Issue - meetings

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director – People and Economy, which advised Members of the development and proposed implementation of the Liverpool City Region Growth Hub Brokerage Service in Halton.

Members were advised that the creation of Growth Hubs was a Government initiative intended to:

·       provide clarity, consistency and simplification across the business support agenda;

·       increase the migration of business support from the public to the private sector; and

·       provide gateway support; that is information, guidance and brokerage, to the business community.

It was noted that Growth Hubs were not intended to be suppliers of business support but rather the interface between the business community and increasingly, commercial business support providers.

The report provided further information on the Liverpool City Region Growth Hub and the Halton approach to a local Growth Hub.  It was noted that the LEP informed the Council in July 2015 that Halton Growth Hub Partnership had been successful at tender and had been appointed to the LCR Growth Hub Brokerage Framework and a contract was issued to the Borough Council as lead applicant to that effect.

          RESOLVED:  That the Board

1)    endorses the Halton approach to the delivery of Liverpool City Region Growth Hub Brokerage Service in Halton; and

2)    notes the likely intention to recruit a Halton Growth Hun Broker for a fixed term period not exceeding 36 months.