Agenda item - Gatwick 360: Greater Brighton Leading Delivery of the SEP

Report of the Chair, Greater Brighton Officer Programme Board

1)           That the Board note the contents of the report, specifically the ways in which the current Greater Brighton work programme is already supporting delivery of the SEP, and the opportunities for future working with C2C.

2)           That the Board agree that the paper be submitted to C2C, to inform C2C about how Greater Brighton will support delivery of the SEP.

3)           That the Board agree that officers should work closely with colleagues at C2C to deliver the SEP at a Greater Brighton level, and support C2C in its dialogue with Government around developing a Local Industrial Strategy.

13.1      The Committee considered a report of the Chair, Greater Brighton Officer Programme Board that provided a Board with a summary of the priorities contained within the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (C2C LEP) Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) and how they aligned with the Greater Brighton priorities and work plan.

13.2      The report was supplemented by a presentation from Jonathan Sharrock on the vision and eight priorities of the C2C LEP and the preparation for negotiation on the Local Industrial Strategy.

13.3      Andrew Swayne welcomed the useful insight the report and presentation provided and asked how matters relating to Highways England were intended to be progressed.

13.4      Jonathan Sharrock replied that the matter would be progressed through Transport for the South East (TfSE) on which the C2C LEP had two representatives.

13.5      Councillor Theobald stated that the issue of transport mobility was a priority for the region, particularly a potential second Brighton Mainline and stated his concern this was not adequately being progressed.

13.6      Jonathan Sharrock agreed with the comments made and better transport mobility and infrastructure was one of the eight key priorities. Jonathan Sharrock highlighted the proposed major improvement of transport links in the Gatwick and Croydon corridor, the high level of engagement with the Greater London Authority and the support of the Mayor of London.

13.7      Prof. Humphris stated that the University of Brighton could offer collaboration and innovation on the eight priorities if that was required.

13.8      Jonathan Sharrock clarified that work was underway on how to incorporate the universities into implementation of the eight priorities could offer and further, how higher education presence in the Gatwick area could be introduced as this was currently absent.

13.9      The Chair stated that the report and presentation correlated with the previous item on the agenda and the priorities of the GBEB. The Chair added that both highlighted potential issues and the need to ensure the Board were fully prepared mobilised for the Local Industrial Strategies. The Chair supplemented that the Board needed to pull its various strategies together to form a collective voice and leadership.

13.10   RESOLVED-

1)           That the Board note the contents of the report, specifically the ways in which the current Greater Brighton work programme is already supporting delivery of the SEP, and the opportunities for future working with C2C.

2)           That the Board agree that the paper be submitted to C2C, to inform C2C about how Greater Brighton will support delivery of the SEP.

3)           That the Board agree that officers should work closely with colleagues at C2C to deliver the SEP at a Greater Brighton level, and support C2C in its dialogue with Government around developing a Local Industrial Strategy.