Minutes:
The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy, Skills and Infrastructure presented his report which covered a number of overarching issues:
· Economic growth and investment
· Key programmes including:
- Worcestershire Innovation (WINN)
- Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)
- Worcestershire Growth Fund
· Business Support Programmes
· LEADER programme
· National Cyber Skills Centre (NCSC)
· EU Funding Programme 2014-2020
· Worcestershire Business Central
· Worcestershire Local Transport Body
· Worcestershire Local Transport Plan
· Connecting Schools and Business
· Careers and Enterprise Company
· University Technical College
· Worcestershire Apprentices Clearing House
· Young people not in education, employment or training (NEETS)
· Rail strategy
· Midlands Connect
· Kidderminster Rail Station
· Worcestershire Parkway
· Worcester Southern Link Road
· Other major projects in the course of delivery
· Emerging infrastructure projects
· Strategic planning, development central and waste and minerals plans
The Council Member with Responsibility answered questions about his report which included:
· loss of EU funding following the referendum result to leave the EU and the UK's final withdrawal. Also whether the decision to leave the EU would mean local businesses seeking to relocate. The Cabinet Member with Responsibility gave a brief outline of how cost pressures might affect local business but said it was too early to give a comprehensive assessment either about that or other financial support
· the local economy and the extent of devolution to the county. The Cabinet Member with Responsibility re-stated the County Council's current views about devolution and confirmed that Bromsgrove District Council had taken the decision not to join the West Midlands Combined Authority. The Council Member with Responsibility referred to other "groupings" which sought to further economic advancement
· whether the various growth funds and other initiatives yielded value for money in the terms of the number of jobs they created
· NEETS and whether providers of home tuition were properly regulated and checked
· the Cabinet Member with Responsibility accepted an invitation to visit the various locations where intended infrastructure improvements in Pershore were to take place
· in response to a specific question about promoting the co-operative and third sector the Cabinet Member with Responsibility confirmed that all business sectors would be included when offering support and advice
· the future of both Foregate Street station and Shrub Hill station once the Parkway Regional Interchange became operational. The Cabinet Member with Responsibility set out his understanding of the situation and the current views of various train operating companies
· road infrastructure improvements in Bromsgrove and when these might be expected given the planned housing developments in the town
· the planning and timing of the development of the eastern gateway in Redditch
· rural broadband availability, take-up and speeds.
The Cabinet Member with Responsibility promised written answers as follows:
· a question asked on paragraph 46 on proportion of spend funded by the EU and the value to this Council of such financial assistance
· a question asked on paragraph 53 about the £5m given out in grants to support business growth and business start-ups, how this was monitored and the results including failing businesses.
· paragraph 61 – about whether the Cabinet Member with Responsibility attends monthly meetings and gives feedback to members
· business support programmes - does the creation of jobs mean zero-hours contracts, full-time or part-time opportunities?
· costs to the County Council of marketing Superfast Broadband.
· what was the threshold figure for take-up of superfast broadband to trigger a further rebate to the County Council.
The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for his report.