Issue - meetings

In November Government released the ‘Freeports Bidding Prospectus’ and formally opened the Freeports bidding process.  CMB met on 1st December and agreed that BCP Council will co-ordinate, with Rigby Group and Poole Harbour Commissioners, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP) and others, a bid to Government for Freeport status.

This report provides a background to Freeports; a summary of the Bidding Prospectus and the potential requirements of the Council if successful; and some themes that could be included in the bid.

This report also requests approval of £50K investment by the Council, as identified in the December Cabinet Quarter 2 Budget Monitoring 2020-21 and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Update Report. This funding will be used to commission specialist resources through the DLEP to develop the bid.

Given the timescales involved, it isn’t possible to fully detail the contents of the bid at the time of writing this report. However, this report aims to provide sufficient content for Cabinet to approve the recommendations outlined below.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)          approves the Council’s inclusion in the submission of a bid to Government for part of the BCP area to be given Freeport status;

(b)          approves the allocation of £50K to support the development of a bid for Freeport status; 

(c)          delegates authority to the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning and the Director of Development, in partnership with other relevant organisations, to complete and submit a bid by or on the due date of 5th February 2021; and

(d)          authorises officers to further develop the full business case for Freeport status, subject to receiving notification of a successful application.

Voting: Unanimous

Reason

Freeports boost the local economy and create new jobs. By approving the Council’s inclusion in a bid to Government for Freeport status, it creates an opportunity to bring investment and jobs to the area. This will help to deliver the Council’s vision, specifically in relation to its objectives around creating Dynamic Places. If successful it will also help to boost the private sector after BREXIT and as the economy rebounds after COVID 19.

The Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that in November Government had released the ‘Freeports Bidding Prospectus’ and formally opened the Freeports bidding process, and that in relation to this CMB had met on 1 December and agreed that BCP Council would cooperate with Rigby Group and Poole Harbour Commissioners, Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP) and others, a bid to Government for Freeport status.

Cabinet was informed that this report provided a background to Freeports; a summary of the Bidding Prospectus and the potential requirements of the Council if successful; and some themes that could be included in the bid. In addition Cabinet was informed that this report sought approval of £50K investment by the Council which would be used to commission specialist resources through the DLEP to develop the bid.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)          approves the Council’s inclusion in the submission of a bid to Government for part of the BCP area to be given Freeport status;

(b)          approves the allocation of £50K to support the development of a bid for Freeport status; 

(c)          delegates authority to the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning and the Director of Development, in partnership with other relevant organisations, to complete and submit a bid by or on the due date of 5th February 2021; and

(d)          authorises officers to further develop the full business case for Freeport status, subject to receiving notification of a successful application.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning

To consider the following Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning related reports scheduled for Cabinet consideration on 13 January:

•   Freeport Bid

The O&S Board is asked to scrutinise the reports and make recommendations to Cabinet as appropriate.

Cabinet member invited to attend for this item: Councillor Philip Broadhead, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning.

The Cabinet report for this item is included with the agenda for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

Freeport Bid - The Chairman invited the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning to present the report, a copy of which had been circulated to each member and which appears as Appendix 'X' to the Cabinet Minutes of 13 January 2021 in the Minute Book. In the ensuing discussion a number of issues were raised including:

·       A Councillor commented, in relation to a reference made by the Portfolio Holder, that they did not think that the Freeport Bid would catch the eye of central government and the BCP area would not be part of the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda as there was not much deprivation in the area and would therefore not be attractive.

·       In reference to a comment made by the Portfolio Holder that there would be a ‘planning bonus’, a Board member commented that this was purely for those wanting to develop as it was restricting rights of objection which would not be beneficial to many.

·       A Board member commented that the BCP bid would be competing against much larger more developed areas such as Southampton and Portsmouth and therefore if the government was looking at scale there would be many preferred bids ahead of BCPs. It was noted that the BCP area scheme was looking to create something different based on the areas’ strengths. For example, the BCP area was developing smart places and smart connectivity and it could demonstrate how things could look into the future. The Portfolio Holder felt that the Council had a very credible pitch.

·       A Councillor commented that in terms of connectivity for transport we struggled as a local authority area. Another member suggested that it might assisted in improving the local transport links into the future, as if the bid was successful the government would be interested in seeing the scheme succeed

·       The Chairman asked if there had been any encouragement from government for BCP to submit the bid. Issues were raised by the Board concerning the contributions being made to the initial £50k cost for submitting the bid and what the involvement was from the Council partners. The Portfolio Holder confirmed that the Council was the sole contributor at present. A Councillor commented that this seemed very speculative and that private enterprises should also be contributing towards the cost of the Bid. The Portfolio Holder advised that this was purely in relation to the first stage and that if we were successful in the first stage there would be further stages when the cost burden could and would be shared. Another member commented that the contribution was fairly small for the first stage and it would have a positive impact and further opportunities moving forward.

·       Councillors questioned the impact that this might have for Poole Harbour in terms of leisure use and as a site of Special Scientific Interest, with increased freight use in the area. It was also noted that the harbour needed to be accessed for the majority of vessels through a very narrow channel.

·       It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 132