Minutes 15 January 2021

Time 11-12:30pm

1. Welcome and apologies

Present:

• Adam Freeth (Chair), Shaker Group
• Ruth Bamford, Redditch Borough Council Head of Planning
• Leigh Walton (Vice Chair), Redditch resident and member of Redditch Community Forum
• Councillor Matthew Dormer, Leader of Redditch Borough Council
• Kevin Dicks, Redditch Borough Council
• Ostap Paparega, Head of North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration
• Gary Woodman, Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership
• Duncan Berry, YMCA
• Shanaaz Carroll, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership
• Simon Geraghty, Leader of Worcestershire County Council
• Ollie Hindle, Cities and Local Growth Unit
• Rebecca Collings, Redditch Town Deal Coordinator
• Victoria Hurst, Mott Macdonald
• Jon Barlow, Mott Macdonald
• Tim Martin, West Midlands Combines Authority (WMCA)
• Penny Unwin, Worcestershire County Council OPE
• Simon Hyde, Faun Zoeller
• John Hobbs, Worcestershire County Council
• Josh Godfrey, Member of Parliament's office
• David Mitchell, Mettis Aerospace
• Pete Sugg, Young Solutions

Apologies:

• Rebecca Collings, Town Deal Coordinator

2. Minutes from last meeting

Agreed

3. Check and Challenge Session Feedback

Overall feedback was positive, the draft plan had progressed quickly and is credible and robust. Key points to be considered prior to submission are the reduction in word count as document is too long and the funding ask which stands above £25 million. Advice was that the interventions included within the Town Investment Plan did not show regional or national significance so as per the Town Investment Plan guidance the amount should be reduced.

MD proposed to remove the Arrow Valley Project form the Town Investment Plan which was seconded by Simon Geraghty, all members voted and were in favour reducing the Town Investment Plan ask to £24.8million

Ostap Paparega outlined a revenue ask of £200,000 to be included to bring the total funding ask to £25million. This revenue money would be used to fund a programme manager over the 4-year delivery period. Additional monies may be required for the post and this will be discussed with the Borough Council separately.

4. Draft Town Investment Plan

Ostap Paparega thanked the board for their time and input into developing the Town Investment Plan. The next steps prior to submission would be committee meetings as follows;

• Overview and Scrutiny: 18 January 2021
• Executive Committee: 19 January 2021
• Full Council Approval: 25 January 2021

The Town Investment Plan will be tweaked right up until submission.

Key imagery for the document is being sought from partners. AF asked if a short promotional video would be possible to show the ambition of the Town Investment Plan, members supported this idea and Ostap Paparega advised this would be looked into once Town Investment Plan had been submitted.

GW asked if there would be future engagement for the Town Investment Plan and press release, LB advised there would be an engagement strategy within the Town Investment Plan, and a press release was being coordinated with the Redditch communications team.

MD asked if there could be a ‘Town Investment Plan on a page’ to provide and easily accessible summary of the Town Deal, VH advised this was being produced.

5. Timeline

LB outlined committee process as detailed above and next steps for Town Deal programme.

• Submission January 2021
• Decision and agree heads of terms: spring 2021
• Business case development: spring 2022
• Release of funding and delivery: 2022 – 2026

6. Future of the board and frequency of meetings

Next steps and role of board to discussed

7. Any other business

None raised

8. Date of next meeting

To be confirmed