Meeting documents

To consider a report by the Director for Environment, Infrastructure and the Economy on the progress with the current workstreams within the Economic Growth Strategy and to recommend to Dorset Council  what the next steps should be in relation to Dorset Council’s economic vision in collaboration with the Dorset LEP/LNP.  To follow.

The Committee considered a report by the Director for Environment, Infrastructure and the Economy on the County Council’s Enabling Economic Growth Strategy. Members received a presentation on issues which could contribute to the economic vision of the new Dorset Council.

The report set out what progress was being made with delivering the County Council’s Enabling Economic Growth Strategy, focusing on priority actions.  The Committee were being asked to consider what the report entailed in order that this could lead to recommendations being made for the economic vision of the new Dorset Council.

How the strategy was being delivered; what investment was being made; the way in which this was being done and what this entailed was all contained in the report for the committee consideration. A presentation at the meeting complemented this and gave members a clearer understanding of what this entailed.

What was integral to the success of economic growth and how it could beprogressed was set out in the report.

The Dorset economy was not reliant upon any one sector, and its resilience was enhanced by the presence of sound sectors in terms of high productivity. As such resources had been focussed on sectors with potential to grow and increase productivity (advanced engineering and manufacturing, and agritech/aquaculture) and improving aspects of sectors which are important to the local economy (construction, visitor economy).

The policy, investment and activity referred to by officers provided a context and foundations for the new Dorset Council to develop ambitious and sustainable proposals for economic growth. 

With the aid of a visual presentation, opportunities and challenges facing Dorset were outlined and the part productivity; skills and education; 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 that ownership of this should be embraced by them to ensure that the Committee was successful.

The part that the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership played in influencing economic growth was drawn to the Committee’s attention and the success in achieving the Dorset Innovation Park at Winfrith Newburgh 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 rural county, with the likes of tourism, agriculture, fishing, mineral extraction and quarrying, and oil exploration and production all playing their significant part in benefitting the economy. The viability of these would ensure that rural development was maintained and that there was investment made to benefit the rural sector alongside other sectors of the economy. 

The Committee were keen to see that commercial investment fulfilled its potential and how Dorset Council was able to facilitate economic growth for the private sector was instrumental in this. There was an acknowledgment that businesses needed to be encouraged to locate to Dorset for prosperity to be achieved. Given the various means by which Dorset Council could play its part in facilitating economic growth across the County, there were significant opportunities for Dorset to achieve its aim of stimulating a more prosperous economy.

The Committee were pleased to see the progress being made and hoped that this would be maintained by Dorset Council, particularly in the integrated working relationship that would arise in a Unitary authority.

Resolved

That progress with delivering the County Council’s Enabling Economic Growth Strategy 2018-2020 be supported in that this might be maintained and enhanced by Dorset Council.

Reason for decision

Economic growth was vital to the achievement of the County Council’s four corporate priorities, especially ‘Prosperous’, and was likely to be a priority for the new Dorset Council.