Issue - meetings

a) To receive an update on the governance arrangements for the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee;

b) To consider proposals relating to the continuation of the Joint Committee post September 2020

The committee received an update on the Committee’s governance a arrangements and proposals relating to the continuation of the Joint Committee from September 2020 and

RESOLVED to: -

1)    Note the overall governance arrangements for the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee, as set out in the published decision report presented at the meeting;

2)    Waive and remove the twelve month notice period set out in the Inter-Authority Agreement dated 4 September 2014, including removal of the need for future notice periods, and agree that the GEGJC continue to operate from September 2020 for a period of eighteen months.

Head of Legal Services at Gloucestershire County Council, Gillian Parkinson, gave an update on the committee governance arrangements for the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee, (GEGJC), before considering proposals relating to the continuation of the arrangements post September 2020.

The Head of Legal Services clarified that, under the current governance arrangements, (set out in an Inter Authority Agreement agreed by the County Council and the 6 district councils in 2014), it had been agreed that the arrangements would run for a 6 year term, ending in September 2020, with the County Council acting as the administrative authority. A Senior Officer Group, set up to support the committee, played an intrinsic role in underpinning the work of the committee.

The committee supported the proposal to waiver and remove the twelve month notice period agreed by the committee in 2014, including removal of the need for future notice periods, and continue for a period of eighteen months from September 2020 until March 2022. During this time, it was felt the committee would have a better understanding of the role and function of the newly configured Gloucester City Region Board.

A member suggested that the committee monitor and review the role of the committee throughout the period of extension and this was agreed. Chair of the Senior Officer Group, Mike Dawson, reassured members that the Senior Officer Group would be reviewing government guidelines on partnership arrangements over the next few months and that these would be reflected in line with the proposals agreed at this meeting.

Another member suggested that consideration be given to ‘economic wellbeing’ when considering the economic growth of the county and requested that this form part of the committee role and incorporated into the committees’ terms of reference. Responding to the suggestion, the Head of Legal Services clarified that references to economic wellbeing were already included in the Inter Authority Agreement. The committee recognised that the scope to consider economic wellbeing already existed.

Members noted the update and agreed to report back to the respective district councils the decision to waiver and remove the twelve month notice period set out in the Inter-Authority Agreement dated 4 September 2014, including removal of the need for future notice periods. It was agreed the Joint Committee would continue in it’s current form for a period of eighteen months from September 2020, and that the role of the committee would be subject to review during this period.

RESOLVED to: -

1)    Note the overall governance arrangements for the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee, as set out in the published decision report presented at the meeting;

2)    Waiver and remove the twelve month notice period set out in the Inter-Authority Agreement dated 4 September 2014, including removal of the need for future notice periods, and agree that the GEGJC continue to operate from September 2020 for a period of eighteen months, pending review of the role of the committee during this period.