Agenda and minutes
Royal Docks Enterprise Zone Programme Board (LEAP) - Wednesday 18 September 2019 10.30 am

1.1  The Chair welcomed Members and Officers to the meeting.

1.2  The Chair explained that David Lunts had taken on the role of Interim Chief Executive at the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), alongside retaining his Executive Director role at the GLA. David was undertaking the interim role for four days per week and, to provide cover during this period, the GLA had appointed Rickardo Hyatt as its Interim Deputy Executive Director for Housing & Land.

1.3  With the approval of both Co-Chairs, Rickardo Hyatt would take on David Lunts’ membership of the Programme Board for the interim period. This change in membership would be noted by the LEAP Board at its meeting on 26 September.

1.4  Members heard that David Lunts would remain very much engaged with his Housing & Land role and would retain an active role in the oversight and delivery of the major development projects.

1.5  Members heard that Jane Sherwood would be an interim Member on the Programme Board until London Borough Newham (LBN) had recruited for the Director of Regeneration & Planning, LBN role.

1.6  Apologies for absence were received from John Newbigin OBE.

Members to declare any interests which they have in any of the items set out on the agenda. Unless dispensation has been granted ahead of the meeting, Members may not participate in any matter in which they have a pecuniary interest.

Members are reminded to review their individual register of interests before each Board or Committee meeting, submitting any necessary revisions to the LEAP Secretariat. Even if a meeting has not taken place a Member must, within 28 clear working days of becoming aware of any change to their interests, provide written notification to the LEAP Secretariat of that change.

Member Register of Interest forms are published at lep.london/about/members.

2.1  There were no declarations of interest.

3.1   DECISION:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

4.1   The Board received a report on actions arising from previous meetings.

4.2  DECISION:

That the report on actions arising since the previous meeting be noted.

5.1  The Board received a paper and PowerPoint presentation[1] on the Economic Baseline and Economic Purpose of the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone.

5.2  Jane Sherwood introduced the item. Jane highlighted that LBN had produced an Economic Strategy in 2010 and an update was needed due to significant economic changes and a new administration.

5.3  Members heard that LBN did not want the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone to be taken in isolation to the rest of LBN. The Head of Economic Development, LBN explained that there had been a shift in strategic direction at LBN and it was focussing its economic development on community wealth building and inclusive growth.

5.4  Jane Sherwood emphasised that LBN had already undertaken a lot of work on employment and skills and it was time to see if the systems were fit for purpose, as there was still a problem with in-work poverty in LBN.

5.5  The Chair welcomed Chris Paddock, Director of Hatch Regeneris, to the meeting. Chris Paddock highlighted three main aspects to the scope of the work, including a new economic evidence base for the Royal Docks, defining the “economic purpose” of the Royal Docks and signposting and definition of strategic interventions.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1  The Chair welcomed the Head of Development and Placemaking, Royal Docks Team to the meeting. Members received an update and a PowerPoint[1] on the work to improve the public realm of the Royal Docks, including the preparation of a business case to unlock the c.£100 million, subject to further approval in the Royal Docks EZ Delivery Plan.

6.2  The Head of Development and Placemaking, Royal Docks Team explained that a lot of the public realm work would support a lot of the intentions of the Hatch Regeneris work, specifically that the spaces in between the new economic hubs, amenity centres and city assets would need to link them together. 

6.3  Members heard that the investments proposed would be linked to the development of the main EZ sites and the reactivation of the water of the Royal Docks, as well as supporting the emerging findings of the Economic Purpose (Hatch) and the Cultural Placemaking Strategy (Fluid/CAS).

6.4  The Programme Board noted that, following a procurement process, 5^th Studio had been appointed. 5^th Studio had completed a baseline assessment and first draft of the strategy. The strategy set out the proposed interventions that would be needed, some of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.1  The Board heard that there had been no funding decisions since the last Programme Board meeting.

7.2  Members noted that expenditure of £23.3 million had been committed against the delivery plan and £1.69 million had been spent to date. The Board heard that there were plans to spend the rest of the funds by the end of the 2019/20 financial year.

7.3  DECISION

  That the update be noted.

8.1  Members noted that there had been a lot more events taking place in the Royal Docks, especially during the “Join the Docks” Festival. The “Join the Docks” Festival lasted four months and involved 27 organisations putting on 150 events across the Royal Docks over the summer.

8.2  The Chair praised the Royal Docks Team for all its hard work and that she felt that the Royal Docks’ profile had been raised across LBN.

8.3  The Royal Docks Programme Director, GLA confirmed that the Board would receive a report based on the spend vs impact at the next Board meeting. Members heard that there would be more monitoring and evaluation work taking place as the recruitment to the Royal Docks Team was slowly coming to an end. The Programme Director shared that the recruitment had been successful.

8.4  DECISION:

  That the paper be noted. 

The next meeting of the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone Programme Board is scheduled for XX.XXam/pm on DAY, XX MONTH 20XX at XXXX.

9.1  The next meeting of the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone Programme Board is scheduled for 11.00am on Wednesday, 27 November 2019 at Royal Docks Boardroom at the Good Hotel, Royal Victoria Dock, Western Gateway, London E16 1FA.

A)  Reporting to LEAP Board

10.1  Member discussed future reporting to the LEAP Board. The Chair would present a paper to the 26 September meeting and the Programme Director would present a detailed update to the 10 December meeting. A forward look on the Delivery Plan would be presented to the LEAP Board meeting on 11 March 2020.

11.1  The meeting closed at 11.36am.