It was resolved –

·        To note and support the progress of the development of a competitive Growth Deal Bid for the region.

·        To support in principle the preferred governance model of a statutory joint-committee model for further development with a full report on a recommended constitution and terms of reference supported by an inter-authority agreement to follow later in the year.

·        To authorise the Leader to act as a member of a Shadow Joint-Committee in the interim period.

·        To grant authority to the Leader as one of the Leaders of the six partner councils represented on the Shadow Joint-Committee to enter into collective first stage negotiations with Governments over the scale and outline content of the Growth Deal Bid, noting that no financial or other commitments will be entered into at this first stage of the negotiations.

·        To delegate authority to the Chief Executive to authorise an initial revenue contribution from 2017/18 expenditure for the detailed development of the Growth Deal Bid up to a maximum of £50,000.