Agenda item - Economic Strategy and Action Plan 2013-18

38.1         Councillor Bowden introduced the report which detailed the refresh of the Economic Strategy and Action Plan for 2013-2018.  He noted that there was cross-party for the strategy and action plan and that the refresh process was a fine example of co-operative working between the council, the Economic Partnership and other agencies.  It was a robust strategy and promoted sustainable growth which supported the City Plan.  He therefore recommended it to the Council for approval.

38.2         Councillor Wealls welcomed the report but expressed concern over the length of the strategy and action plan and noted that there were a number of repetitions in terms of wording and questioned whether sufficient consideration had been given to the importance of retail and education in terms of influencing the local economy.

38.3         Councillor Janio supported Councillor Wealls and suggested that more support was required to support the local economy and businesses within the city.  He noted that the aims of the City Deal project would be beneficial if it came to fruition but was minded to abstain on voting on the item.

38.4         Councillor Morgan welcomed the report and stated that the Labour & Co-operative Group supported the recommendations and he wished to commend the officers who had worked on the strategy and action plan.  There was a need to have an economic strategy that covered the whole of the city and not just the city centre.  He believed that more work was required to develop apprenticeships and support for higher education for example and to enable the city to compete on a national and European level, if it was to reach its potential.

38.5         Councillor Cox expressed his concern in regard to the information outlined in the strategy and questioned whether it would achieve the economic prosperity that it set out.  He believed that it was a missed opportunity and hoped that the objective set out in paragraph 4.2.36 would be taken forward by all departments in the council.  He also noted that had it not been for the need to agree to the City Deal he would be voting against the recommendations.

38.6         Councillor J. Kitcat stated that he could not understand the opposition being expressed to the report when it had been through both the Economic Development & Culture and Policy & Resources Committees with cross-party support.  The need for a strong local economy was essential for the growth of the city and he noted that the latest figures showed that the city was ahead of all national indicators in terms of its economic position in the current economic climate.  It was important to take this work forward and Members and officers were due to put forward the proposals for City Deal to Ministers in early November and he hoped that the council could show its support for this.

38.7         Councillor Mears stated there was a need to provide for the young people in the city and those living on the estates who may not be as academically inclined as others but needed the opportunity for employment.  She was however concerned about the need for housing and whilst the proposed developments at Preston Barracks and Circus Street were welcome, they were aimed at student accommodation rather than addressing the housing shortage.  She believed that more work was needed to enable key workers to find homes in the city and to meet the demand for housing in general, something which she believed the report lacked.

38.8         Councillor Janio asked for a point of clarification in regard to whether the City Deal project was directly linked to the economic strategy and as such there was a need to consider and approve the report.

38.9         The Monitoring Officer stated that there was a significant degree of overlap between the Economic Strategy and the City Deal and in his opinion they were inter-dependent and as such should the strategy not be approved as recommended by the Policy & Resources Committee, it could undermine the City Deal bid.

38.10    Councillor Randall stated that there was a need to address the housing situation in the city both for students and residents and he hoped that the current projects would enable provision to be increased for everyone.

38.11    Councillor G. Theobald stated that he was concerned about the reference in the document to council tax increases and noted that the Conservative Group opposed any such increases at this time.  The Group fully supported the City Deal project and recognised the importance of working with neighbouring authorities on this matter and given the Monitoring Officer’s clarification would support the recommendations in the report.  However, the report was poorly written and to long and he hoped it could be refined.

38.12    Councillor Peltzer Dunn stated that he had intended to abstain but given the need to support the City Deal bid would support the recommendations.  However, he also felt that the document was far too long and in need of review.

38.13    Councillor Bowden thanked everyone for their contributions and noted that the strategy was one which had been formulated through partnership working and was being driven by the Economic Partnership.  The reference to the council tax was an indication of the administration’s intent but was subject to full council approval in due course.  The issue of studentification was an important one and he hoped could be addressed so that housing could be released back to those on the waiting list and for key workers.  He noted that the local economy was outperforming the national average and hoped that this would continue and therefore recommended the strategy to the council for adoption.

38.14    The Mayor noted that the report had moved and put the recommendations to the vote.

38.15    RESOLVED:

(1)         That the refresh of the Economic Strategy and Action Plan 2013 -2018 be approved;

(2)         That the Economic Partnership and other business and voluntary sector partners be thanked for their contribution to the creation of the new Economic Strategy for the city;

(3)         That the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing be authorised to make any minor amendments relating to the report following further consultation with the Economic Partnership in September 2013; and

(4)         That the work taking place to align the Economic Strategy with the Greater Brighton City Deal proposals and emerging Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Strategy be noted.