Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Head of Growth and Economic Regeneration.

The shareholder committee received a report of the Head of Growth and Regeneration, which presented an update on the current position regarding the council’s support for the establishment of Dorset Innovation Park Ltd and the operation of the Dorset Innovation Park.

In presenting the report, the Head of Growth and Regeneration provided an update on the process to agree a Services Contract, which would put in place the final element of required governance between Dorset Council and the company, and noted that the council had commissioned master planning and feasibility work to investigate the potential for employment use on land to the west of the innovation park, which was currently owned and being decommissioned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency. In addition, it was reported that an application to the Local Innovation Partnership Fund, working with Plymouth City Council, had been successful and work was now underway on the full contents of the bid.

Councillors considered the issues covered by the report and during discussion, points were raised in the following areas:

·       Options for future uses of land to the west of the Innovation Park were being investigated, which would consider the longer-term decommissioning programme and environmental designations. In addition, land to the front of the site was being considered for future employment use

·       A discussion was held in respect of Information Technology services that were to be provided to the company by Dorset Council and assurance provided on cyber security and data privacy issues

·       In response to a question regarding the condition of the site and whether any site clearance was required on some plots, the Head of Service noted that the council continued to own the land and had undertaken some plot investigation work, with information to be passed to the company for any action as required. Work undertaken to date had not flagged any issues. The aim was to have plots ready for development

·       Dorset Council and the company had a shared aspiration for a hotel development for the site

·       In respect of the successful bid to the Local Innovation Partnership fund, further discussions would be held across the region. The Innovation Park was a significant component of the regional bid, with the aim that Dorset could play a more advanced role within national security capabilities. It was noted that the creation of the company had assisted in securing the bid for funding. A request was made for a briefing on the bid at an appropriate future meeting

·       Work continued on securing further funding opportunities, including an opportunity to be involved in the establishment of a drone centre of excellence

·       Clarification was sought on the figure for new job generation as provided in the report, which it was explained was related to the amount of employment land/buildings that could potentially be accommodated on site.

The report was NOTED.