LSCC London. Stansted. Cambridge. Consortium Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is London Stansted Cambridge Consortium? The London Stansted Cambridge Corridor comprises the area north from Tech City, the City Fringe, Kings Cross, and the Olympic Park, up through the Lee Valley, the M11, A1(M) and A10 roads, the East Coast and West Anglia Mainline rail corridors to Stevenage, Harlow and Stansted, and through to Cambridge and Peterborough. This functional economic area is the leading region in the UK for ideas, innovation and entrepreneurship which is a major reason why it has consistently outperformed the rest of the UK on a number of key measures (LSCC/UK): jobs growth (10.5%/4.1%); business growth (28.4%/13.4%); population growth (19.1%/9.7%) and workforce growth (20.2%/9.0%). This is a 226bn economy (2014) with productivity 16% higher than the UK average. The London Stansted Cambridge Consortium (LSCC) was formed in June 2013 as a strategic partnership of public and private organisations covering the same geographic area as the Corridor. The Consortium brings together public and private sector organisations which have the common aim of seeking economic growth, higher employment rates, providing places for people and business while preserving the quality and character of the Corridor. 2. Who are the members? There are three categories of participation in the Consortium these are as members, partners and supporters. Members: are the local authorities which make up the corridor plus non-governmental public bodies colleges of further education and universities. Partners: are key public and private sector partnerships and statutory bodies plus, by invitation, private sector supporting organisations, regardless of their HQ, whose geography includes at least part of the corridor and which have a long-term stake in the area. The consortium has set up a Business Leaders Group which comprises the top 10 20 largest companies which have a stake in the corridor. It has created an Investment and Development Network for landowners, developers and those working in this sector. Supporters: are approved by the board and comprise those organisations which support the aims and objectives of the LSCC and which are prepared to commit resources to help the LSCC to achieve its objectives. The full list of members, partners and supporters is attached as an appendix.
3. What is the Consortium for? The purpose of the Consortium is to develop and articulate a clear vision for the London Stansted Cambridge Corridor and to provide the strategic leadership to help the vision become reality. In essence, the LSCC seeks to join up the work of the four LEPs which cover the Corridor: Greater Cambridge/Greater Peterborough LEP; Hertfordshire LEP; South East LEP; and the London Economic Action Partnership. Therefore the role of the LSCC is to act as the coordination mechanism for joint policies and initiatives and to develop cross-border and corridor-wide initiatives than can benefit neighbouring areas. 4. What are the consortium s objectives? The Consortium membership board has agreed three simple objectives: Promote the corridor which covers supporting our Members with the development of the narrative for the corridor, promotion and positioning with government, Whitehall, and the investor community; Make the case for infrastructure prioritising and focussing on the key infrastructure requirements which are needed to support growth. This includes London Stansted Airport as one of the key infrastructure components, as well rail, road, digital and utilities. Support our key sectors identifying growth spaces for expansion, supporting labour mobility, and encouraging skills development.
Recently a group of six independent business leaders, thinkers and academics have reviewed the potential of the Corridor, reviewing the evidence, comparing with key international competitors and considering its potential to become a world leading knowledge region. The LSCC Growth Commission, led by Sir Harvey McGrath, has proposed a 20 year vision: for the Corridor to become one of the top five Global knowledge regions, alongside San Francisco s Silicon Valley, Boston I128 and The Triangle in North Carolina. The Commissioners concluded that the Corridor is already well placed to achieve this, having considerable assets in the knowledge sector. But, the Commissioners believe, there are a number of constraints to further business investment: workforce skills, housing and transport and propose some interventions to address these. In practical terms this means: Infrastructure Advocacy for example, the West Anglia Mainline, Crossrail 2, Junctions 7 a and 8 on the M11, the A10 and the A14 Investment Promotion working closely with councils, national and county agencies to market the Corridor to investors Sector strategies to support business growth and job creation focussing on life sciences, IT and digital and cleantech Cross-border initiatives to unlock growth helping to facilitate joint work between local authorities to bring forward growth opportunities. Priorities for 2016 and 2017 For the coming year/18 months, the Consortium has agreed the following priorities as part of its three year work programme: LSCC Growth Commission: use the evidence base to develop a stronger narrative and rationale for investment; engage with members, stakeholders, including government to raise the profile of the Corridor revising the Consortium s three year plan as necessary; LSCC Core Area: work with the Core Area members (Broxbourne BC, East Herts DC, Epping Forest DC, Harlow DC & Uttlesford DC) to agree a joint vision for inclusion within their local plans and develop a more focussed investment prospectus; West Anglia Taskforce: in conjunction with key stakeholders and with Network Rail, DfT and Abellio, to make the case for early 4-tracking plus short and medium term deliverables along the line as identified in WAT s report; Crossrail 2 Growth Commission: work with Consortium members and stakeholders to continue to make the case for first and later phases of Crossrail 2; Stansted as a key business location and long-haul airport: providing the narrative, evidence base and strategic support to the airport for long-haul destinations and to develop the case for the airport as a major economic location within the Corridor; Central Line Co-ordination group: providing a forum for engagement with TfL and the planning authorities to co-ordinate growth plan and service discussions; LSCC Strategic Roads Summit: in conjunction with counties and LEPs to coordinate discussion about investment in the strategic highways, linking these to growth ambitions
Supporting labour mobility to provide skills to key sectors: working with further education providers to develop strong relationships with employers in key sectors to support job-readiness programmes. Delivering Outcomes: As a strategic partnership the London Stansted Cambridge Consortium is a platform for discussion, negotiation and joint action which is focussed on improving the Corridor s competitiveness and securing investment to support the sustainable economic growth of this very special asset for the UK economy. The Consortium is a coalition of the willing, it is non statutory and works through influencing, strategic case-making and creating the right conditions for its members and partners to have constructive, sometimes gritty discussions which lead to clear actions and progress. In this way we achieve the desired outcome: sustainable economic growth which benefits the residents and businesses of the Corridor. 5. Is the London Stansted Cambridge Corridor an economic reality? There is good evidence that the Corridor is a functional economic area. In 2006 a study by PACEC, a consultancy, that was commissioned by the Local Government Association shows that the areas emerging from north London and south from Greater Cambridge have a high (up to 80%) degree of self containment in housing, labour and travel to study. This is one of five corridors which emerge from London. All are important from the perspective of understanding London s economic relations with the Greater South East. However, the London Stansted Cambridge Corridor has a particular importance because it links London and Cambridge, and has a mix of future oriented growth sectors that are important for the future of the economies of London, South East, and the UK as a whole.
6. What is the Consortium s position on Stansted Airport? London Stansted Airport is a key partner in the consortium because there is a clear mutual interest for both. The airport is important for improving the international connections for businesses in the corridor, and it is a driver of the local visitor economy, job creation, business growth, and infrastructure improvements. The LSCC wishes to see the airport fully utilised to maximise the economic benefits of this major strategic asset to the corridor. The Consortium supports the use of the airport up to its already permitted level of 35 million passengers per annum and works with Stansted to attract a broader range of carriers to connect the airport to inter-continental destinations which are needed by the growth businesses in the Corridor. The LSCC has not proposed the expansion of Stansted to the Airports Commission but recognises that any expansion of the airport will provide new opportunities for job creation and business development, undertaking economic modelling to evaluate this impact. 7. Does LSCC promote housing growth? The consortium engages with the housing agenda, because there is a demonstrable need for housing within the Corridor and there is evidence that rising house prices and housing shortages are starting to become a barrier to economic growth due to labour shortages. However, the consortium recognises that it is the responsibility of its local planning authority members to set housing targets and does not seek to change these but will use them to build the case for investment in strategic infrastructure.
The consortium does not propose or support individual housing developments other than those supported by the local planning authority members themselves. It plays no role in suggesting new housing schemes or seeking to persuade members to raise their housing ambitions. 8. Who owns and sponsors LSCC? The Consortium is a membership organisation which is owned by the members listed in the appendix. Its primary funding comes from subscriptions that are paid by members local government, FE and HE. The LSCC is attracting sponsorship from the private sector. To date this has come from London Stansted Airport, (add other sponsor names) consultancies in the property industry and a social enterprise. The Consortium is seeking to increase contributions from the private sector where there are clear mutual benefits. A list of contributors will be publicly available. 9. How is the LSCC governed and managed? Governance of the consortium is exercised through the board which comprises the members with input from partners and working groups shown below. Decisions are reached by consensus. The board has a non executive, independent chairman who was recruited on a three year contract under Nolan conditions. The board has a number of advisory and working groups. These are: All Party Parliamentary Group FE College Principals Network Investment & Development Network Strategic Infrastructure Group Branding and Communications Group West Anglia Taskforce LSCC CE s Group LSCC Deputy Chairs Group The board has agreed ten deputy chairs to support the chairman. These are senior politicians and senior business leaders. The secretariat to the consortium comprises two staff: Director, and a Business and Finance officer. The LSCC office is located at Wood Green, London, N22 in offices provided by the London Borough of Haringey. The secretariat is employed by LB Haringey. In legal terms the LSC Consortium is an informal partnership with LB Haringey as the accountable body which provides accommodation and a business infrastructure. 10. Who can join LSCC? Membership of the Consortium is open to all local authorities and counties, plus relevant non-governmental public bodies, further education colleges and universities (for these purposes the GLA is considered as a county) within the corridor providing they are: Contiguous and part of the broad economic and/or sectoral geography;
Support LSCC objectives; and Agree to pay fees for the membership category (e.g. district, borough, city, county, university and college) and play an active role in the consortium 11. Is the LSCC a Central Government Initiative? No. The LSCC is an initiative of the local authorities which lie within the corridor who choose to join the consortium and fit the criteria above. However, the LSCC seeks the support of Central Government on behalf of its members. The consortium is supports its Parliamentarians who have formed a new All Party Group for the region: the London- Stansted-Cambridge Corridor All Party Parliamentary Group. The aim of the group is to bring together MPs and Peers to press for the investment needed to support the region. The co-chairs of the group are Rt Hon David Lammy, MP for Tottenham and Nick de Bois, MP for Enfield North with Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge as secretary to the group. 12. Does LSCC work with the LEPs? Yes. The four LEPs (including the London Enterprise Panel) are partners of the LSCC. LSCC recognises and supports the leadership role of the 4 LEPs on economic development strategy for their areas and seek to support them. The Consortium helps enable some cross-border LEP initiative in order to support the objectives of the LEPs, for example on major transport infrastructure. It is in this the Consortium seeks to provide maximum added value to the LEPs. The Consortium can have maximum value by maintaining its position as a bottom-up initiative of local authorities and counties within the corridor forming a voluntary partnership between themselves and with: the private sector, further education colleges, universities and other non-governmental public bodies to work with LEPs and government to facilitate economic growth in the corridor from London to Cambridge and Peterborough. 13. How much money and how many staff does LSCC have? The budget of the LSCC for 2014/15 is 360,000 it has three staff and an independent non executive chairman. The LSCC is hosted by the London Borough of Haringey at no cost to the Consortium. Haringey Council is the accountable body for the Consortium; it employs the staff and provides the legal and financial framework for the Consortium. In order to work effectively the Consortium relies on its members taking the lead on some of the priorities which the board has identified. 14. How does the LSCC seek to involve business? The Consortium seeks to involve the private sector in a number of ways: Through having business support and lobby groups, principally: London First, Cambridge Ahead, the county chambers of commerce, as partners which are invited to attend and participate in board meetings and are asked to speak for SMEs; The three Local Enterprise Partnerships covering Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridge and Peterborough, which are private sector led, are partners that attend and participate in board meetings;
Long-term stakeholders (e.g. London Stansted Airport) which have a long-term interest in the Corridor. Other examples might be land owners and other stakeholders such as major retail, football clubs; Businesses trading in the six priority sectors which have been identified a strong presence in the Corridor, for example life sciences, IT and digital. The Consortium will work closely with these to identify opportunities for their expansion, skills requirements and other initiatives which will support their growth within the Corridor. In addition, the Consortium will seek to work with businesses as sponsors where there is a clear mutual interest. 15. How can I find out more about LSCC? The Website is at: www.lscc.co/ Email: info@lscc.co Or telephone: 020 8489 5279 Appendix: Full list of members, partners and supporters of the Consortium Members of the Consortium: Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire County Councils; Greater London Authority; London Boroughs of: Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Redbridge and Waltham Forest; Cambridge City Council, Peterborough City Council; The Boroughs of Broxbourne, Stevenage and East Herts, Epping Forest, Harlow, South Cambridgeshire and Uttlesford District Councils; The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority as a public authority set up by act of Parliament and the Leisure Trust; Colleges of further education which are based within the corridor as a group have two seats at the board; - Barnet and Southgate College - Capel Manor College - College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London - Epping Forest College - Harlow College - Hertford Regional College - Newham College - Peterborough City - Waltham Forest College Higher education institutions which are mainly based within the corridor as a group will have two seats on the board. The following are confirmed members: - Anglia Ruskin University - Middlesex University - University of Hertfordshire The consortium also enjoys extremely good working relations with Cambridge University.
Consortium Partners: London Stansted Airport Greater Cambridge, Greater Peterborough LEP Hertfordshire LEP South East LEP London Enterprise Panel Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce Essex Chamber of Commerce North London Chamber of Commerce Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce Centre For Cities Hill Group Places For People Public Health England Tottenham Hotspur Football & Athletic Club Ltd Transport for London Other business representative organisations. The consortium is actively recruiting business partners in the corridor regardless of the location of their head quarters. Supporters of the Consortium: The consortium is very grateful for the support of: Rt Hon. Greg Clark MP The officers of the LSCC All Party Parliamentary Group. Rt Hon David Lammy MP Rt. Hon Joan Ryan MP Rt. Hon Sir Alan Haselhurst MP Daniel Zeichner MP Heidi Allen MP Charles Walker MP Lord Harris of Haringey Mark Prisk MP Neighbouring Authorities that wish to support the LSCC: The Corporation of Londo
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