Issue - meetings

Background:

This report sought agreement from the Leader of Medway Council to join an executive Joint Committee of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP).

It was explained that Medway Council was part of the SELEP, which covered Medway, Essex, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock, Kent and East Sussex local authorities. 

SELEP commissioned a delivery review in July 2014. The aim of the review was to ensure that SELEP was fit for purpose and resourced to manage major capital programmes within its governance framework. Recommendations from the review were presented to and agreed at the SELEP December 2014 Board meeting.  It was reported that these provided a robust framework for programme management by creating a new Accountability Board that would enable the main Board to perform a strategic role. The report set out details of the proposal and sought agreement for Medway Council to join the SELEP Accountability Board.

It was noted that Essex County Council had considered a report on this matter on 27 January 2015 and this was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. This included details of membership and terms of reference for the Accountability Board. It was noted that Medway Council would be entitled to one place on the Board (with an appointed substitute Member). During the discussion on this item, it was also noted that the reference to “Medway Borough Council” within the Draft Membership and Terms of Reference of the SELEP Accountability Board would need to be corrected.

In accordance with Article 10 of the Council’s Constitution, the authority to establish joint arrangements in respect of executive functions was devolved to the Leader. Article 10 provided that, except in certain circumstances, only a Cabinet Member can be appointed to a Joint Committee exercising executive functions.

Reasons:

These decisions are necessary in order to give approval to Medway Council accepting and joining the new Accountability Board for SELEP.