Appendix 5 – Devolution Deal Q3 2017-18
CORNWALL DEVOLUTION DEAL: QUARTER 3 2017-18IntegratedPerformance Report
1October – 31 December2017
Cornwall Devolution Deal senior responsible officer: Kate Kennally
Cornwall Devolution Deal programme lead: Steve Ford
Oct to Dec2017
Overall CDD Programme Summary (60) / While the programme continues to deliver well, there remain a number of challenges. While transport has seen its RAG rating improve, business support has been downgraded. Energy is also behind in its grid and community energy work, largely due to lack of resources, and employment and skills remains red as there has been little movement on a number of areas and recruitment of key personnel is behind schedule. While transport is green, the failure to land the National Productivity Investment Fund could have an impact on the delivery of the programme. Mitigations are in place for all of the amber and red rated work streams, including new governance and senior officer accountability to drive forward the skills work stream, accelerated recruitment in economic growth, Cornwall Development Company (CDC) potentially taking on more responsibility for the energy work stream, and recruitment processes and revised and accelerated milestones being put in place for heritage and resilience. Business support is currently beyond our control as it involves Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the British Business Bank, but the Local Enterprise Partnership(LEP) is facilitating discussions.
However, the programme continues to deliver well in a number of work streams. While it has been downgraded due to the financial instruments, business support continues to perform strongly on its core offer. The Intermediate Body team has now written a number of calls worth in excess of £20m, and has also undertaken assessments worth over £90m. All of this work has been undertaken on time, and the local team has also organised the national Intermediate Body network to help inform how we will work in the future. Transport continues to deliver well as part of an ambitious programme, with major milestones on contactless payments, real time passenger information points and smartcard trials all being met. The ‘Flex-eligibility’ scheme for energy efficiency was launched in November as part of a £7m funded scheme that will target home improvements to some of Cornwall’s most vulnerable households. Good progress has also been made with the One Public Estate programme on the Helston library project with Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) due to move in in the Spring of 2018. Health and social care is largely focussing on an emerging devolution ask that will support and supplement the Shaping Our Future (SoF) programme, but this will take a number of months to come to fruition. Significant progress has been made on the communications of the programme, with a series of filmed case studies and animations now live on the website, and these will form part of a concerted social media campaign during the coming months. This forms one part of a wider strand of work looking at future devolution.
Project Status / GREEN – Under control and within tolerance AMBER– Out of tolerance and with a plan in place to bring back under control RED – Out of tolerance with no current approved plan
EEECDD01 – Transport
Oct–Amber
Nov –Amber
Dec – GREEN / The overall project is currently GREEN:
Progress has been made this period with the commencement of contactless payments on First Kernow & Plymouth Citybus vehicles, the establishment of a ticketing agreement to underpin the progress of future ticketing products, Market Testing Panels and the further roll-out of roadside infrastructure and Real Time Passenger Information displays.
Growth Deal 1 – Bus/Rail Integration
- 13 Real Time Passenger Information displays installed/upgraded on showcase corridors in west Cornwall.
- 15 new shelters installed on showcase corridors in West Cornwall.
- Design concepts for Newquay Bus Station have been shared with local members, the Town Council and Cllr Geoff Brown, Portfolio Holder.
- Truro Bus Station plans are currently with Cornwall Council (CC) planning for sign off due to site planning restrictions/ conservation area.
- St Ives Trenwith Car Park – options being priced for CC to review.
- Official launch of contactless payments on Plymouth Citybus and First Kernow buses resulting in a 5% and 16% (respectively) take up of contactless payments.
- Agreed merchant agreement to allow independent (Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) operators to access contactless payments.
- New on-street smartcard and ticket terminals are on trial at the Truro Park & Ride sites, issuing paper and smartcard tickets via contactless payment, currently taking approximately 130 transactions per day.
- 3 x Market Testing Panels carried out in early October to gauge opinion on real time passenger information points (RTPI) layout, Transport App, Mobile ticket purchase platform and early logo design.
- Inception meeting with app developers to set the scope and commence Cornwall Travel Companion App (Beta Phase).
- Completed indicative scheduling of Core, Supporting and Essential Links routes and identifiedconnection opportunities.
- Mapping of the network options and routes has commenced.
- Meeting held with Great Western Railway (GWR) to discuss rail timetable.
- Validation of the Operational Costing Tool has drawn out a requirement to take a different approach to the costing model. A ‘top down’ approach with high level costs from operators is now being pursued.
- Reformation of the One Public Transport Steering Group on 27 November. Members were updated on progress since the last meeting in April 2017.
- Dept. for Transport guidance was released on 28 November outlining the Enhanced Partnership and Franchising processes and the opportunities that they offer - officers are currently reviewing this.
- Quarter 2 2017/18 claim for Growth Deal 1 funding prepared for submission at end of October.
- Initial letter received from the LEP outlining criteria it would like included in the project, should it be successful. Positive response to this request returned to the LEP week beginning 23 October – response awaited.
Unfortunately this bid was announced as unsuccessful. This lack of funding now represents a significant risk to the delivery of the overall programme. (This additional funding bid was to cover match funding for vehicle fleet investment and infrastructure for the central and east areas of Cornwall.)
EEECDD02 – One Public Estate
Oct – GREEN
Nov – GREEN
Dec - GREEN / Progress Update Status remainsGREEN.
October
In this period, the Cornwall Strategic Property Board met and endorsed Cornwall Council’s proposal to bid for further grant funding through OPE Phase 6, with a focus around opportunities in Liskeard, Newquay and Launceston. The final bid requires approval from the section 151 officer and submission deadline is early November.
Project development work continues on a range of Health & Social Care estates proposals as part of the Shaping Our Future programme, including the Camelford health Hub scheme where a potential Council investment is being considered.
Building works to modify Council sites in Helston and Liskeard to enable Job centre Plus services to co-locate are in progress.
Public estate rationalisation work progresses in the Camborne, Pool & Redruth area and feasibility and options work continues in relation to sharing “Blue Light” facilities.
Cornwall hosted a Tri Service Blue Light workshop with Cabinet Office and Home Office on 25 September focussing on how integration of Information Systems and Technologies could unlock further estates benefits.
November
In this period, Cornwall Council’s bid for further grant funding through One Public Estate (OPE) Phase 6, with a focus around opportunities in Liskeard, Newquay and Launceston was submitted and funding announcements are expected on 08 December.
Transfer of Homes and Communities Agency held development land near Camborne to Cornwall Council was completed.
Project development work continues on a range of Health & Social Care estates proposals as part of the Shaping Our Future programme, including the Camelford health Hub scheme where a potential Council investment is being considered.
Building works to modify Helston library to accommodate Job Centre Plus are substantially completed and the DWP are proposing to relocate their operation early in the new year. Works accommodate the Liskeard Job Centre within Luxstowe House are progressing.
Public estate rationalisation work progresses in the Camborne, Pool & Redruth area and feasibility and options work continues in relation to sharing “Blue Light” facilities.
December
Cornwall’s Phase 6 bid not supported meaning project development work cannot progress as originally envisaged unless alternative funding is identified.
Project development work continues on Health & Social Care estates proposals as part of the Shaping Our Future programme, including Camelford Health Hub scheme where potential Council investment is being considered.
OPE grants are supporting Master Planning activities for Truro Pydar Street site, Looe Rail Station and Blue Light Centre and public estates rationalisation in St Austell and also enabling a series of estate rationalisation activities in Camborne & Redruth.
Modification works at Helston library to accommodate Job Centre substantially complete and DWP proposing to relocate early in Spring 2018. Works to accommodate the Liskeard Job Centre within Luxstowe House progressing.
Public estate rationalisation work progresses in the Camborne, Pool & Redruth area and feasibility and options work continues on “Blue Light” facilities.
Collaborative procurement with partners of signage and firefighting equipment is being progressed.
Work on enabling use of Information Technology (IT) devices across Council and National Health Service (NHS) networks is also being progressed enabling more flexible work styles and supporting integration.
EEECDD03 – Energy
Oct – AMBER
Nov – AMBER
Dec - AMBER / The project status is AMBER:
- Overall good progress has been made with delivery against the original asks with initial work complete and programmes transitioning in to a delivery phase, however energy efficiency and grid & storage are reporting as amber due to delays in delivery against original timescales and budgetary concerns relating to the delivery of a deep dive evaluation of the energy efficiency work requested by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy(BEIS).
- Energy Efficiency – The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Warm Homes Fund funded programme and Flexible Eligibility pilot was soft launched in Nov 2017 branded as Warm and Well Cornwall, householder participants are now being recruited and Local Authority Declarations processed via Inclusions Cornwall. The ongoing work to explore the opportunity for securing external evaluation capabilities for the ‘deep drive’ evaluation requested by BEIS through partnering with academic researchers is progressing well. However the methodology and data requirements of the researchers, which are required to meet academic standards rather than CC/ BEIS evaluation requirements, remain a notable barrier to the deliverability of this option.
- Grid & Storage – Draft has just been received for the Battery Energy Storage System feasibility for Cornwall Airport Newquay, but not yet reviewed. However early indications are it does not stack up financially for an immediate investment. Ongoing discussions with BEIS on the viability of maintaining the action related to ‘Investment ahead of need’.
EEECDD04 – Heritage & Culture
Oct – AMBER
Nov – AMBER
Dec – AMBER / The project is rated AMBER.
Progress is being made across the Deal components, but a number of milestones are behind schedule. The recruitment of a Heritage Lead to replace the work stream’s now departed lead officer will commence in due course.
- Phase one final draft report and Phase two work circulate to Heritage Kernow Board.
- Revised timescales have been agreed with Historic England for the commissioning of Stage 3 (publication and dissemination of the Distinctiveness project) pending a change of personnel at Cornwall Council (Project manager is leaving for new employment)
- Robust views were aired at the Forum in July, which have been followed up by senior officer meetings between Environment Strategy and Culture teams, HK Board discussed delaying next Forum meeting until Summer 2018 when Distinctiveness Conference can be held.
- Work is continuing to develop between Planning and Historic Environment staff.
EEECDD07 – IB Status
Oct – GREEN
Nov – GREEN
Dec - GREEN / The overall programme status is GREEN.
Assessment and call development processes continue to be undertaken efficiently, with Cornwall receiving praise from the respective managing authorities for its approach. The next meeting of the National Intermediate Body (IB) Network set up by Cornwall will take place in February 2018.
Progress Update
The status is deemed to be green from amber due to the following:
- The IB function is up and running and currently on schedule with call development
- Processes are now running smoothly and assessment and call development processes have been undertaken efficiently, receiving praise from the respective managing authorities
- National IB network set up by Cornwall, with first meeting held on November 7
- Several assessments undertaken, including PA4 (energy efficiency) and PA3 (business support). PA1 (smart specialisation) has been completed and recommendations were made the ITI board, with a total value of all of the applications of £115m against a combined allocation of approximately £54m.
EEECDD05 – Business Support
Oct – GREEN
Nov – GREEN
Dec - AMBER / The overall programme status is AMBER.
The status has returned to amber as the launch of procurement of fund manager is delayed as this is subject to resolution of funding agreement between DCLG and British Business Bank (BBB). LEP is facilitating discussion between the two funding bodies to unlock any issues, so currently 5 weeks behind schedule but we expect this to be resolved.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund
We are working in partnership with the Government-owned British Business Bank to create an Investment Fund for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (CIoS) LEP area. The fund will provide loans and equity investments rather than grants to help local businesses grow and create jobs. A public funding package of just over £40 million is currently being put together, with funds from the LEP, Government and the European Union (EU) Growth Programme. Expected to open in Spring 2018, this public fund is anticipated to unlock a further £40 million from private investment and create a revolving investment fund to which businesses can apply for start-up and growth investment in perpetuity.
- Launch Fund Manager procurement (Winter 2017)
- Aspiration is that money will be available to invest in SMEs by Spring 2018
The Growth Hub metrics are aligned to BEIS timelines. The Growth Hub recently submitted their six month bi-annual report which gives a better overview of the current status and achievements of the Hub:
Key results for April – September 2017:
- Approx. 704 business registered to the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Hub
- Approx. 504 followers on Twitter
- Approx. 15,706 visitors to the website
- Approx. 897 Navigator Calls (incoming)
- Approx. 328 European Regional Development Fund Businesses having a 3-Hour intervention
- Approx. 17 non-eligible 3-Hour Interventions
Business Regulatory Support
Number of incoming businesses request assists via the Better Business for All hub / 204 (145 new business /59 existing business)
How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with quality of service?” / Very satisfied (70%)
Top ‘package’ of support chosen / Planning (240)
Highest business queries came from / Central Cornwall
EEECDD06 – Employment & Skills
Oct – RED
Nov – RED
Dec – RED / The overall programme status is RED.
Revised governance procedures for ESB are now in place. CC Skills Steering Group in operation. Resourcing requirements identified as part of the Economic Growth restructure are currently being resourced through internal and external adverts.
Significant delays in the delivery of this work stream have largely been due to the lack of capacity as identified in the review led by the Collab group, published in January 2017, which outlines 6 recommendations to deliver on the deal. Progress and delivery to date:
- Economic Growth and LEP team agreed; People and Prosperity Manager (PPM) internal secondment from January 2018 and Employment and Apprenticeship Officer (EAO) role is currently being advertised – Hoping to be appointed in January.
- Inclusion Officer on secondment until April 2018 but a piece of co-design work on inclusive growth has been commissioned through Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change with individuals with lived experience of inclusion issues to develop the inclusive growth agenda and approach with backfill position to be interviewed on 17 January.
- Corporate Directors Team (CDT) report on inclusive growth with 5 themes to take forward the inclusion agenda agreed in November 2017.
- Work with Devolution team to incorporate Employment and Skills comms as part of the Cornwall Devolution Deal communication plan.
- Revised Employment and Skills Board membership and governance is now complete.
- Working with Government’s Strategic Work and Health Unit to develop a project delivery plan to engage with businesses and key stakeholders, to create networks and build action locally on the recruitment and retention of those with disabilities and individuals with long term conditions. Engagement event took place on 26th October with Stakeholder event on 27th November. Sarah Newton MP now appointed as Minister for Disability, Work and Health and the response to the Green Paper was published on 30th November and mentions the work that Cornwall is doing with the Strategic Work and Health Unit.
- Cornwall Skills Show took place at the end of October with over 2,000 young people attending.
- Four Enterprise Co-ordinators now in post together with a project support officer.