Council and democracy

Agenda item

Backing Thurrock: A roadmap for economic recovery, resilience and an return to growth

Minutes:

The Director of Place presented the report in doing so he explained, the strategy had been developed in two parts, the first of which had already been presented to the Committee in September and had gained Cabinet approval to go to the consultation stage. The consultation had now been completed and a final version of the roadmap for economic recovery had been prepared for approval by the Committee and then Cabinet.

 

The Assistant Director for Economic Growth and Partnership outlined the report to Members which was on pages 61 to 86 of the agenda via a presentation. He then invited Members to comment and asked if Members had any questions.

 

In discussions Members commented on the success of the COVID financial support to businesses and that this had been well received. Members also commented that it was disappointing to see a low turnout to the consultation, and enquired which methods officers used to advertise the consultation. Officers explained that the consultation process was about sharing the strategy, raising awareness as well as gathering feedback. A range of methods were used to engage on the strategy including reaching over 2500 businesses through Business Buzz. Although it seemed the consultation received a low response it isn’t particularly unusual for that to be the case with a consultation of this type.  Officers had sought and received feedback from some key stakeholders and representative bodies including Thurrock Business Board.

 

Officers explained that there would be opportunities for stakeholders to influence delivery for the lifetime of the strategy as the Action Plan will be a live document able to flex and adapt as opportunities arise.  For example the relatively recent opportunity to bid for Freeport Status was added to the draft Action Plan.  .

 

Councillor Kerin commented that within the report it noted the claimant count had increased by 4%, he continued by stating the adult education college was due to be closed and enquired what officers were doing to invest in long-term learning and to offer the skill sets required for upcoming jobs in the Borough. The Assistant Director for Economic Growth and Partnership commented that improving skills was crucial for economic growth and that the Council was committed to and had included within the action plan specific actions relating to skills including examining the need for a refresh of the Council’s skills and employment support programmes, making them specific to meeting the future skills needs in Thurrock.

 

Councillor Kerin continued by enquiring what officers had planned in relation to broadband connectivity and the broadband gap within the borough. The Strategic Lead for Economic Growth explained the Council was part of the LFFN programme, which involves rollout of a fibre network across South Essex. He continued by advising, the Council had recently bid for funding through the SELEP to enable the LFFN program to be spread out even further across south Essex including a number of sites within Thurrock.

 

Members asked if the action plan could be put on the Committees work programme, so it could be monitored and for the Committee to be kept up to date with its progress.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Planning, Transport, Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee were asked to:

1.1         Note the outcome of the consultation on the Backing Thurrock Roadmap;

1.2         Note and comment on the final version of the Backing Thurrock Roadmap Part 1 which will be presented to Cabinet for approval;

 

1.3         Note and comment on the draft Backing Thurrock Action Plan which will be a live document subject to further engagement  with anchor public, private and voluntary organisations to refine actions and agree delivery mechanisms;

 

Supporting documents: