Report to Chief Executives Group – North Yorkshire and York 19 November 2020
LEP update
1.0 Purpose of the report
1.1 To provide an update of progress against the March 20 delivery plan, together with changes through the impact of Covid-19.
1.2 This paper is split into:
|
|
Summary Position |
RAG rating |
|
Local Growth Fund
|
On track, however significant risks will remain in the final year of a large capital programme |
Amber |
|
Growth Hub Business Support |
Exceeding targets. |
Green |
|
Careers & Enterprise Company |
On track, however expecting a drop off due to covid-19 impact. |
Green |
|
Low Carbon & Grow Yorkshire |
Low Carbon delivery plan targets on track. Revised Grow Yorkshire delivery plan approved |
Amber |
|
Future Pipeline Development |
Process underway across key stakeholders |
Green |
2.0 Local Growth Fund
2.1 The Local Growth Fund is in its final year of delivery and government have confirmed the despite the impact of Covid-19 there is no opportunity to extend beyond 31 March 2021.
2.2 Claims have now been received for Q1 & Q2 and the overall programme position is:
|
Budget (£m) |
LGF Outturn to date (£m) |
LGF Expenditure to date (£m) |
To spend (£m) |
|
Q1 (actual) £m |
Q2 £m* |
Q3 £m |
Q4 £m |
2020/21 Total |
|
83.2 |
56.4 |
50.1 |
33.1 |
Delivery Plan |
10 |
10 |
8 |
5 |
33 |
|
Sept Update |
8.2 |
7.5 |
10.9 |
9.9 |
36.7 |
||||
|
Nov Update |
7.4 |
6.2 |
10.7 |
12.5 |
36.7 |
* The Q2 figure is based on claims received. These are subject to checking and approval.
2.3 As detailed above Q2 claims are below what was forecast, however most projects remain on track to fully deliver and we are projecting Q3 claims to be achieve forecast expenditure.
2.4 All projects that rely on construction work over the next four months are classified as high risk reflecting additional risks that could be presented by adverse winter weather or ground conditions, along with any resurgent Covid-19 impacts on workforce, material supplies or working practices.
2.5 For all projects still in delivery, YNY LEP project leads are maintaining regular contact with project teams, and where necessary, providing assistance to ensure out-turn of the LGF programme is achieved.
2.6 Projects will be asked to arrange for Q3 claims to be submitted slightly earlier than usual (11th Jan rather than 15th Jan) , and they will be asked to maximise evidence of defrayed eligible expenditure, to cover work right up to the point of closedown for Christmas/New year period.
2.7 We must also emphasise that all LGF must actually be spent. LGF cannot be claimed against commitment.
2.8 YNY Chief Executives will recall that the LEP over-committed its LGF programme by c.£3.7m to accommodate programme changes and/or slippage which release LGF which cannot be re-committed to other projects at this late stage of the programme. There are a number of projects where there is a risk of LGF not being fully utilised by 31 March 2021, and these are under review to consider mitigation options. Contingency planning will continue to be developed working closely with NYCC as Accountable Body, and in consultation with BEIS to ensure that any remedial action is within permissible freedoms and flexibilities of the Accountable Body.
2.9 Feasibility Studies – further to previous reports, all 24 feasibility studies for new projects are now underway, and must complete by March 2020. These will inform future priorities.
2.10 Get Building Fund - The LEP received an allocation of £15.4m which has to be fully defrayed by December 2021. Delivery remains on track.
2.11 Projects allocated funding are;
|
Project |
Infrastructure Board Status |
|
North Yorkshire Digital Infrastructure |
Approved |
|
Pickering – Thornton Road |
Approved |
|
Whitby Business Park |
Approved |
|
A19 Chapel Haddlesey |
Approved |
|
Digital Skills Academy, Askham Bryan |
Dec Board |
|
Scarborough TEC – EV Charging |
Approved |
|
York College – EV Charging |
Approved |
|
Harrogate West Business Park |
Dec Board |
|
Digital Hub – Northallerton E-Campus |
Dec Board |
|
York Guildhall Fit-Out |
Approved |
2.12 All Get Building Fund projects remain on track for approval and delivery.
3.0 Growth Hub Business Support
3.1 YNY Chief Executives will note we have now exceeded all contractual targets for March 21. We are now striving to achieve the stretch targets and evaluate the performance and impact of the new activities launched.
|
|
Target To Mar 21 |
Overall Total to Oct 20 |
% Achieved |
+/- |
APR |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL |
AUG |
SEP |
OCT |
|
Medium |
800 |
807 |
101 |
-4 |
46 |
64 |
132 |
283 |
116 |
87 |
79 |
|
High |
175 |
210 |
120 |
+32 |
5 |
15 |
31 |
54 |
40 |
37 |
28 |
|
Low |
7,500 |
9,726 |
129 |
+2,226 |
1537 |
2,307 |
1,715 |
1,062 |
1,137 |
1,274 |
694 |
3.2 Former Overlap Local Authorities - discussions continue with West Yorkshire Combined Authority on the transitional arrangements. The Growth Hub funding for Selby, Harrogate, Craven & York should be directed through York and North Yorkshire, however we are seeking to ensure we retain access to ERDF funding secured through West Yorkshire.
3.3 Peer Networks - BEIS have launched a national programme of Action Learning. We have commissioned the University Of York to deliver 2 cohorts of between 8 and 11 businesses. Registrations are now closed and we have enough sign ups to run both cohorts.
3.4 Scale Up Programme - This ESF programme is being run through Calderdale College and delivery is expected to start around the end of 2020/early 2021.
3.5 Supply Chain Programme - This ERDF project delivered by East Riding Council.
4.0 Careers & Enterprise Programme
4.1
|
Target Yr1 (Sept 2019-Aug 2020) |
YNY LEP Yr1 final |
National Average Yr1 final |
Target Yr2 (Sept 2020-Aug 2021) |
|
|
% of currently matched organisations achieving Benchmark 5 – encounters with employers |
50% |
75.61% |
64.35% |
80% |
|
% of currently matched organisations achieving Benchmark 6 – experiences of the workplace |
45% |
56.1% |
53.91% |
70% |
|
% of currently matched organisations achieving Benchmark 1 – A stable career programme that is embedded into the structure of the school |
N/A |
- |
- |
95% |
4.2 The table above shows that at the end of year 1 (Sept 2019 to Aug 2020) targets have been achieved and performance is well above the national average.
4.3 The LEP has now contracted with the Careers and Enterprise Company to receive funding for careers activity across York and North Yorkshire for a second year, however there is still uncertainty about the availability of funding from September 2021. The team are working hard to ensure targets are achieved but it is expected that the data will show a drop off in performance due to school closures over spring/summer in the next data reporting cycle.
4.4 The recent changes in LEP geography have led to nine new schools from the old LCR overlap area migrating to the Y&NY schools network this academic year - five from York and four from the Harrogate. Long standing relationships already exist between these schools and NYBEP, who deliver the contract on behalf of the LEP, therefore we expect a smooth transition to the network.
4.5 The CEC has been quick to develop a wide range of online resources to support careers education now that in-person visits are not possible. Nationally and locally, employers are coming forward with content and innovative solutions to ensure encounters with employers and experiences of the workplace are widely available to schools in a virtual form.
5.0 Low Carbon & Grow Yorkshire
5.1
|
Programme |
High Intensity Target to Mar 21 |
Year to Date |
RAG rating |
|
ReBiz resource efficiency programme |
20 |
21 |
Green |
|
Farm Growth Action Plan |
100 |
0 |
Red |
|
Farmers Engaged in Innovation |
1000 engaged 200 supported |
150 engaged |
Red |
5.2 The LEP were advised that the Farm Growth Action Plan, the core pillar of Grow Yorkshire was ineligible for ESF funding.
5.3 A revised strategy was presented to the Grow Yorkshire Steering Group where it gained unanimous support from the members present (including FERA, University of York, CLA, Deliciously Yorkshire and Yorkshire Food, Farming & Rural Network). The Steering Group affirmed their commitment to Grow Yorkshire, stressing that the initiative was more important than ever.
6.0 Future pipeline development
6.1 The LEP continues to develop plan to get the economy back on track through the Reshaping the Economy Plan through to the Local Industrial Strategy and devolution ambitions.
6.2 The LEP also continues to work on the assumption that government will want to see investment across all parts of the country as we recover from Covid-19 and EU Transition and there will likely be an opportunity to bid for additional funding in 2021.
6.3 The LEP are therefore undertaking work to develop a strong pipeline of capital projects that will serve as the basis to better inform priorities for future funding opportunities. This activity will initially be undertaken through an exercise to gather project ideas from key partners and stakeholders.
6.4 As there are no identified funding programmes at this stage, this is not being treated as a formal application for funding process. But it will help us to identify key actions and projects that will help to deliver against our strategic objectives. Partners have been asked to provide project information to the LEP by 30 November 2020. Project submissions received will be subject to an internal assessment and prioritisation.
6.5 This process will prioritise projects for LEP advocacy and inclusion on the capital project pipeline. A small number of these projects may be subject to further discussions between the LEP and individual partners/stakeholders. This may lead to projects being invited to develop further detail (i.e. Outline/Full Business Case) as a priority project.
6.6 The pipeline prioritisation will be an on-going process, and the project pipeline list will be reviewed regularly (approximately every 4 months) with partners and stakeholders. Overall, this activity will help YNY LEP to:
- get a clear picture and better understanding of partner and stakeholder priorities,
- be in a better position to attract future Government funding,
- better respond to funding opportunities as they arise,
- inform priorities for the development of implementation plans to deliver key strategies for economic growth for example, the Local Industrial Strategy for York and North Yorkshire, and Plan to Reshape the Economy for York and North Yorkshire
7.0 Recommendations
7.1 To note the positive performance against delivery plan targets and pipeline development work
James Farrar, Chief Operating Officer, York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership
11 November 2020
