Decision details

To approve updates to the Leader’s scheme of delegation to officers to reflect any changes to responsibilities as a result of the closure of South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) and the integration of relevant functions into Eat Sussex County Council.

37.1     The Leader and Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

37.2     It was noted that since the report was published, it has been suggested by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that they will also be a signatory of the transition agreement. As a consequence the recommendation in the report was amended at the meeting to include the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

DECISIONS

37.3     The Leader and Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) Agree the delegations to Officers set out in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report;

(2) Agree to enter into a transition agreement with Essex County Council, the other South East Local Enterprise Partnership Upper Tier Local Authorities and, subject to confirmation, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to give effect to the transfer of Local Enterprise Partnership Functions; and

(3) Delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to agree the terms of such agreement.

REASONS

37.4     Central Government confirmed in August 2023 that they will no longer fund the national network of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP)s from 2024/25 and that LEP functions should be integrated into the constituent Upper Tier Local Authorities (UTLA)s. The production of the Transition Agreement is the mechanism to give effect to this transfer.

37.5     Delegation to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to agree the terms of the Agreement will ensure that the Agreement is completed by the transition date of 1 April 2024.

37.6     The delegations to officers set out in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 of the report will facilitate operational effectiveness once the LEP functions have transferred to the Council.