Issue - meetings

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council) has recently created BCP Futures which is a concept and a brand to unite our work to shape the future strategic direction of our city region. This ambitious and forward-thinking BCP economic development strategy (Appendix 1) is a key part of this work.  The strategy outlines our Prosperity Deal with businesses: the council will remove the barriers to productivity and invest in the environment for growth in return for businesses improving their productivity, raising wages and therefore living standards. An essential feature of the deal will be an enhanced concierge service for businesses provided by the economic development team. The overarching aim of the strategy is to become a top 20 ranked city region in terms productivity by 2026 (measured by Centre for Cities).

This report highlights the main elements of the strategy and seeks cabinet’s approval for it.

The strategy sets the objectives and forms the framework for a project-specific action plan which is already in development.   

RESOLVED that Cabinet support and adopt the BCP Economic Development Strategy (EDS).

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Development, Growth and Regeneration

Reason

The strategy will help deliver the council’s strategic aims and objectives including the ‘Dynamic Places’, ‘Connected Communities’ and ‘Sustainable Environment’ objectives in the Corporate Strategy. It will also be part of the BCP Futures brand and help deliver the ‘Iconic’, ‘Rejuvenate Poole’, ‘Infrastructure’ and ‘Act at Scale’ projects of the Big Plan.

The strategy will help us access the government’s Levelling Up and Shared Prosperity Funds.

It is therefore recommended that cabinet supports and adopts the BCP economic development strategy.

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

Cabinet was informed that Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council) has recently created BCP Futures which is a concept and a brand to unite our work to shape the future strategic direction of our city region, and that this ambitious and forward-thinking BCP economic development strategy (Appendix 1) is a key part of this work. 

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the strategy outlines our Prosperity Deal with businesses: the council will remove the barriers to productivity and invest in the environment for growth in return for businesses improving their productivity, raising wages and therefore living standards, and that an essential feature of the deal will be an enhanced concierge service for businesses provided by the economic development team with the overarching aim of the strategy being to become a top 20 ranked city region in terms productivity by 2026 (measured by Centre for Cities).

Cabinet was further informed that this report highlights the main elements of the strategy and seeks cabinet’s approval for it and that the strategy sets the objectives and forms the framework for a project-specific action plan which is already in development.   

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed the Cabinet advising that at their recent meeting the Board had recognised this as a good piece of work and had advised that they were looking forward to the outputs coming from it.

RESOLVED that Cabinet support and adopt the BCP Economic Development Strategy (EDS).

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Development, Growth and Regeneration

To consider the BCP Futures – a new Economic Development Strategy for BCP Cabinet Report scheduled for Cabinet consideration on 24 November 2021.

The O&S Board is asked to scrutinise and comment on the report and if required make recommendations or observations as appropriate.

Cabinet member invited to attend for this item: Councillor Philip Broadhead, 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.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration, supported by the Head of Economic Development and Sustainability presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Officers responded to comments and requests for clarification, details included:

·       BCP Council would create the right environment for businesses to flourish through four priority areas of action. In return, BCP Council expected businesses to commit to a ‘7-point pledge’. Members heard that BCP Council would lead by example and work collaboratively with businesses in order to improve productivity and prosperity.

·       On the reference to a BCP ‘cityscape’ within the Economic Development Strategy (EDS), the Board were informed that BCP Council were not intending to citify the conurbation. The Deputy Leader clarified that existing areas of an industrial or city-like nature would receive relevant attention in order to regenerate and improve them appropriately.

·       The EDS throws weight behind four key priorities, such as supporting productivity of small and medium sized businesses, rather than being too broad and prioritising all aspects of economic delivery. The Board hear that the expectation was for this process to be transactional between the Council and businesses and that productivity was to be the barometer to show if the EDS was working.

·       BCP Council had awarded over £160million in grants to local businesses and charities in the last 18 months, to assist them in moving forward after the pandemic. The ‘Bounce Back Fund’ was used as an example of financial support that BCP Council could use to meet the rising expectations of the business community.

·       BCP’s Economic Development team, consisting of 10 members of staff championed the business community and facilitated the transactions between the Council and businesses. The team included dedicated account managers for separate sectors within the business community. The Portfolio Holder was confident that they had the resources in place to meet the rising expectations of the business community and deliver the priorities within the EDS. Members heard from the Head of Economic Development and Sustainability that this would require certain small changes to the team’s focus. An example of where this focus would shift to was in developing the local supply chains. Finally, the Board were told that the Economic Development team would continue to meet with industry leaders to discuss the big issues facing the business community.

·       On the matter of the Small Grants Fund, the Deputy Leader explained that at this point in time he did not know the detail of the fund but wanted to replicate the success of the pandemic funding schemes going forward, for example the Bounce Back Fund.

·       The Deputy Leader stated that BCP was not a wholly industrial region and that he did not believe that it was a binary choice between economic productivity and climate action.

·       On the employment skills gap, the Deputy Leader explained that he was eager to view the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112