Agenda for Enterprise, Employment & Major Projects Cabinet Member Meeting on Tuesday, 15th September, 2009, 5.00pm
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Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 209 KBVenue: Committee Room 1, Hove Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Caroline De Marco, Democratic Services Officer
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Procedural Business
(b) Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.
NOTE: Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.
A list and description of the exempt categories is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.
Minutes: 11a Declarations of Interests
11.1 There were none
11b Exclusion of Press and Public
11.2 In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (“the Act), the Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Employment and Major Projects considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A (3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100I(I) of the Act).
11.3 RESOLVED – that the press and public be not excluded from the meeting.
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Minutes of the previous meeting Minutes if the Meeting held on 10 June 2009 (copy attached). Minutes: 12.1 RESOLVED – That the minutes held on 10 June 2009 be agreed and signed by the Cabinet Member.
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Cabinet Member's Communications Minutes: Future Jobs Fund
13.1 The Cabinet Member reported that Brighton & Hove City Council had successfully led a bid for £2.3 million from the Futures Jobs Fund. This fund, announced in the chancellors budget speech, was to be used as part of the young peoples guarantee, to ensure that those aged between 18 – 24, who had been on Jobseekers Allowance for between 9 and 12 months, would have a real job opportunity, and that a generation is not overlooked during this current economic downturn.
13.2 350 jobs would be created across the public and third sector, as well as social enterprises that show community and/or green benefit, and would be provided alongside apprenticeships and other qualifications. The money would be used to pay for core salaries for 6 months, based on minimum wage and 25 hours per week. With over 30 partners on board, this would be a great opportunity for the young people, furthest from the labour market.
Economic Taskforce Update
13.3 The Cabinet Member reported that the city’s Economy Task Force continued to meet to oversee progress on the package of recession relief measures that had been put in place. The press and media campaign Be Local Buy Local would run until Christmas and this phase was being run in partnership with the Argus. The programme of support workshops for local businesses would come to an end in October. The Economy Task Force was currently looking to shape the next phase of support for local businesses with a forward looking and positive programme of training, marketing and events initiatives.
Business Retention/Inward Investment Strategy (BRII)
13.4 The Cabinet Member reported that following the approval of the first ever Business Retention and Inward Investment Strategy for the city, work had commenced in delivering some of the key actions for the first year.
13.5 A Board had been formed to act as the main delivery vehicle for the strategy with representatives from the city council, the economic partnership, SEEDA, the Universities and FE, the commercial agents all sitting on the Board. The Board had approved the 1st year action plan and officers were now working to deliver against these.
13.6 Some successes were already being seen, such as assisting a local firm achieve their relocation / expansion aims with a new premises in Woodingdean, a television production company was moving to Brighton from London and officers had been actively working with a number of other relocation and expansion enquiries that were still progressing.
13.7 Work was also underway to improve the quality and effectiveness of the commercial property database which tended to be the first port of call for businesses looking for commercial space in the city. This enhanced database was due to be launched in October of this year.
13.8 A number of events were being planned for this year and more information on these would be available soon.
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Items reserved for discussion (a) Items reserved by the Cabinet Member
(b) Items reserved by the Opposition Spokespersons
(c) Items reserved by Members, with the agreement of the Cabinet Member.
NOTE: Public Questions, Written Questions from Councillors, Petitions, Deputations, Letters from Councillors and Notices of Motion will be reserved automatically. Minutes: 14.1 All items were reserved for discussion.
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Report of the Acting Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).
Minutes: Petition – Kingspan
15.1 The
Cabinet Member considered the following petition presented at
Council on 16 July 2009 by Councillor Marsh and signed by 78
people:
· Actively seek an alternative site for Kingspan, so that they may reach their full commercial potential, · Fully inform residents of any changes to Kingspan’s operating hours or any potential relocation, · To recognise that increased operating hours would bring serious disruption to residents in Moulsecoomb.”
15.2 The Cabinet Member explained that a written response would be sent to Councillor Marsh.
15.3 RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.
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Public Questions (The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 8 September 2009)
No public questions have been received by the date of publication. Minutes: 16.1 There were none.
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Deputations (The closing date for receipt of deputations is 12 noon on 8 September 2009)
No deputations have been received by the date of publication. Minutes: 17.1 There were none.
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Letters from Councillors No letters have been received.
Minutes: 18.1 There were none.
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Written Questions from Councillors No written questions have been received. Minutes: 19.1 There were none.
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Notices of Motions No Notices of Motion have been received by the date of publication.
Minutes: 20.1 There were none.
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Social Enterprise Strategy Action Plan & Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA)
Report of Director of Culture & Enterprise (copy attached). Additional documents: Decision: (1) That the Social Enterprise Strategy Action Plan be approved.
(2) That the Social Enterprise Strategy EIA be approved.
Minutes: 21.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Culture & Enterprise which reported that the Action Plan and Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) were developments from the Social Enterprise Strategy approved by the Enterprise Employment & Major Projects Cabinet Member Meeting on 16 September 2009. They completed the set of reports needed to start implementing a robust and inclusive city-wide social enterprise strategy (for copy see minutes book). Approval was requested for the action plan and EIA to enable implementation of the social enterprise strategy to proceed.
21.2 The Head of Communities Team confirmed that the council is now a member of a new European Social Enterprise Network.
21.3 The Cabinet Member and Councillor Randall considered the report to be good and comprehensive.
21.4 The Cabinet Member asked for an update report in six months
21.5 RESOLVED – Having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations.
(1) That the Social Enterprise Strategy Action Plan be approved.
(2) That the Social Enterprise Strategy EIA be approved.
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Supermarket Impact Work Report of Director of Culture & Enterprise (copy attached). Decision: (1) That the council continue to support local independent retailers in terms of relevant policy development as part of the Local Development Framework and suite of supporting documents.
(2) That the council continue to fund support programmes for local retailers as part of the Recession Relief measures, expanding upon the Be Local Buy Local and Business Lifebelt programmes. Minutes: 22.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Culture & Enterprise which recommended continued support to local independent retail businesses (for copy see minute book). The report was initiated as a result of a Notice of Motion to Council earlier this year by Councillor Brian Oxley, which raised the issue of the potential impact of a supermarket locating in the Portland Road area. The report took a wider look at this issue and summarised current research and information available on the impact of supermarkets and on retail statistics in Brighton and Hove.
22.2 Councillor Oxley attended the meeting and explained that earlier in the year there had been talk about the possibility of a major retailer moving to Portland Road. There had been concern in the area about the impact this would have on independent businesses. The report mentioned the competition supermarkets could bring to an area and also highlighted the key value of local shops. For example, local shops could create a sense of neighbourhood. Councillor Oxley stressed the need to get the right mix of businesses in areas. He explained that the Portland Road Traders Association had now been set up, and he considered that the recommendations in the report were the right ingredients to take forward.
22.3 Mr Gavin Beatty was invited to speak to the meeting. He explained that he would like to see the business sector spread to the far end of Portland Road and would like to see the traders association more involved in the renewal of the road. Mr Beatty was pleased to report that two shops had recently opened in the road.
22.4 The Cabinet Member offered to attend a meeting of the Portland Road Traders Association. Mr Beatty was pleased to accept this offer and considered that further support from the Cabinet Member would be enormously helpful. It was agreed that Mr Beatty should write to him and suggest some dates.
22.5 The Head of Culture and Economy stressed the huge impact of retail sector and the need to support that sector.
22.6 Councillor Randall supported the recommendations in the report and stressed the need to cut down on food miles and support the local supply chain. He hoped the council could be sensible about rents for small businesses. The Cabinet Member endorsed this view and stressed that the council were being careful in renegotiating rents. Meanwhile there were initiatives such as Be Local Buy Local which would benefit traders in general. He thanked officers for their work on the report.
22.7 Councillor Oxley informed the Cabinet Member that the traders acknowledged the work carried out by the Head of Culture and Economy and the Economic Development Officer. He hoped it would inform other thinking and would affect other areas such as Preston Street.
22.8 RESOLVED – Having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendation.
(1) That the council continue to support local independent retailers in terms of relevant policy development as part of the Local Development Framework and suite of supporting documents.
(2) That the council continue to fund support programmes for local retailers as part of the Recession Relief measures, expanding upon the Be Local Buy Local and Business Lifebelt programmes. |