Decision details

The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) will be drawn to a close by April 2024. As such, many of the LEP’s functions will be transferred to local institutions, including to the County Council, working with Team East Sussex, our de facto local growth board. The SELEP Transition Plan, accompanied by our own local East Sussex Integration Plan, sets out precisely which functions will be transferred to East Sussex, and the actions necessary to integrate those functions over the coming months.

48.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

48.2     It was RESOLVED to:

1) Note that the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) will be drawn to a close on 31 March 2024;

2) Agree that Team East Sussex continues to operate after 31 March 2024 in an advisory capacity as the recognised business-led strategic economic growth board for East Sussex;

3) Approve the final SELEP Integration Plan, set out in Appendix 1 of the report; and

4) Approve the final East Sussex Integration Plan set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

Reason

48.3     The government’s decision to allocate non statutory LEP responsibilities to Upper Tier Local Authorities by 31 March 2024 will provide a range of opportunities for the County Council and its stakeholder partners across East Sussex to have more freedom in setting strategic priorities and accelerating programmes of activity to support local economic growth.

48.4     The County Council is ideally placed to take on former LEP responsibilities with our very successful track record in developing, delivering and evaluating impactful economic growth initiatives in the county and with a proven ability to convene partners and stakeholders to work together for the benefit of local businesses and residents. The LEP transition will give the council the opportunity to build on the existing management and oversight of the capital programme, through which it has successfully met ongoing financial, legal and reporting requirements since SELEP was formed, whilst enabling a more localised oversight and decision-making process through the introduction and maintenance of additional governance and programme management functions.