Issue - meetings

Exempt Report No:          CAB/SE/16/054

Portfolio Holder: Alaric Pugh          

Lead Officers: Steven Wood and Andrea Mayley

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with Report No: CAB/SE/16/006:

(1)     the Memoranda of Understanding between the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Local Enterprise Partnerships,  and St Edmundsbury Borough Council (x2); and the local agreements between St Edmundsbury Borough Council, the Local Enterprise partnerships, and relevant partners (x2) as set out in Appendices  A to E and G to Exempt Report No: CAB/SE/16/054, be agreed; and

(2)     delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning and Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth, to agree, subject to any financial requirements which will require the approval of Cabinet, the final, and any future Site Development/Infrastructure Plans at Annex 1 of Appendix B and Appendix F to Exempt Report No: CAB/SE/16/054.

The Cabinet considered Exempt Report No: CAB/SE/16/054 which sought approval for the terms of agreement to enable the two Enterprise Zones in St Edmundsbury to progress.

Whilst the Council had accepted the allocation of the Enterprise Zones (EZ) at eight hectares of land at Haverhill Research Park and 14 hectares of land at Suffolk Business Park (Cabinet Report No: CAB/SE/16/006 refers) the precise terms of how they would operate was still to be agreed.

EZ status was granted for an initial 25 year period and councils must work with Local Enterprise Partenerships (LEPs) to deliver EZs.  The report set out the benefits of EZ status, including up to 100% business rate discount worth up to £275,000 per business for a total of five years; and the streamlining of the planning process for EZs.

All business rates growth generated by the EZ over the 25 year period was returned to the Local Billing Authority (in this case, St Edmundsbury Borough Council); however there was an expectation that the LEP would be involved in determining how the business rates would be shared between local partners (such as the borough/district and county councils) and upon what they would be spent.

Councillor Alaric Pugh, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet.  He explained the arrangements that needed to be agreed, as set out in the exempt report, which included:

(a)     Memoranda of Understanding between the Department for Local Government (DCLG), each LEP involved in the two EZs (Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough (GCGP) for Haverhill Research Park and New Anglia LEP (NALEP) for Suffolk Business Park), and the Council, as contained in Appendices B and D;

(b)     business rates sharing proposals of both GCGP and NALEP, as contained in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 of the exempt report;

(c)     site development/infrastructure plans, working drafts of which were contained in Appendices B (Annex 1) and F, finalisation of which, and future plans, were proposed to be completed under delegated authority (subject to financial requirements which would require approval by Cabinet); and

(d)     governance and decision making processes proposed by GCGP and NALEP, as contained in Appendices B (Annexes 2a, 2b and 3) and G.

The Cabinet considered the merits of each EZ and the terms of the agreements, as proposed.  The benefits were acknowledged and the potential for each EZ to attract quality businesses to the areas and jobs.

The role of GCGP was also discussed in general and how they, St Edmundsbury Borough and Suffolk County Councils needed to work together to enable future growth and better infrastructure in and around Haverhill.

RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with Report No: CAB/SE/16/006:

(1)     the Memoranda of Understanding between the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Local Enterprise Partnerships,  and St Edmundsbury Borough Council (x2); and the local agreements between St Edmundsbury Borough Council, the Local Enterprise partnerships, and relevant partners (x2) as set out in Appendices  A to E and G to Exempt Report No: CAB/SE/16/054, be agreed; and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 262