Walsall Enterprise Partnership – A draft proposal

March 2011

Current Context for Regenerating Walsall

• HMG focus on Business led recovery & growth.• Abolition of AWM by April 2012 – reduced role• WRC closed in September 2010.• HCA reviewing its future approach. • Walsall Partnership reviewing future structures. • Approval for a Black Country LEP in Dec 2010.• Walsall Council Regeneration directorate

service review to complete in Spring 2011. 

Consistent view that Walsall needs a new Partnership to oversee recovery & growth

Focus of future Partnership working

• Shaping the right conditions/removing the barriers for business led economic recovery & growth in Walsall.

• Improving business performance.• Ensuring Walsall people benefit from existing

& future job opportunities. • Understanding the ‘added value’ role of

public sector partners.• Promoting & supporting social enterprise• Improving Walsall’s external profile.

Components of new approach

• Private Sector led Board & approach - with majority on the board.

• Direct relationship to the Black Country LEP• Acceptance of LEP priorities and focus on our

delivery against them – ‘one agenda’• Clear framework for partner and business

engagement – possibly through POWER • POWER PEG re-focussed on knowledge &

performance role to ensure evidence led model• Clear lead delivery role for Walsall Council • ‘Lean’ partnership model - no additional costs.

Role of Walsall Enterprise Partnership Board

• Overseeing the development of an integrated, Framework and Plan for Walsall’s economic recovery & growth – consistent with LEP agenda and Local Economic Assessment (LEA)

• Holding partners to account for delivery of key elements.

• Ensuring maximum value from mainstream & bespoke investment – ‘Think Walsall’

• Tactically & pro-actively raising profile of Walsall • Commissioning knowledge and intelligence to

inform future approaches & track performance.

Focus for Walsall Enterprise Partnership(draft – to be determined)

1. Walsall contribution to LEP priorities:• Planning & Transport – ‘business friendly’

development management; sites; infrastructure• Developing International Trading opportunities• ‘Right’ support for business & access to finance• Skills, education and employability• Enhancing perceptions – ‘sell’ the BC offer

2. Enabling Activity• Strong and diverse housing markets• Influencing ‘Quality of life’ factors • Flexible, creative use of existing assets

Key Success Factors

• Ensuring right representation on the Board – from target sectors “Sector champions” and our strategically important companies.

• Partners prepared to be influenced & to ‘align’ their plans & resources to deliver priorities.

• Effective engagement processes for non-board members.

• Walsall businesses/wealth creators see value in the partnership approach.

• Retaining a strategic focus – not operational.

Implementation Timetable

Activity Proposed Dates

‘Soft’ testing of proposal with partners

February/March 11

Walsall Partnership Board consultation

March 2011

Informal consultation with Cabinet

April 2011

Refine Proposals April/May 2011

Walsall Council Cabinet approval

June 2011

Launch of new Partnership June 2011

Appendix 1 Walsall Enterprise Partnership Organisational Diagram (Under review - February 2011)

Children’sPartnership

Policy Context•Local Growth white paper•BC JCS & Delivery Plan•BC LEA

WALSALL PARTNERSHIP BOARD •WALSALL LEA & Action Plan

•Walsall LIP , Town centre framework etc.

West MidlandsLEP’s Co-ordination

Refreshed SCS

Partner/BusinessEngagement Approach(inc POWER)

ABCA

Health &WellbeingBoard

Neighbourhoods& Communities

Walsall EnterprisePartnership

BC LEP

Data, intelligence & performance(formerly PEG )

LEP

LEP

LEPLEP

Walsall Enterprise Partnership - remit

• Walsall centric approach to supporting Business and skills• Strategy/Policy Overview – Housing; Transport; Development• Raising the profile of Walsall

Appendix 2

Proposed Walsall Enterprise Board Membership

• Business/Private Sector representatives – ideally sourced from LEA target sectors and strategically important companies

• Walsall Council – ‘Lead’ member(s) for Regeneration • Key Partners – HCA; JCP • Education/Skills – sector representative • Housing - sector representative • Third Sector/Social Enterprise – sector representative

Advisors to the Board• Walsall Council senior accountable officer• POWER Manager• Other partner officers• BCC Ltd/BC LEP officer liaison