Issue - items at meetings - Update on the Economic Strategy and Action Plan 2013 - 2018

Report of the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing.

RESOLVED - That the Committee:

(1) Notes and comment upon the progress made in developing the strategy and action plan; and

(2)Notes the revised timeline for project sign off to ensure the alignment of the Refreshed Economic Strategy with the City Deal proposal

10.1    Before proceeding to items 10 and 11 on the agenda linked presentations were given by Tony Mernagh of the Brighton Business Partnership and the Head of City Regeneration. Mr Mernagh’s presentation sought to highlight and set in perspective the demographic for Brighton and Hove and to set into context the opportunities for economic development, in the short, medium and longer term.

10.2         The Head of City Regeneration then gave a presentation outlining the review of the council’s economic strategy. He explained that the city had come through the global financial crisis and flat lining economy since 2008 relatively well and was the third fastest recovering city in the country. The city was driven by a relatively strong performance by the tourism and visitor economy and its maturing digital media sector, the financial and business service sector had also held up well. It was intended that the strategy and action plan would be shaped by the local economic context, would respond to emerging national policy and would seek to influence new regional policy.

10.3         The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Environment and Housing which provided an update on the Refresh of the Economic Strategy and Action Plan 2013-2018.

10.4    The Head of City Regeneration went on to explain that one of the primary aims of the strategy was to ensure that the city was in a strong position to take advantage of shifts in government policy, for example the focus on stimulating growth in the economy, to support and influence the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership as the new mechanism for channelling funding and to ensure that the city was in a strong place to take advantage of the new EU funding round. The strategic objectives of the Plan were to:

            Maintain Brighton and Hove’s distinctive offer;

            Grow quality jobs and business opportunities in higher value and low carbon sectors;

            Align job skills to support higher value sectors;

            Tackle barriers to employment and to create employment opportunities for all;

            Establish a strong and Influential Greater Brighton City Region.

10.5    Councillor Brown considered that the presentation had been thorough and welcomed the approaches being proposed to encourage the growth of small/medium size businesses.

10.6    Councillor Morgan commended the report and welcomed the approach being taken, he considered however that it was very important to recognise that these issues went hand in hand with adequate affordable housing provision. It was important to have a broad mixed economy with support and opportunities available to those on low pay.

10.7    Councillor Hawtree also commended the report considering that the interface with other authorities and full utilisation of opportunities as they presented themselves was very important too.

10.8         Councillor Bowden. The Chair stated the strategy was designed to encourage entrepreneurial skills and new start up businesses which would help to create more jobs as well as seeking to protect established provision.

10.9    The Executive Director, Environment, Development and Housing stated that it was also intended to use the city’s unique qualities in its interface with Government and when working collaboratively and co-operatively with other partners, including other local authorities. Procurement processes could be complex and ways in which this might be simplified or streamlined were being explored.

10.6    RESOLVED - (1) That the Committee notes the progress made in developing the strategy and action plan; and

(2) Notes the revised timeline for project sign off to ensure the alignment of the Refreshed Economic Strategy with the City Deal proposal.