Venue: Virtual Meeting - live link below
Contact: Administrator, Adele Taylor Tel. (01252) 398831, Email. adele.taylor@rushmoor.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14th July 2021 (copy attached). Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 14th July 2021 were agreed as a correct record. |
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STRATEGIC ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK PDF 77 KB To receive a briefing paper prepared by Tim Mills, Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing and Lee McQuade, Economy and Growth Manager, giving an overview of the Council’s emerging Strategic Economic Framework. The purpose is to provide background to the document and to obtain Member’s views on the consultation process and principles, as set out in the briefing paper. Minutes: The Board welcomed Mr Lee McQuade, Economy and Growth
Manager who was in attendance to give a briefing on the Council’s Strategic
Economic Framework (SEF). The purpose of the briefing was to provide some
background information on the SEF and to gather Members’ views on the
consultation process and principles. The Board noted the uncertainty around economic growth,
particularly policy uncertainty from the imminent Levelling Up White Paper, the
net zero strategy and future funding. The impacts of the pandemic had also led
to economic uncertainty. Considering the uncertainty, changes to the document
were being made which would determine the best way to consult on the framework.
It was felt that a soft approach, both internally and externally, would be
taken. External partners would include Hampshire County Council, the EM3 LEP
and business representative groups. It was also proposed that a business survey
could be carried out with outcomes presented to the Cabinet in early 2022. The purpose of the SEF was to offer a consistent vision and
provide a framework, over the short to medium term, on how the Borough’s
economy could recover, to identify mechanisms for delivery and establish how
the Council will measure and evaluate the performance of the SEF. To allow effective consultation on the SEF, a process was
underway to capture key information. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities and Threats) analysis of the Borough had been undertaken; this
data would be used within the consultation process to ensure all key areas were
covered. The Board was apprised of some of the high level data and analysis
that had been carried out, including labour force (claimant/age/furlough)
statistics, business grants and impacts after withdrawal of funding support,
changes to working patterns, sectoral impacts and inward investment/expansion.
With regard to the town centres, data had been collected on, vacancy rates,
footfall data and retail profile changes. The Board noted the vision, “Rushmoor the Premier Place for
Business to Thrive”. Comments were welcomed on the content of the vision, which
included key driving forces and target outcomes. The Board discussed the presentation and raised a number of
issues, including: ·
The importance providing flexibility within the
framework to allow for adjustments following the pending papers from
Government. ·
How can the messages in the North Hampshire
Narrative be reflected in the SEF? – it was advised that these two documents
would be cross referenced to align together. ·
Understanding vacancies/requirements and to
ensure skills matching – conversations would be initiated with the Sixth Form
College and FCOT to address this issue ·
Ensuring more diverse businesses are
incorporated into the SEF, such as co-operatives etc. ·
Enabling community wealth building ·
Addressing employment in the future, colleges
keen to improve the status of the mental health of their students before
leaving college and entering the workforce It was advised that Mr. McQuade would pick up, in more detail, on comments and queries with individual Members outside the meeting and a further report on the SEF would be given to the Board as the consultation process ... view the full minutes text for item 14. |
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BUSINESS PLAN The Assistant Chief Executive to report on the proposed process and timeline for the preparation of the Council’s Business Plan for 2022/23. The Board will be asked for views on the process, particularly around engagement and format, as the Business Plan is developed. This item will be followed by an informal workshop after the conclusion of the formal meeting. Minutes: The Board welcomed Rachel Barker, Assistant Chief Executive,
who was in attendance to give a presentation on the proposed timetable of the
development of the 2022/23 Council Business Plan. The formal meeting was
followed by an informal Member workshop. The Board was apprised of the processes taken to develop the
business plan. Previously the Board had been involved in the process of
developing policy at the approval stages. However, this had been raised as an
issue at a previous meeting and engagement with the Board was now timetabled to
take place much sooner in the process, at the initial policy development stage. The timeline for the business plan had been revised to bring
it more in line with the budget setting process. Throughout October, Officers
would be undertaking a review of the 2021/23 Council Business Plan and
identifying the strategic context moving forward. This work would be
complemented by service workshops and wider engagement before coming back to
the Board for review, at its November, 2021 meeting. The draft plan would then
be developed and brought to the Board in January, 2022 followed by the approval
process. During the development of the business plan, a number of key
issues would need to be considered, these included: ·
The Levelling Up White Paper ·
The Strategic Economic Framework ·
Council enablers i.e. Climate Change Strategy,
EDI, Supporting Communities Strategy and ICE Programme ·
Budget setting ·
Service planning ·
Residents survey feedback ·
North Hampshire Narrative ·
Hampshire Budget consultations The Board discussed the presentation and it was suggested
that consideration could be given to imminent planning reforms and NHS reforms. The Board ENDORSED the approach to the development of the business plan. |
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To discuss the Policy and Projects Advisory Board Work Plan (copy attached). Minutes: The Board NOTED the current Work Plan. |