Agenda item - Chair's Communications

4.1          “The Board is focussed on supporting the region through the COVID 19 pandemic and has commissioned analysis from Hatch to identify what the key issues are and what support the Board can offer. The Board welcomes the financial support from national government to businesses, employees and specific sectors, but will continue to lobby for help where it is most needed to support the region’s businesses, residents and communities and make sure the levelling up is happening here, in our region.

As lockdown measures ease, on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank partners for all they are doing to open the city region economy in a safe and sustainable way, supporting social distancing measures and allowing businesses to re-open. I would like to thank the highways authorities for the short-term changes made to road layouts to support changes to the way people travel and use public spaces safely and effectively.

I would particularly like to thank local authority partners for all their work in administering the government’s support grants to businesses. The government set out a package of measures to support businesses including small business grant funding and grant funding for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. The local authorities in our region have awarded over £200 million to over 15,000 eligible businesses and are now working on discretionary grants to support other businesses most in need at this critical time.

“Network Rail are undertaking the second stage of their consultation on the Brighton Mainline Upgrade proposals, which include the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme As outlined in our Five-Year priorities, this part of the transport network is vitally important to the prosperity of our region and the Board are keen to see these essential improvements taken forward with urgency. Network Rail are holding a consultation event with Board Members on Wednesday 29th July at 10am via Zoom. The Greater Brighton Support Team will also be preparing g a formal response from the Board to the consultation.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Nick Juba for his contribution to the Board since its inception. Nick is stepping down as CEO of GBMet at the end of the August so this will be his last meeting”.