Issue - meetings

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, which informed on the current and future performance of the Business Growth Programme (BGP).  

Members were advised that the report reflected on the changes from Phase 1 of the Liverpool City Region Integrated Business Support (LCRIBS) Programme through to Phase 2, now named as the Business Growth Programme, and the nature of support across the Liverpool City Region (LCR).

It was reported that it was proposed to extend the Programme and if this was successful, Phase 3 would commence January 2022.  It was noted that the project met a distinct gap in the current City Region business support delivery positioned between pre start / start up / post start up delivered by others within the LCR.  Further, supporting Phase 3 of the BGP would align with the Council’s priorities in improving the economic growth; by aiding SME’s within Halton to grow, develop, become more sustainable and increase jobs.

Further to Members’ queries, the following information was added:

·       A risk analysis was done once a year using the Local Economic Assessment;

·       Some SME’s (Small to Medium Sized Enterprise) failed in their first 3 years of trading; accurate statistics relating to Halton would be available later in the year and reported to the Board;

·       SME survival rates in the Borough were comparable and slightly exceeded the LCR average; and

·       Information on job numbers and types of business were provided in the monthly economic report produced by the Council’s Customer Intelligence Unit.

RESOLVED:  That the Board

1)    notes the activities and performance of the BGP, which sought to align with the local delivery and with emerging City Region business support delivery; and

2)    notes that further engagement with the Combined Authority and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) would be required to consider the implications of an 18 month Programme extension – Phase 3 of the Business Programme.