Purpose

At the meeting of 30th May 2024 the Solent
Upper Tier Local Authority Board ('SUTLAB') resolved to no longer
use Solent Partners Ltd (SP), and its current governance structure,
as a delivery vehicle for previous functions of the Local
Enterprise Partnership (LEP) including the management of ongoing
contracts.

This report, therefore, identifies the functions, contracts, and
programmes to be delivered, and seeks approval for these to be
transferred to enable delivery from within an 'in-house' team
hosted by Portsmouth City Council (PCC) on behalf of the
partnership of IoWC, PCC and SCC.

Specifically, delegated approval is being sought by the Leader for
the following:

Agree that the Leader of the Council should have delegated
responsibility to make decisions on behalf of Portsmouth City
Council at the Solent Growth Partnership in line with the terms of
reference for the Solent Growth Partnership.

The February Cabinet report referenced the Joint Upper Tier Local
Authority Board. This is now called the Solent Growth Partnership
(SGP).
This report is seeking delegated authority to be given to the
Leader of the Council to fulfil the role required in these terms of
reference and so that the Leader can make decisions to support the
driving of economic growth to the Solent region.

Content

That Cabinet;

 
      
I.         
Note the update contained within this report,
and

 

    
II.         
Support and note that the Leader of the Council is
appointed to the Solent Growth Partnership and that he has
statutory executive authority in future to make capital and revenue
spending decisions, to invest in economic growth for the three
Unitary Authority areas subject to existing budget or policy
frameworks, subject to financial approval of the section 151
Officer of Portsmouth City Council acting as the Accountable Body
for the Solent Growth Partnership, and in line with the Terms of
Reference for the Solent Growth Partnership attached at Appendix
1.

 
  
III.         
Further note that future decisions will be subject
to existing Council decision-making requirements.