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Transparency

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Formal arrangements have been put in place to ensure effective decision-making and democratic accountability.

The Marches LEP manages substantial public funds that are required to deliver the Marches Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) and Growth Programme, including European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and Single Local Growth Funds.

Accountability and Assurance Framework

The LEP’s Accountability and Assurance Framework sets out the key practices and standards of the LEP in managing growth within the Marches area. It is a comprehensive document which is reviewed annually to ensure it is compliant with the Government’s National Assurance Framework for LEPs.

 

Scheme of Delegation

The LEP’s Scheme of Delegation (SoD) clearly identifies what decisions remain the responsibility of the LEP Board and what decisions can be made by the LEP Chief Executive in consultation with others. The SoD enables the LEP Chief Executive to make decisions in certain circumstances as permitted by law and in accordance with each local authority’s constitution.

 

Related downloads:

 

Accountability and Assurance Framework Download icon The Marches LEP Board Terms of Reference Download icon The Marches LEP Strategic Economic Plan – 2019 Download icon Marches LEP Joint Assurance Statement 2021-2022 Download icon Marches LEP Section 151-73 Assurance Statement 2021-2022 Download icon

Handling of Confidential and Exempt Information

The Marches LEP complies with The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 regarding confidential information.

Confidential information means information given to the Council by a Government Department on terms which forbid its public disclosure or information which cannot be publicly disclosed by Court Order and as fully defined in Section 100A(3) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The process adopted for the handling confidential and exempt information is as follows:

  • Documents shall be accessed against the established criteria and must be considered to match the criteria in order to be deemed confidential.
  • In the event a document is assessed as being confidential it shall be marked as such listing the appropriate Local Government Act 1972 exemption.
  • Where papers are excluded from publication, a cover report setting out the decision(s) to be taken and the grounds for exemption will be published, and a private paper will be circulated to the Board.

Financial Audit and Scrutiny Information

The LEP has regular audits undertaken on their processes, procedures and systems, ensuring effective management of public funds.

The LEP has also agreed to attend the three local authority Scrutiny Committees at least once a year to report on LEP activities and performance. In financial year 2019-20, the LEP Chair, CEO and Partnership Manager attended the Scrutiny Panels of Shropshire Council (5 Sept 2019) and Herefordshire Council (22 Oct 2019); the CEO and Partnership Manager then attended the Business & Finance Scrutiny Committee at Telford and Wrekin Council on 11 February 2020.

In financial year 2020-21, the LEP Chair, CEO and Partnership Manager attended the Scrutiny Panel of Shropshire Council on 16 September 2020; on 7 December 2020, the LEP Chair, CEO, Director of Corporate Services and Regional Senior Energy Projects Officer attended the Scrutiny Panel of Herefordshire Council; and on 9 December 2020 the Business & Finance Scrutiny Committee at Telford and Wrekin Council was attended by the LEP Chair, CEO and Director of Corporate Services.

Related downloads:

Provided in the below links are the reports that were submitted by the LEP in advance to the scrutiny committees plus the minutes of those meetings:

Herefordshire Council General Scrutiny Committee Public Minutes Download icon Shropshire Council Place Overview Committee LEP Report Download icon Telford & Wrekin Council Scrutiny Committee Public Minutes Download icon Marches LEP Joint Assurance Statement 2019-2020 Download icon The Marches LEP Annual Report 2020 Download icon Item 3 Appendix 1 Marches LEP accounts v4 Download icon Local Enterprise Partnership Audit 2019/20 Download icon

Board meetings

Board meetings are open to members of the public who may attend as observers but they are not public meetings. In order to access a virtual Board meeting, please email enquiries@marcheslep.org.uk to request a link to use in order to be able access the meeting online using the Zoom app. You may then join to listen to the meeting.

View upcoming and past Board meetings

Publication of meeting papers and agendas

Agendas and papers will be published 5 clear working days before the meeting takes place. Minutes will be published within 10 clear working days of the meeting taking place. Any declaration of interests made at the meeting are included within the minutes. A new declaration of interest will be updated on the relevant members register of interest form (adopted for all of our governance structures).

Governance

The Marches LEP has been structured in the interests of minimising bureaucracy, cost and duplication; achieving speedy decision making and delivery; and sharing expertise and resources.

Learn more

Policies and procedures

The Marches LEP is committed to ensuring we have effective and robust corporate governance arrangements in place helping to fulfil our role in driving local economic growth across the region.

Learn more

Accounts

Our accounts are prepared in order to be fully transparent about how funding is being committed and spent.

Learn more

Tenders and Vacancies

The latest information on funding calls, contracts and vacancies on the LEP team and Board can be found here.

Learn more
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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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