Attendees:
Melanie Sealey (Chair), Keir Duffin, Iain Masters, Neil Blaney, Tim Child, Jamie Hulland, Heather Hillman, Alex Lessware, Andrew Wood, Dan James, Chris Parsons, Chris Shears, Adrian Welsh, Roger Clotworthy, Polly Frost, Jamie Evans, Sean Anstee
Apologies:
Andrew Collier, Chris Brook, Chris Fuller, Dominie Dunbrook, Ian Collinson, Sarah Jane Mackenzie-Shapland, Richard Marsh, Liz Payne, Neil Blaney
1. Minutes from the Previous Meeting
1.1 Minutes from the previous meeting agreed as an accurate record.
2. Financing Net Zero – Polly Frost
2.1 Three projects –
2.1.1 Solar Farm on Landfill Estate: DCC own our estate so would be income generating and have access to affordable finance. Would reduce costs by generating our own energy. Huge push from Great British Energy for local generation so becoming a live and active case.
2.1.2 Industrial Estate Decarbonisation: Devon, Plymouth and Torbay have around 163 industrial estates; they are mixed ownership, the fabrics/ roofs are not strong enough, energy demand isn’t high, but when feed into electric vehicle charging demand then the demand does rise. Main way to decarbonised is through electrification and there is an opportunity to generate electricity locally through solar and wind.
2.1.3 Natural Capital – Connecting the Culm: Initially looking at flooding, instead of paying compensation need to mitigate flooding causing damage.
2.2 Findings:
2.2.1 Appetite with DES NES and particularly with National Wealth Fund who’ve got significant resource to put into Local Authorities.
2.2.2 Renewable energy generation on your own estate is the best way to get a return on your investment.
2.2.3 You need democratic and senior leaders’ to lead the debate.
3. MHCLG Update – Chris Parsons
3.1 Multi-year spending review – Chancellor made her announcement on the 11th June 2025. Identifying high level numbers and what it means regionally, e.g. there was an announcement around both Growth Mission Fund and Neighbourhoods Expansion, but we’re not too sure yet what this means on the ground. Neighbourhoods Expansion – looking to expand by another 150. Likely to have more announcements in September now given the recess period.
3.2 Local government finance settlement – gone out to consultation, currently and 8-week response window. Once that comes back, we’ll be in the process of working out what local government finance settlements will look like and hopefully publish these in the Autumn.
3.3 Finding a pathway for simplifying some of those legacy funds – awaiting further detail.
3.4 Industrial strategy came out a couple of weeks ago, alongside sector plans.
3.5 Devolution bill was introduced; ACTION: Chris to share comms summary of this.
4. UKSPF/ REPF Update – Keir Duffin/ All
4.1 All but one funding agreement has now been signed all except one / full revenue and capital has been allocated. We are looking to use Devon Place Board as a as a key point of contact – to be able to share those outcomes and outputs, and feedback on progression.
4.2 Agri support and innovation projects – farmers now busy until October so will go as fast as we can, but main delivery will be over the Winter period.
4.3 Procuring the business support project within the next couple of weeks.
5. UK Modern Industrial Strategy – Jamie Evans
5.1 DCC responded on the previous consultation prior to the formation of the CCA.
5.2 Southwest was identified as an advanced manufacturing cluster and the strategy spoke about industrial strategy zones which includes wrapping up Freeport.
5.3 Plymouth’s defence cluster was specifically mentioned with quite a lot of detail, so we’re expecting a regional focus on this.
5.4 £600million pounds per strategic site acceleration within those sectors. Skills interventions related to the sectors.
5.5 We need to stock take of our assets, our opportunities and our delivery in terms of Industrial Strategy, DCC starting to do this but would be useful for all partners to do the same.
5.6 The Local Growth Plan tries to align with the Industrial Strategy where possible, but also reflects local aspirations and needs.
5.7 ACTION: Jamie Evans and Chris Shears to speak to DBT to give feedback on the Industrial Strategy.
6. CCA Update – Sean Anstee
6.1 The CCA is in the process of putting together its policy framework, including the corporate plan and underpinning documents – Local transport plan, Local growth plan, Skills and future workforce plan, and the Strategic plan for housing.
6.2 When the Planning Infrastructure Bill becomes law it’s highly likely that there would be an obligation on us to do regional special development strategy.
6.3 The CCA will be doing a whole host of engagement sessions between now and November for the Corporate Plan.
7. AOB
7.1 No additional items were raised during the meeting.
Future Meeting Date:
Wednesday 22nd October 2025