Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Committee Members and colleagues and thanked Ashfield District Council for hosting the meeting.

None.

Minutes of the last meeting held on 27 November 2018 (for confirmation)

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2018 were agreed as a correct record and were signed by the Chair.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive, Rushcliffe Borough Council

Kath Marriott, Deputy Chief Executive, Rushcliffe Borough Council introduced her report which outlined events at the N2 Innovation Seminar, held on 12 November 2018, and proposed the next steps to take forward the outcomes and learning from the day. The event was attended by approximately 50 attendees from across the County and City, and speakers covering topics of technology, towns and transport. Rushcliffe Borough Council offered to continue to take the lead and arrange a follow up workshop to ensure that momentum is not lost.

During the discussion that followed the Committee made the following points:

a)  The event was well received and the speakers were thought provoking and challenging;

b)  Discussions on changing technologies and town centres were highlighted as being of particular interest;

c)  Care is needed to ensure that the work aligns with, and doesn’t duplicate, that of the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), in particular, that of the likely Innovation Board;

d)  Consideration should be given to how Local Authorities can respond quickly to technological and other changes and where Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s competitive advantage lies.

Kath Marriott offered to prepare a programme for a follow up event and bring it back the next meeting of this committee.

RESOLVED to accept Rushcliffe Borough Council’s offer to arrange a follow up action planning workshop, including colleagues from Derby and Derbyshire before the end of May 2019, with a draft programme to be brought to the next meeting of this Committee.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive, Rushcliffe Borough Council

Kath Marriott, Deputy Chief Executive, Rushcliffe Borough Council introduced her report proposing that a seminar is held to bring together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to begin to jointly plan for the future of the coal fired power station sites after decommissioning. During discussions the following issues were highlighted:

a)  There are currently three operational coal fired power stations in Nottinghamshire, located in Ratcliffe on Soar in Rushcliffe and Cottam and West Burton in Bassetlaw. The Government has confirmed that all coal fired power stations will be closed by the end of 2025;

b)  Some sites of former coal fired power stations in the East Midlands have not been redeveloped since their closure 15 years ago;

c)  The proposed event will look at all three sites together, will facilitate learning from other decommissioned sites and will involve Local Authorities, the LEP, landowners and businesses.

d)  Various options could be considered for the sites including housing, employment, and return to greenfield;

e)  The establishment of a Development Corporation which could cover Ratcliffe on Soar power station as well as Toton, the East Midlands Gateway and East Midlands Airport had been announced at the Conservative Party Conference in 2018. The Midlands Engine can draw down on a £2m fund following the development of a business case which will involve local authorities as well as other key stakeholders.

RESOLVED to agree to the proposed event to be held before the end of September 2019.

Report of the Director of Strategy and Policy, Nottingham City Council

Nicki Jenkins, Director of Economic Development, Nottingham City Council presented the report which outlined the City Council’s position on Local Government Reorganisation and highlighted the following points:

a)  Following the County Council’s decision to carry out work on Local Government Reorganisation the City Council commenced its own work on the subject. This will be completed within the next few weeks and will then pause to match the County Council’s decision to pause their work;

b)  The work is looking at opportunities for collaboration and shared services as well as reorganisation in order to support efficient provision of services.

In the discussion that followed further additional points were raised:

c)  Chief Executives have recently agreed to hold a half-day session to look at opportunities for collaboration and shared services;

d)  Local Authorities will need to find new ways of working in order to continue to deliver services and work effectively with business. In addition to collaboration and shared services this also involves commercialisation.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  task Chief Executives with re-examining the opportunities around shared services and report back to future meetings;

(2)  add Economic Collaboration as a standing item to future meetings of this Committee.

Report of the Director, Economic Development, Nottingham City Council

Nicki Jenkins, Director of Economic Development, Nottingham City Council introduced the report which outlined the work programme for the Committee. The work programme had been developed by the Chief Executives and covered a range of issues including Strategic Sites (which had been deferred to the March meeting), East Midlands Airport, an Update from the LEP, Affordable Housing and Skills.

During discussion the Committee raised the following points:

a)  Access to the Airport, in particular, public transport access was a key issue to be discussed by the Committee;

b)  This Committee will be a forum for District and Borough Councils to feed their voices into discussions on the Skills Agenda, ensuring that the diversity and difference in the County is taken into account.

RESOLVED, with the addition of the standing item on Economic Collaboration, previously agreed by the meeting, to agree the Work Programme.

29 March 2019 at Bassetlaw District Council

RESOLVED to note that the next meeting of the committee will be held on 29 March 2019 and will be hosted by Bassetlaw District Council.