To take the opportunity to understand the purpose and aims of the Committee, these being set in context by the Lead Officer, the Director for Environment and the Economy and the Service Director – Economy, to include a summary of:-
· what scrutiny entails and how this function should be applied;
· understanding the purpose of the Committee and making sense of the part it plays in meeting the aims of the Corporate Plan;
· the means by which this might be achieved;
· an explanation of the State of Dorset Economy, the role of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and the relationship these will have with the Committee.
An opportunity will also be provided to meet principal officers and those relevant Heads of Service who will regularly service the Committee.
Minutes:
With the aid of a visual presentation, the purpose and aims of the Committee were set in context by lead officers: namely the Director for Environment and the Economy; the Service Director – Economy; the Service Director – Environment; the Service Director Highways and Emergency Planning and the Head of ICT and Customer Services.
The way in which the Committee was designed to operate, what economic growth entailed and the issues for focus were drawn to the attention of the Committee. Officers provided an understanding of the purpose of the Committee and making sense of the part it played in meeting the aims of the Corporate Plan and the means by which this might be achieved. An explanation of the State of Dorset Economy, the role of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and the relationship these had with the Committee was also outlined. How the four Corporate Outcomes: safe; healthy; independent; prosperous - would benefit from a sustainable and prosperous economy was readily acknowledged.
Opportunities and challenges facing Dorset were outlined and the part productivity; employment rates; learning and skills; housing; infrastructure and the role that the environment played in all this was explained. The principle of an Economic Growth Strategy and the benefit this would bring was explained and members recognised the part the Committee had to play in making this a success.
The part that the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership played in influencing and enabling economic growth was drawn to the Committee’s attention. The success in achieving the Dorset Innovation Park (Enterprise Zone) at Winfrith Newburgh and the investment made in it was noted, as well as the importance of the Western Dorset Growth Corridor and what benefits this brought.
The importance of digital infrastructure and its availability in order to access
opportunities was seen to be essential in economic growth being successful and
every effort was being made to facilitate the provision of Superfast Broadband
throughout the County, which was demonstrated by the County Council’s continued
commitment towards this. It was acknowledged that universal provision of Superfast
Broadband was critical to the future economic prosperity of Dorset.
Officers explained that in enabling economic growth, consideration should be given to the part employment; housing; skills; infrastructure and the environment played and the relationship between these. Whilst sophisticated technological business played a critical part in how economic growth might be achieved, there was a need to
recognise the importance of what part other, more traditional, sectors played in this
across the County, with the likes of tourism; the rural sector, and natural resource exploration, extraction and production all playing their significant part in benefitting the economy. The viability of these would ensure that rural development was maintained, with investment being made to benefit the rural sector alongside other sectors of the economy.
The Committee recognised the part that the County Council was able to play in facilitating and enabling economic growth in partnership with the private sector, this being integral to what success could be achieved. There was an acknowledgment that businesses needed to expand as well as being encouraged to locate to Dorset for prosperity to be achieved. Given the various means by which the County Council could play its part in facilitating economic growth across the County, there were seen to be significant opportunities for Dorset to achieve its aim of stimulating a more prosperous economy.
How the Highways and Emergency Planning Service operated and how its Service priorities supported economic activity were explained to the Committee. Maintenance of the County’s physical infrastructure was a key element in being able to effectively contribute towards improving economic growth. The successful implementation of Strategic Partnerships between other local authorities and key stakeholders played a significant part in this. The development of the Working Together Highways Initiative with Town and Parish Council’s had proven to be beneficial to what could be achieved on the ground.
How the Environment Service was able to contribute to Dorset in terms of delivering a healthy environment for Dorset, for all to access, and in key prevention activities, was acknowledged and what was being done to achieve this outlined. Access to the coast and countryside was seen to be fundamental to the health and wellbeing of all residents and visitors to the county and in benefitting the rural and coastal economy.
The role of digital infrastructure was also outlined, with greater detail being provided under minute 36.
The Chairman thanked officers for their presentation and invited members to submit any observations they had on what they had seen and heard direct to officers for their consideration.
Noted