Scottish City Region and Growth Deal Delivery Board minutes: February 2023

Attendees and apologies

Board members

• Karen McAvenue - Chair, KM, Scottish Government Regional Economic Development Deputy Director
• Kris Krasnowski - Chair, KK, Scotland Office, Deputy Director, Policy
• Maria Christie, MC, Scottish Government Finance Business Partner
• Elma Durdevic, ED, HM Treasury, Senior Policy Adviser

UKG officials

• Lizzie Davies, LD, Team Leader, City and Growth Deals Team, SO
• Brennan Leslie, BL, Policy Advisor, City and Growth Deals Team, SO
• Fahad Sarwar, FS, Head of Strategy, Policy and Engagement, HMT
• Tia Matthews, TM, Team Leader, DA Deals Team, DLUHC
• Akwasi Mensah, AM, Senior Policy Advisor, DA Deals Team, DLUHC

SG officials

• Kate Bryson, KB, Deals Policy Manager/Head of Regional Economic Development - East of Scotland
• Kimberley Daly, , KD, Head of Highlands, Islands and South of Scotland
• Rachel Phillips, , RP, West Team/Unit Head - Regional Economic Policy
• Kate Gwynn, KG, Team Leader, Highlands and Islands Economy
• Kenneth Robertson, KR, Senior Policy Adviser, East of Scotland
• Anne Ashton, AA, Team Leader, South of Scotland Economy

Secretariat

• Peter McGregor, PMG, RED Programme Manager, SG

FS, TM, AM and RP attended remotely.

Items and actions

Welcome, introduction and apologies

KM welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Johanna Howarth.

Minutes

The Board confirmed the minutes of 1 November 2022 are an accurate record of what was discussed. There were no matters arising.

Finance business partner update

An update on finance was provided.

Action tracker

Updates to the action tracker were approved.

Risk register

Updates to the Risk Register were approved.
Risks 32, 33 and 34 have been added and no risks will be escalated.

Deal project extension paper

The board discussed issues and risks associated with projects extending beyond the timeframe of the deal and options to manage this.

Deals spotlight and performance dashboard

Deal Leads updated the board on the following deals:

• Falkirk Growth Deal 
• Argyll and Bute Growth Deal 
• Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal 
• Inverness and Highland City Region Deal

Other deals were discussed, by exception, based on the Performance Dashboard.

Closed board session

Confidential discussion.

Any other business

KM shared with the board that MC will be moving to a new role in the Scottish Government from April 2023. Michael Walker, Senior Finance Business Partner, will take over Deal programme responsibility until a new appointment is in post.

KM expressed her thanks to MC for her work in supporting the board, and Deals in general, over many years.

KM also shared that Rachel Phillips is moving to another role within SG as Head of the Regional Policy Unit and will not be attending future boards. Responsibility for West of Scotland Deals, Glasgow and Ayrshire, will transfer from 6 March to KB.

Date of next meeting and close

UK Government will provide the secretariat for the next two meetings.