Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE ECONOMIC BOARD of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday, 20 October 2009.

PRESENT:

Chairman:

p Councillor T.K. Thornber, CBE

1 APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIRMAN

The Board noted the appointment of Cllr R Ellis as Vice-Chairman for the first year.

2 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillor Mrs M. D. Snaith-Tempia was engaged on other business.

3 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Code. The declaration to be made at the time of the relevant debate.

4 TERMS OF REFERENCE OF HAMPSHIRE ECONOMIC BOARD

The Board agreed the following Terms of Reference;

To focus on strategic objectives for economic development, as follows:

· The preparation of an annual economic plan for the County area

· Undertaking a systematic economic assessment for the area

· The development of effective partnerships with the relevant agencies and other organisations involved in economic activity in Hampshire

· Aligning public sector resources within the County and beyond to support economic activity

· Ensuring adequate and effective collaboration with other public sector organisations and partnerships within the area

· Working with sub-regional, regional, national and European partnerships and agencies in the interest of the County area

· With the Executive Member for Environment, developing a vision for transport, planning and delivery

· With the Executive Member for Rural Affairs and Human Resources, developing training and apprenticeship opportunities

· With the Executive Member for Children's Services, developing appropriate skills and commissioning strategies for the County area

· The development of funding mechanisms and budgets to promote economic regeneration within the County area.

· Skills development external to the Council's directly employed workforce

The Board also noted that as a committee of the Executive, the Hampshire Economic Board was not subject to proportionality rules.

5 ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT DUTY

The Board considered the report of the Director of Economic Development (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the Economic Assessment Duty and the proposed content and timescale of the Economic Plan. The Board discussed the scope of the Plan and agreed that the County Council should pursue the development of an Economic Assessment encompassing the whole of Hampshire, including the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton, with more detailed assessments of sub-regions and the main areas of deprivation within it.

The Board asked that each District Council be requested to provide the County Council with the economic information compiled for its emerging Local Development Framework, and that an Action Plan for developing the Economic Assessment Duty should be considered at the next meeting of the Board.

The recommendations set out in the report were agreed, subject to the amendment above, and the decision record is attached to the minutes as Appendix 1.

6 FUTURE JOBS FUND

The Board considered and approved the report of the Director of Economic Development (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the benefits for young people and potential risks for the County Council in acting as the accountable body to deliver the New Jobs, New Futures project under the Future Jobs Fund Programme. The Board welcomed the news of the successful County Council led consortium bid for an 18 month programme of jobs for 900 young people, which would see the County Council employing 213 young people, including secondees to partners in the north of the county.

During the discussion, the Director of Economic Development confirmed that a grant of £6,500.00 would be received for each job created, which would cover employment and other costs for a 25 hour per week post over six months. Although there was no guarantee of a permanent position at the end of the six month period, opportunities with the County Council and its partners were likely to arise due to usual staff turnover.

The recommendations set out in the report were agreed and the decision record is attached to the minutes as Appendix 2.

7 AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The Board received a presentation from the Chief Executive on the recent Senate decision to support 500 affordable homes, with an emphasis on rural homes. It was anticipated that the County Council would identify small urban and rural exception sites for four to eight units of housing. The District Councils would be responsible for planning approval and developing the funding programme.

8 CONCLUSIONS AND NEXT STEPS

The Board agreed that the meetings of the Board would take a thematic approach to future business. It was also agreed that an Action Plan for delivering the Economic Assessment Duty would be considered at the next meeting.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Executive Decision Record

1. The decision:

1.1. That the Council prepare a county-wide assessment, but with more detailed sub-area profiles for different areas of Hampshire reflecting functional economic geographies, including the South Hampshire sub-region which has a Multi Area Agreement.

1.2. To facilitate the amalgamation of assessments across administrative boundaries, that the Council seek a consistent approach with adjoining areas which have strong economic linkages and across the region, if supported by other principal authorities.

1.3. That preparation of the assessment commence forthwith, in order to address previous resolutions of the Council to enhance its economic development function and to inform the next community strategy refresh and any future Local Area Agreement.

1.4. That District Councils and national and regional partners engaged in economic development be invited to contribute at the scoping stage for the assessment as well as the draft report stage.

1.5. That District Councils be requested to provide the County Council with economic information compiled for their Local Development Framework.

1.6. That an Action Plan to deliver the Economic Assessment Duty be formulated for consideration at the next meeting of the Board.

2. Reason(s) for the decision:

2.1. Preparation of an economic assessment will become a statutory duty for principal authorities from April 2010, subject to the passing of the Local Development, Economic Development and Construction Bill this autumn.

2.2. The Government has published draft statutory guidance to shape the delivery of the new duty. The Council needs to decide what approach to take, the process for involving partners and the timescale for producing the assessment in the light of this guidance.

3. Other options considered and rejected:

3.1. To delay consideration until the Bill is enacted and final guidance produced. The Council has already decided to review it's economic development function and an early start will also serve this purpose. The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire is reviewing its economic development strategy. The Council will not be competing for consultancy resources next year against other Councils undertaking this new duty.

3.2. To only engage District Councils in the scoping stage, as required in the draft guidance. There are a number of national and local organisations engaged in economic development activity in Hampshire and the Council can benefit from their input throughout the process.

3.3. Not to seek a consistent approach with adjoining Councils and those across the South East Region, if this is also supported by those Councils. Economic geographies cross administrative boundaries and the guidance is clear that it expects Councils to operate across such boundaries in carrying out economic assessments where this is appropriate. A consistent approach across the region could be of benefit if the current regional arrangements and planning functions are modified.

4. Conflicts of interest: None

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee: None.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent: Not applicable.

7. Statement from the Decision Maker:

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Executive Decision Record

1. The decision:

1.1 That the Council proceeds to implement the New Jobs, New Futures project as set out in 2.4 - 2.6 of the supporting report.

2. Reason(s) for the decision:

2.1 To support young people to gain employment through the recession.

3. Other options considered and rejected:

3.1 Not applicable.

4. Conflicts of interest:

4.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker: Not applicable.

4.2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive Members consulted: Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee: none.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent: not applicable.

7. Statement from the Decision Maker: