Agenda item

The Lead Specialist (Economy) thanked members of the Scrutiny Committee for sending through their questions in advance of the meeting regarding the process to date to source evidence to inform the draft Economic Development Strategy (EDS). He explained that an initial response to the questions had been circulated to members under separate cover prior to this meeting. He introduced Mike Taylor, Managing Director of Chilmark Consulting (the consultancy commissioned to help produce the Economic Development Strategy), and explained that together, they would address any further questions or concerns.

In response to comments made during discussion, the officers explained that:

·      South Somerset is a very diverse area and the draft strategy will include reference to aerospace and high tech engineering businesses. Officers were looking to pick up all different types of businesses in the strategy.

·      The EDS will be a higher level action plan which will help form a delivery plan. The delivery plan will be where the detail and specific projects will come forward.

·      Officers had engaged with the West of England Aerospace Forum and other aerospace businesses.

·      An extensive range of companies across a wide range of sectors had been consulted.

·      There was much happening and relationships being formed with colleges and other training providers regarding skills, training and learning. There were many key partners and it was important to work with them.

·      Acknowledge little work done to engage with Strode College to date regarding input into the EDS. However the strategy would be flexible and enable SSDC to work with other colleges if required and beneficial.

·      The proposed Business Account Programme would be an important element of the strategy as it would provide input and insight.

·      Acknowledge that it’s difficult to encourage people to stay local, especially if their skills are highly valued further afield. There were a wide variety of reasons making places a suitable area for a person to locate. For example house prices, facilities, family, quality of life etc.

·      There has been much discussion about Hinkley Point and whether it’s seen as an opportunity or a threat. If we can work with businesses to link to the right people, we will. Understand that many companies have picked up on available opportunities.

·      Agree that manufacturing is an important sector.

·      A lot is about signposting businesses to the work of partners. An awareness of national, regional and local strategies is needed to ensure everything joined up and that clear support can be provided. People and businesses need to know they have a conduit through SSDC for information and support.

·      It’s important we know the large companies and their future plans. Regular meetings are held with Leonardo.

·      If for some reason iAero doesn’t come to fruition as planned, it will be treated as a challenge. If there was a funding gap we would look to how this could be filled, if it couldn’t, then we look at a plan B or plan C etc.

·      The way Economic Development work from the New Year will be different. It will be a new team that will design and deliver specific delivery plans and projects.

·      Unlikely to be a generic plan or policy included within the EDS for a multiple redundancy situation with any businesses in the area, but there will be flexibility to manage this scenario in the form of a specific project.

·      Visit Somerset and some of the major visitor attractions in the area have been engaged to inform the EDS and there have been discussions about the wider visitor offer.

·      It will be important to catch up with staff who will be leaving the authority at the end of the year in order to gather information on the good work that has been happening.

·      The EDS will not provide all the detail but the headings should be there. Detail will be in the delivery plans later on.

·      There will be processes to evaluate performance, including the effective use of data and obtaining foresight to review the delivery plan.

·      Opportunities to increase the visitor offer associated with Wincanton Racecourse were being considered with Wincanton Regeneration.

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development commented that after the draft strategy had been considered by District Executive in December, it would go out to public consultation before going forward to Council for final approval and adoption. Hence there was still further opportunity for people to make comments on the draft EDS.

Members were grateful that officers had attended the meeting and taken time to answer questions in an open discussion. The Chairman thanked the Lead Specialist (Economy) and Managing Director of Chilmark Consulting for attending the meeting.