Issue - items at meetings - Annual performance (post recession)

Mr Richard Miles, Performance Analyst, introduced the report. In the LAA targets, only one was significantly off target and that was the NEET figure.  The Appendix gave an update over the last year and it would be brought back in 6 months time.

The national economic data lags by around two years. Brighton & Hove commissioned an economic forecast based on local and national information. The growth rates (in the projections) are positive and up 14-18%.  In the Gross Value Added (GVA) projections, the higher sectors such as banking are doing well. The overall picture was a positive one.

The vacancy rates were not as bad as national figures – there were some areas of concern but these were being addressed by the empty premises team. They had worked with local artists and also used images from the museum service to improve empty premises.

Following a question on school visits, Ms Bagshawe explained that 2 museums in the sub region had dropped out of the programme and this had impacted on the figure. 

A Committee Member asked whether there could be a report on the knowledge economy. Mr Marshall confirmed there was no indicator on this but they would consider how to take this further.

Preston Street was raised as a concern and the Committee were told that there was funding for a mini masterplan for Preston Street. The Council were working with businesses to put this together. The images used in the empty shop fronts were emergency measures to make it look better.

A discussion took place over what the subject should be for the focus of the next report and it was agreed that this would be worklessness with an emphasis on young people.

RESOLVED – that the area of focus for overview on the next report would be worklessness with an emphasis on young people.