Board plan to drive innovation by the Marches Forward Partnership

Shropshire Council Cabinet is being asked to approve the forward strategy and governance proposals which will allow the Marches Forward Partnership (MFP) to progress.

The partnership was launched in 2023 with a plan to unlock new investment into the English and Welsh border region, that is home to 750,000 people.

The four councils in the partnership, Herefordshire Council, Monmouthshire County Council, Powys County Council and Shropshire Council, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, and  following an initial year of joint work are now seeking approval of the formal MFP Proposition and the creation of a partnership board to co-ordinate delivery and  attract more investment to allow work to progress.

The MFP has already worked with independent advisors to identify three priorities to drive change and create opportunities within the Marches.

They are:

• to support high productivity in the region’s urban and rural areas
• to become a green economy trailblazer region
• to support healthy and connected places

Whilst the Marches Proposition sets out the opportunity, the MFP has  already begun work on innovative projects to achieve the priority goals. The partnership is now seeking approval from councillors to support the creation of a partnership board which will meet quarterly, and will allow further effective cross-border collaboration and involvement from key stakeholders .

Shropshire Council Leader Lezley Picton said:-

“The MFP has already taken a strategic view of the Marches and how we can work together to achieve the best outcomes working with government both sides of the border.

“As work has progressed it has become clear there is a need for a different structure than that of the memorandum of understanding so all four councils will be asked to formally approve the MFP Proposition and the creation of the partnership board.

“The Proposition identifies how the Marches region can drive growth and prosperity between England and Wales and outlines the short-term priorities that have been identified, alongside a longer-term programme of ongoing delivery, to take advantage of wider funding opportunities.”

Approval of the Proposition will allow work to progress on current projects which include:

–              Marches Good Food Movement – a rural innovation region, leading food production for the nation, growing the food sector and supporting future adaptation techniques and land management opportunities.

–              Marches Environmental Innovation and Investment Platform – to establish a platform which utilises the unique environmental assets of the region to drive large scale private sector investment.

–              Marches Health Prevention Pilot -to pilot early intervention and prevention health inequalities initiatives.

–              Marches Connects – to create an equitable and connected cross border transport system which supports movement between the union and reforms services, providing a coherent and integrated rural transport approach.

Proactive engagement with the National Wealth Fund (NWF) has also led to the signing of an agreement between Shropshire Council and the NWF on behalf of the MFP.

This will provide the MFP with dedicated advisory support on the MFP’s project pipeline and delivery programme with a focus on the private sector market and helping to unlock investment opportunities.

The report seeking approval for the MFP Proposition will be discussed by Shropshire Council Cabinet at its meeting at 2pm on Wednesday 5 March.