Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

There were none.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest, (as defined in Part 4.4 Appendix B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

At item 9 ‘Invest in BANES’ - Councillor Hughes declared an interest as a tenant in the office space in Midsomer Norton.

There was none.

Bob Goodman made a statement regarding his concerns on the development company and stated that he supported this service being an in-house service.

Councillor Warrington asked if he had details regarding issues at Sladebrook properties. Mr Goodman stated that he had information that there had been concerns about the ventilation systems.

23^rd January 2023

30^th January 2023

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meetings as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.

There will be a presentation at the meeting.

The Chair invited Jackie Clayton to introduce the report and to give a presentation. The presentation covered the following:

·  Economic Strategy Update

·  Background and purpose

·  Strategic context

·  Economic Strategy Development Process

·  The local economy

·  A story of success

·  A recovering economy post-Covid

·  A tale of a two tier economy

·  Evidence highlights future challenges we need to address

·  Draft strategic framework

·  Forward timeline - indicative

Panel members asked the following questions and raised the following points:

Councillor Singleton asked for the definition of ‘micro business’ and asked about ‘sustainable aviation’. The officer explained that a ‘microbusiness’ has under 4 employees (later clarified as under 9 employees). She explained that sustainable aviation is a recognition of sectors that are already present and a question for the future as to what we want to encourage.

Councillor Furse noted the rise in jobs in education and health and asked about these jobs in terms of income as if the jobs are of lower income this can lead to workers having to live outside of the city and travel in. He also made reference to the two wards identified in terms of deprivation – he pointed out that there are pockets of deprivation in other wards that are worse than the two referred to but are not flagged up. We need to target smaller enclaves of deprivation. The officer stated that we need to attract people to do the jobs that need doing while balancing affordable housing and transport concerns.

Councillor MacFie referenced BANES being number one regarding microbusinesses. He asked how accommodation would be needed and referenced the lack of available commercial space in Keynsham and Bath. He asked about the term ‘good work’. The officer explained that this meant a job that pays enough to live well where there is potential for training/upskilling.

Councillor Hughes stated that Midsomer Norton residents concerns are that there is one strategy for two vastly different areas (Bath and NES). He asked if the strategy focused more on the needs of Bath. He stated that the affordable housing level is not met in Bath. He stated that we are moving people on poorer incomes out of Bath who need to then commute back in to the city. He pointed to the extra security measures for the city centre of contrasted this with the lack of street marshals in Midsomer Norton. The officer agreed that is was important not to have a one size fits all strategy. The Cabinet Member forEconomic Development, Regeneration and Growth, Councillor Roper, stated that he had been at a meeting with businesses from Midsomer Norton and Radstock and that many had stated that the felt left out. Those Bath based businesses reported a lack of networking since Covid. He stated that there was a need to improve contact with businesses.

Councillor Duguid stated that housing affordability is an issue causing people to commute into the city. The officer stated that this was a challenge and could be picked up by the local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

There will be a presentation at the meeting.

The Chair invited Claire Lynch, Business and Skills Manager, Rob Dawson, Principle Enterprise Officer and Simon Martin, Director of Regeneration and Housing to introduce the item and give a presentation. The presentation covered the following:

·  Invest in BANES – Service Update

·  Service Overview – Business and Skills Team

·  Invest in BANES website

·  Invest in BANES Communications and Marketing

Panel members asked the following questions and raised the following points:

Councillor MacFie stated that he had been critical when this was ‘Invest in Bath’ but is now impressed and will look at the website. The officer stated that the trial site could be shared and feedback would be appreciated.

Councillor Hughes stated that businesses were being evicted from the office space in Midsomer Norton which is being closed. He added that a lot of businesses move out of BANES to find office space. This is a bigger issue than a website. The officer stated that the aim is the make the website/service more accessible for different locations. He added that there will be a review and an assessment of the demand for officer and industrial space. He mentioned the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone (SVEZ) plans.

Councillor Hughes acknowledged the SVEZ plans but stated that this facility was 10 years down the line and we need to respond to business needs now. The officer stated that the Council has limited budget and the limited business space is a matter to address in the strategy and the local plan. He stated that the Council can orchestrate events and signpost.

Councillor Hodge asked if the original website would be kept so that no information is lost. She also asked the ‘contacts’ be prominent on the new website. The officer stated that some of the text from the old website would be trimmed so as not to duplicate information with the main Council website and also to cut large bodies of text. The original website will be kept for a year. He confirmed that ‘contacts’ would be shown at the top.

Responding to an observation from Councillor Furse, Councillor Hughes declared an interest as a tenant in the office space in Midsomer Norton.

The Chair thanked the officers.

The Chair invited Simon Martin, Director of Regeneration and Housing, and Tim Richens, Managing Director Aequus Group to introduce the report.

Panel members asked the following questions and raised the following points:

Councillor Duguid asked if payments to the Council are actually a payback of loans made by the Council in the past. The officer (Aequus) stated that the £1m paid to the Council is made up of commercial interest returns topped up with dividends. The profile changes year on year.

Councillor Duguid asked if overheads are being increased to cover activity in South Gloucestershire. The officer (Aequus) stated that costs are covered by South Gloucestershire.

Councillor Duguid noted that South Gloucestershire is gaining ground as part of the portfolio and asked about North Somerset. The officer (Aequus) stated that North Somerset are doing some internal evaluation.

In response to a query regarding costs and overages, the officer (Aequus) explained that South Gloucestershire sell a site to Aequus on agreed land value, Aequus deliver the site. The profit is agreed with the shareholder and if there is overage, it is shared between Aequus and South Gloucestershire. 

Councillor Hodge asked if a fixed return is appropriate. The officer (Aequus) explained that the return can be agreed with the shareholder in larger sites. He further explained that delivery models are being considered that maximize returns to the Council. The officer (BANES) stated that a pipeline tracker is used which sets out sites. The £1m payment per year to the Council is reassessed regarding the availability of sites. The £1m is not static and will be reviewed.

Councillor Hodge asked about discounts. The officer (Aequus) explained that there is a pre agreed price at the outset and properties can be revalued if the housing market grows.

Councillor Hughes referred to the core aims of Aequus as set out in the business plan last year. He stated that there is nothing in the aims about South Gloucestershire and that it seemed that we were solving somebody else’s housing problems. He asked if there is capacity to meet these core aims and also asked if Aequus is purely commercial. The officer (Aequus) explained that a regular pipeline is needed and working with South Gloucestershire helps to smooth this. He stated that it is a delivery blend and Aequus does look to deliver aspirations and core aims. The Cabinet Member for Council Housing, Councillor Davis assured the Panel that South Gloucestershire is not at the cost of this authority. He further explained that Aequus is assisting the Council to deliver the Council Housing Building Programme and work with South Gloucestershire is not at a local cost, Aequus can do both.

Councillor Hughes asked what the advantage of Aequus is against an in-house service. The Cabinet Member explained that at the time Aequus was set up in 2015, we did not have the skill sets in-house. We would not have developed the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

The Cabinet Member will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

There was no update.

Please note that there are no meeting dates after May 2023 due to the local elections taking place. Workplans will be on hold until new arrangements are established

The Panel noted that there are no meeting dates until after May 2023 dur to the local elections taking place. Workplans will be set up when the new arrangements are in place.