Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Growth and Regeneration

The Economic Growth Strategy was presented by the Head of Growth and Regeneration and the Principal Economic Development Officer and outlined the early baselines of productivity and insights that the strategy sought to address as it developed and come back to a future Overview Committee following working groups around the identified key priorities ahead of public engagement.

Following the presentation there was a discussion that covered off several key areas

·       The importance of embracing local distinctiveness and growing local businesses alongside the bringing in of new external businesses to stimulate growth

·       Infrastructure in terms of transport and communication links, alongside the provision of affordable housing with the Local plan and other linked strategies to enable the economic growth and overcome key barriers.

·       The importance of the agriculture sector and the separation of low paid vs low skilled descriptors.

·       The importance of education, training and the value add of having a university if we can retain the skills in the local area.

·       The importance of creating an environment that supports lots of businesses to grow and thrive and there was a warning of placing too much emphasis on large employers in terms of resilience if they choose to relocate.

The committee recommended that the working groups didn’t require proportional representation but the best knowledge and skills from members. The Economic Growth startegy retrurned to the January meeting following the working groups.