Agenda item - 2015/16 Greater Brighton Economic Board Annual Report

Report of the Chair, Greater Brighton Officer Programme Board (copy attached).

1)           That the Board approve the 2015/16 Annual Report.

2)           That the Board agree to the submission of the 2015/16 Annual Report to their respective organisations.

5.1         The Board considered a report of the Chair, Greater Brighton Officer Programme Board that set out the achievements made in 2015/16 and the key areas of focus for the medium to long-term.

5.2         Amanda Menahem stated that she had found the wording on page 2 of the Annual Report overly negative toward existing traditional and coastal industries and that she had concerns regarding the response leaders in those industries may have when the Report was published in the public domain.

5.3         Dean Orgill stated that he shared that view and noted the initiatives taken by C2C and the Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership to support those sectors.

5.4         Peter Davies stated that page 5 of the Annual Report listed projects but did not provide detail on those projects and some had been omitted. Furthermore, there was an absence of the rationale behind why certain areas of the city region were being supported.

5.5         In reference to page 2 of the document, Nick Hibberd stated that the wording did appear unintentionally negative and adjustments would be made to the text to emphasise the need for diversification in the economy and the need to attract high value sectors to the region as well as support existing sectors. Nick Hibberd added that some projects had not been covered in the report as they had been detailed in the previous Annual Report and the emphasis of this document was what had been progressed through 2015/16.

5.6         RESOLVED-

1)           That the Board approve the 2015/16 Annual Report.

2)           That the Board agree to the submission of the 2015/16 Annual Report to their respective organisations.