Agenda and minutes

Decision

To appoint Councillor McVey (City of Edinburgh Council) as Convener.

Decision

To appoint Councillor Innes (East Lothian Council) as Vice-Convener.

Decision

To appoint Gavin King (City of Edinburgh Council) as clerk.

Decision

To appoint Andrew Kerr (City of Edinburgh Council) as Chief Officer.

The Convener welcomed members and officers to the first meeting of the Joint Committee.

Report by Gavin King, Governance and Democratic Services Manager, The City of Edinburgh Council (circulated)

Draft operational Standing Orders for the Joint Committee were presented.

Decision

1)      To approve the Joint Committee’s Standing Orders.

2)      To note that these would be reviewed annually.

(Reference – report by the Chief Executive, CEC), submitted)

Report by Andy Nichol, Programme Manager, Edinburgh and South of Scotland City Region Deal (circulated)

Andy Nichol, Programme Manager, provided details of the Dashboard used to monitor progress across all aspects of the City Region Deal.  This used RAG (Red/Amber/Green) status guidelines to monitor the progress of individual workstreams, and was updated weekly.  The overall status of the City Region Deal was currently assigned as “Amber”.

Decision

To note the progress across the City Region Deal Programme.

(Reference – report by the Programme Manager, submitted)

4.7.1  Data Driven Innovation – presentation by Charlie Jeffery, Chair of Higher/ Further Education Consortium, Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal

4.7.2  Integrated Regional Skills Programme – presentation by Ken Shaw, Programme Lead, Integrated Regional Employability and Skills Programme, Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal

Professor Charlie Jeffery, Higher/Further Education Consortium, gave a presentation on data driven innovation.  He explained the region’s key advantages in data innovation, including Edinburgh University’s long history with supercomputing; informatics and Artificial Intelligence; the robust tech infrastructure, including the UK’s largest tech incubator (CodeBase); the quality of life within Edinburgh and beyond; strong government support (eg Scottish Enterprise investment, and now City Region Deal funding and leverage), and cross-sector capacity.  He noted that business cases were currently being developed for the Bayes Centre; the National Robotarium, and the World Class Digital Infrastructure (item 10 refers).

Decision

1)      To note the presentation.

2)      To note the intention to submit Data Driven Innovation business cases to the next meeting of the Joint Committee for approval.

Angela Leith (East Lothian Council) provided an overview of the Integrated Regional Skills Programme.  Ken Shaw, the Programme Lead, then gave a detailed presentation on its various elements.  He noted the employability challenges within the City Region area, including slow growth; regional disparities in job density; and housing, transport and connectivity issues.  The Programme aimed to deliver an inclusive workforce to support City Region Deal initiatives; help future proof the regional economy by promoting positive changes in equality, capacity and responsiveness to changes in the economy; encourage wider participation by stakeholders, and deliver at least 14,700 Skills improvements, with 5,300 into employment.

Responding to questions from members, Ken Shaw confirmed that the Programme would be addressing the potential for community based schemes (eg remote working in rural areas), as well as the scope for more flexible transport arrangements.

Decision

To note the presentation.

Report by Andy Nichol, Programme Manager, Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal (circulated)

Information was provided on the planned dates for City Region Deal business case approvals for the Joint Committee.  The programme matched the timeline for drawing down funds from Government, and was dependent on prior approval by the Scottish and UK Governments; the relevant City Region Deal Boards, and the relevant Council committees and/or Higher and Further Education Courts.

Decision

To note the Forward Plan for business case approvals.

(Reference – report by the Programme Manager, submitted)