Agenda item

This report sets out changes in the local and national economy.  It proposes the priority actions to enable sustained growth in the district.

In an ad hoc statement, Councillor Charles Gerrish celebrated the success of one small local business which had recently landed a large overseas contract.  He referred to recommendation 2.4 in the report, which related to the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone and said that he had recently attended a meeting there at which Bath had not been mentioned once.  He encouraged Cabinet to speak up for the area.

Councillor Cherry Beath, in proposing the item, congratulated officers for the great deal of work which had been done to reconsider the economic strategy in the light of so many changed circumstances.  She said that the report highlighted the Council’s key objectives and had at its heart the economic success of the whole area.  She was delighted that Bath Riverside had been designated as an Enterprise Area.  The objective was to bring forward schemes to meet the social and economic aims of the area, particularly the high number of small businesses.

Councillor Paul Crossley in seconding the proposal stressed the importance of ensuring lasting employment opportunities.  He was pleased that the Local Economic Partnership was well thought of in government circles.  He assured Councillor Charles Gerrish that the LEP was not Bristol-centric, and that this Council was very involved.  He was very pleased that there were 3 actions to improve secure employment opportunities for long-term unemployed and disabled people.

Councillor Roger Symonds referred to the table in section 5.11 of the report, which showed that the number of unemployed 18-24 year olds in B&NES had risen by 3% in a year.  He found this alarming.

Councillor David Bellotti warmly supported the report, but expressed some concerns that in paragraphs 5.16 and 5.18 there were references to “office development”.  He felt that, with new ways of working, office accommodation requirements were reducing and that new office accommodation should not be built unless it could be demonstrated that it was already pre-let. 

Councillor Cherry Beath summed up by saying that the problem of youth unemployment was being addressed although it was a national problem.

On a motion from Councillor Cherry Beath, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To AGREE that while the thrust of the Economic Strategy, launched in April 2010, remains valid and the basis for action, strengthened actions will be required to ensure it meets the current economic challenges faced by the District. These will include re-invigorated actions on business support, delivering regeneration schemes and promoting the District as a business location to promote local business and jobs growth.

(2) To NOTE the changes in National Government Economic Policy which led to the creation of the West of England Local Economic Partnership.

(3) To AGREE that the Council will actively engage with the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in order to provide a strong voice in the sub region and nationally.

(4) To AGREE that following the launch of the LEP and the establishment of an Enterprise Zone at Bristol Temple Quarter and a recommendation for a series of Enterprise Areas in the West of England, that Bath City Riverside be designated as the B&NES Enterprise Area, as a key zone for economic growth, with the ability to deliver 65% of the District’s jobs growth by 2026 and therefore play a key role in providing jobs for local people. The Enterprise Area will be resourced through Development and Major Projects to bring forward its development opportunities.

(5) To ASK the Director for Development and Major Projects to develop a Plan to support the Council’s Placemaking Plan and delivery of the Bath City Riverside ‘City of Ideas’ Enterprise Area and setting out the options for financing its delivery, called "Planning the Future, Financing the Future", and exploring options for providing incentives to high growth business sectors; and to bring the Plan back to Cabinet in March 2012.

(6) To AGREE that the Bath and North East Somerset Sustainable Growth Alliance will be relaunched and re-named the Bath and North East Somerset Economic Partnership.  It will mirror the LEP structure and will focus on delivering the District’s key developments, including the Bath Enterprise Area. Its effectiveness will be reviewed after one year.

(7) To AGREE that in order to maximise the benefits to be gained from the New Homes Bonus, the Council will work with its partners, including the Homes and Communities Agency, to focus strongly on bringing forward the key housing led and mixed use sites in the District, all in accordance with the Core Strategy.