Issue - meetings

Growth Strategy Update Q3 & Q4 2019/20.

Meeting: 09/09/2020 - Growth Scrutiny Committee (Item 23)

23 Growth Strategy Update Q3 & Q4 2019/20 & Growth Performance Indicators Q3 & Q4 2019/20. pdf icon PDF 461 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Committee considered a report which provided the 2019/20 Growth Indicator outturns.

 

A summary attached to the report contained an update on the Growth Strategy for the period 2015–2020, together with the outturns for performance indicators for 2019-20, which supported the delivery of the Growth Strategy.

 

In 2014 the Council committed to a Strategy to focus on unlocking the potential to deliver growth for the District.  Through the Growth Strategy and the Corporate Plan (at that time) 2015-2019, the Council set out its ambition to create a sustainable high performing economy.  The Council established 3 strategic priorities to unlock our growth potential;

 

1.    Supporting Enterprise: maintaining and growing the business base,

2.    Enabling Housing Growth: increasing the supply, quality and range of housing to meet the needs of a growing population and support economic growth,

3.    Unlocking Development Potential: unlocking the capacity of major employment sites.

 

Three performance indicators were at ‘exception’ with a full explanation provided within the appendix. Two performance indicators were awaiting data - information had been delayed due to Covid 19.

 

The Council had approved a new Council Ambition and developed a performance framework to deliver that ambition over the period 2020-2024.  One of the aims to support the Ambition was our economy – by driving growth, promoting the District and being business and visitor friendly.  Delivering a new Business Growth Strategy by March 2021 was one of the targets to support this aim.  Once the new strategy was approved this report would be reviewed as required.

 

A Member queried what the process for defining the next Growth Strategy would be and as it was based on ambition, would it be measured in the same way with different targets being broken down.  Further, the graph showed an increase in unemployment so would a bigger focus be put on ECO.01 and would this include a strategy to bring in more jobs to the District, potentially utilising a lot of the empty space at Pleasley Vale.  The Assistant Director of Development advised Committee that work on the Growth Strategy was ongoing and a priority.  An economy recovery plan was drawn up in the early stages of lockdown and this was developing into a Business and Growth Strategy.  Jobs were a huge objective in the Strategy and a whole range of work was being carried out, for example, with the Council’s Partnership Team regarding the ‘Kickstart’ scheme and the Institute of Technology and also getting employment sites up and running etc.  Work was also being undertaking with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development on the service plan objectives and targets.

 

A Member referred to the figures for business rates growth and arrears in the report and queried if this data was broken down by ward.  The Information, Engagement & Performance Manager would enquire and inform Members if this were available.

 

A Member queried how the new Planning Indicators in the Growth Strategy would match up to the proposals in the Government’s new White Paper on Planning.  The Assistant Director of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23