c)     That the results of the consultation process be noted.

To consider and approve proposals for the 2025/26 Mayoral budget.

EMCCA Board:

a)    Approved the final Mayoral budget 2025-26 and MTFP 2025-30.

b)    Noted the results of the public consultation process

Nick Bell, Interim Director of Finance and S73 Officer, introduced a report which presented the Mayoral final revenue budget for 2025-26, together with the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2025-2030 to the Board for approval. The Board were also asked to note and discuss the results of the public consultation process.

The Board discussed the report and asked questions of the officers present.

It was noted that the Mayor did not vote on this item.

The Board RESOLVED to unanimously agree:

a)    That the final Mayoral budget 2025-26 and MTFP 2025-30 be approved.

b)    That the results of the public consultation process be noted.

To outline the approach and investment plan decisions and seek to allocate funding.

EMCCA Board:

a)    Agreed the proposals for the delivery of UKSPF funding for the EMCCA area in 2025-26 and to allocate funding accordingly (as set out in section 2 of the report).

b)    Noted the plans for funding after 2025-26 including plans to review the performance and operating model of regional economic development functions reliant on UKSPF funding, including visit, invest and business support activities (as set out in section 3 of the report).

Damien Dacey, Interim Deputy Chief Executive, introduced a report proposing to the Board the delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in the EMCCA region for the coming financial year (2025-26). This funding would for the first time be delegated to EMCCA for the region from 1^st April 2025, having previously been delivered by the partner local authorities from 2022 to 2025.

The proposal had been developed following strong collaboration between EMCCA and constituent councils, with input and engagement taken with the districts and boroughs of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, respectively.

The Board discussed the report and asked questions of the officers present.

The Board RESOLVED to unanimously agree:

a)    That the proposals for the delivery of UKSPF funding for the EMCCA area in 2025-26 be agreed and that funding be allocated accordingly (as set out in section 2 of the report).

b)    That the plans for funding after 2025-26 including plans to review the performance and operating model of regional economic development functions reliant on UKSPF funding including visit, invest and business support activities be noted (as set out in section 3 of the report).

§  To approve EMCCA sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant

§  Having signed the Care Leavers Covenant, endorse development of an agreed action plan to meet the agreed outcomes of giving access to training and employment opportunities to Care Leavers

§  Having achieved Level 1 Disability Committed Employer status, endorse the continued work to progress to achieve Level 3 Disability Confident Leader status

EMCCA Board:

a)    Endorsed the decision to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant, noting the intention to advance to a Gold rating in the Defence Employers Recognition Scheme

b)    Approved the development and delivery of an action plan to meet the agreed outcomes of giving access to training and employment opportunities to Care Leavers, having signed up to the Care Leavers Covenant

c)    Having achieved Level 1 Disability Committed Employer status, endorsed the commitment to continue this work to progress to achieve Level 3 Disability Confident Leader status.

Amanda Mays, Interim Executive Director of Resources, introduced a report which presented a brief update on the work that had taken place to sign Covenants and Commitments at EMCCA and sought endorsement of this approach.

The report also presented information about key future initiatives that had been developed using expertise of the Armed Forces and Care Leavers Leads across the localities and partners. The report also detailed the work which was being undertaken to ensure access to employment for those with a Disability, working alongside the Access to Work Scheme.

The Board discussed the report and asked questions of the officers present.

The Board RESOLVED to unanimously agree:

a)    That the decision to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant be endorsed and the intention to advance to a Gold rating in the Defence Employers Recognition Scheme be noted.

b)    That the development and delivery of an action plan to meet the agreed outcomes of giving access to training and employment opportunities to Care Leavers, having signed up to the Care Leavers Covenant be approved.

c)     That having achieved Level 1 Disability Committed Employer status, the commitment to continue this work to achieve Level 3 Disability Confident Leader status be endorsed.

To consider for the consent to making of regulations that will confer an additional funding power on EMCCA to enable it to fund new, high-quality technical qualifications from August 2025.

EMCCA Board:

a)     Provided consent to making the East Midlands Combined County Authority (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2025 (the Draft Regulations)

b)      Delegated to the Chief Executive the authority to approve any technical amendments to the regulations that result from the Parliamentary process, subject to the agreement of the Chief Executives of each Constituent Council. This delegation is to be exercised in consultation with the Mayor and the Monitoring Officer.

Jodie Townsend, Interim Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer, introduced a report which sought Board consent to make the East Midlands Combined County Authority (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2025 (the Draft Regulations) that would confer an additional funding power to EMCCA to enable it to fund new, high-quality technical qualifications from August 2025.

The report set out details of each element within the draft statutory instrument and provided information relating to the content of the Draft Regulations to ensure the Board’s understanding. Each constituent Council would also be seeking approval of the principals contained within the Draft Regulations.

The Board discussed the report and asked questions of the officers present.

The Board RESOLVED to unanimously agree:

a)    That consent be provided to making the East Midlands Combined County Authority (Adult Education Functions) Regulations 2025 (the Draft Regulations).

b)    That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive to approve any technical amendments to the regulations that result from the parliamentary process, subject to the agreement of the Chief Executives of each Constituent Council. And that this delegation be exercised in consultation with the Mayor and the Monitoring Officer.

To receive recommendations and updates from EMCCA Committees:

-       Proposals for Transport Transition steps from April 2025 (Transport & Digital Connectivity Committee)

-       Funding allocations and draft programmes for 2025/26 (Transport & Digital Connectivity Committee)

-       Officer Code of Conduct amendments (Audit & Governance Committee)

EMCCA Board:

1)     Noted the recommendations of the Transport & Digital Connectivity Committee 28 January 2025

2)     Considered and approved the recommendations from the Audit & Governance Committee to approve revisions to the constitution as follows:

i.       updated Contract Procedure Rules and associated social value framework

ii.      amend the social value framework to make it implicit that EMCCA has an aspiration to tackle social inequality

revised Financial Regulations

3)        Considered and approved the recommendations from the Audit & Governance Committee to approve:

i)          the Accounting Policies underpinning the production of the 2024/25 Statement of Accounts

ii)         the reporting period of the accounts be extended to cover the period from 28th February 2024 to 31st March 2025

Jodie Townsend, Interim Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer, introduced a report which presented to the Board recommendations made by its Committees for consideration, in line with the governance framework as set out in the constitution.

It was noted that there had been an omission to the recommendations set out on the first page of the report and Members were informed that there would be an additional recommendation for consideration as detailed in section 2.9 of the report.

The Board discussed the report and asked questions of the officers present.

The Board RESOLVED to unanimously agree:

a)    That the recommendations of the Transport and Digital Connectivity Committee held on 28^th January 2025 be noted.

b)    That the recommendations from the Audit and Governance Committee to approve revisions to the constitution as follows be considered and approved:

i)               Updated Contract Procedure Rules and associated social value framework.

ii)              Amended social value framework to make it implicit that EMCCA has an aspiration to tackle social inequality.

iii)             Revised Financial Regulations.

c)     That the recommendations from the Audit and Governance Committee to approve the following be considered and approved:

i)               The Accounting Policies underpinning the production of the 2024/25 Statement of Accounts.

ii)              The reporting period of the accounts be extended to cover the period from 28^th February 2024 to 31^st March 2025.

This report provides a further mechanism to inform Board and the public of delegated decisions that have been taken in-between Board meetings.

EMCCA Board:

a)    Noted decisions taken via Officer Decision Notice as set out in paragraph 2.7 of the report.

Jodie Townsend, Interim Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer, introduced a report which informed the Board of all delegated decisions that had been taken since the last Board meeting.

The Board discussed the report and asked questions of the officers present.

The Board RESOLVED to unanimously agree:

a)    That decisions taken via Officer Decision Notice as set out in paragraph 2.7 of the report be noted.

To note the Combined County Authority Forward Plan for February 2025.

The Forward Plan for February will be published on the 3 February 2025 and will be accessible here.

The EMCCA Forward Plan had been published, a link to which was included within the agenda. This item was for noting purposes only.