Changes to the Treasury’s Green Book plus the work of D2N2 LEP and the Emergent Alliance were both topics of conversation at the latest meeting of the Midlands Engine Intelligence Community (MEIC).
The MEIC is an open discussion forum for bodies involved in the gathering and dissemination of economic intelligence in the Midlands including Local Enterprise Partnerships, local authorities, universities, Government and businesses. The MEIC meets quarterly to share intelligence and enable stakeholders to contribute to the work of the Midlands Engine Observatory and to look at opportunities to collaborate.
Rebecca Riley of the University of Birmingham provided a briefing on the proposed changes to the Treasury Green Book, the framework for the appraisal and evaluation of all government policies, programmes and projects. Recent changes made to the Green Book include efforts to improve the link between objectives and spending particularly on infrastructure, the environment and achieving net-zero. A further change has been a focus on the levelling-up agenda with the changes to the Green Book promoting location as a key part of the decision-making process.
Representatives from D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership presented their work on the Regional Risk and Pulse Index with the Emergent Alliance, a not-for-profit group of organisations specialising in data, analytics and technology, working together to help the UK’s recovery from COVID-19. The Index is designed to enable a better understanding of the links between Covid-19 and mental health as well as how Nottingham City centre is functioning and will function in the future.
Attendees were also given a summary of the Midlands Engine priorities for 2021 and how these inform the Midlands Engine Observatory Work Programme.
Director of the Midlands Engine Observatory Professor Delma Dwight said:
The Midlands Engine Intelligence Community has been formed to help shape the work of the Observatory and set the Midlands on the path to a bright future. The work of the Observatory is vital to our region’s prosperity but, like any solution to a challenge our region faces, understanding the economic picture of the Midlands has to be a truly collaborative exercise.
The next meeting of the MEIC is scheduled for 27 May, from 10 am.
Membership of the MEIC is available to any data owner or those who work with research and intelligence linked to any aspect of the Midlands economy. For more information or to join the MEIC, please contact Midlands Engine.
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