Agenda and minutes

Councillor Hammon declared a Disclosable Public Interest in the matter the subject of Minute 38 below. He left the meeting for the consideration of this item.

(a)  To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd November 2016

(b)  Matters arising

The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 November, 2016 were signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The Scrutiny Board considered a report of the Executive Director of Place which provided feedback on attendance at Marche International Des Professionals De L’Immobiler (MIPIM) from 15-18 March, 2016.

The report indicated that the primary objective of the Coventry and Warwickshire presence at the event is to attract and encourage investment into the area, raise the area’s profile and attract new investment. MIPIM 2016 partners included Coventy and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Friargate Coventry LLP, Jaguar Land Rover, Barberry, Study Inn, University of Warwick, Horiba MIRA, Coventry University, Coventry and Warwickshire Development Partnership, Wasp’s, Cityfibre, London Taxi International and CEG. Associate partners included Complex Developments Projects, Deeley and Downing.

The report provided information about the event, including a meetings programme and indicated that the total costs against the Coventry and Warwickshire presence at MIPIM 2016 was £188,932. Third party funds secured (£208,556) were in excess of the total costs which resukted in a carry forward of £19,634.64 which will be used to support MIPIM 2017. There was no cost to the Council.

Following negotiations with the Department for International Trade (DIT), confirmation has been given to DIT’s three year support of £125k per annum towards the facilitation of a “Midlands Pavilion at MIPIM”. Coventry and Warwickshire will join other destination partners, LEP’s, Local Authorities and commercial partners from across the region as part of the Midlands Engine Team, with an ambition to generate growth through collaboration.

The Scrutiny Board questioned officers on aspects of the report and a number of members of the Scrutiny Board who were present and who had previously attended MIPIM, outlined their experiences of the event. 

RESOLVED:-

1)  That the outcomes of attendance at MIPIM 2016 be noted

2)  That the work undertaken by officers into the City Council’s attendance at MIPIM be recognised

3)  That the Scrutiny Board recognise the importance to the City of attendance at MIPIM and in light of that importance, recommend to the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration that the City Council attends MIPIM 2017, with 3 political representatives  (The Cabinet Member, the Leader and a member of the Opposition) with the continued aspiration of a private sector partnership meeting the entire project costs

A briefing note of the Executive Director of Place, providing a detailed update of the development

The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note of the Executive Director of Place which provided an update on progress of the Friargate Development. A copy of the Masterplan was appended to the report.

The Briefing Note highlighted milestones achieved since the approval of the Development in June 2013 and indicated that recent discussions suggest that the Council may be able to retain a bigger proportion of rates payable than had initially been anticipated, which could amount to an additional £22.9m of annual income to the Council if fully developed. The Scrutiny Board noted that at present discussions were ongoing with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and potential other occupiers to build up the viability to commence on building No. 2 and that a business case for investment using the monies earmarked from the Combined Authority was also underway.

The Scrutiny Board questioned officers on aspects of the Briefing Note including:-

  • Promoting Friargate at MIPIM (Minute 35 above refers)

  • Public accessibility to promotional material for the Development

  • The importance of the Development in relation to Coventry’s future

  success

  • Car parking

  • The speed of progress

RESOLVED:-

1)  That the contents of the Briefing Note be noted and that progress made to date be welcomed

2)  That the Scrutiny Board acknowledge the importance that Friargate will have on Coventry’s future

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The Scrutiny Board considered a report of the Executive Director of Place which had been approved by the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration (Minute 31/16 refers) and which summarised progress made in the six months April to September, 2016 to deliver the Jobs and Growth Strategy for Coventry. The 3 year Strategy was endorsed by the Council in May 2014 and it articulates how the Council will use its resources to make to Coventry a City that supports businesses to grow and ensure that residents’ share in the benefits of a sustainable growing economy.

In the first six months of the year, the Economy and Jobs service, part of the City Centre and Development Services, has directly contributed to creating 915 new job opportunities within Coventry against a target of 1,219 set for the year. £18 million pounds of business investment has also been secured for the benefit of the City. Council services have already supported 193 businesses to grow and develop.

In the past 6 months just under 4000 people have accessed employment support. 672 people who have engaged with the services provided have progressed into work, which is a significant achievement. The majority of these individuals are engaging through the Council’s city centre Job Shop located in Bull Yard.

The Council is committed to supporting young people into employment, particularly those who fall into the NEETs category (young people not in education, employment or training). In May 2016 the Council began implementing the £8.5million European Social Fund funded youth programme for Coventry called Ambition, further details of which were outlined in the report.

The Scrutiny Board noted that in considering the report, the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration had approved that the 2016-17 target for NEETs into work, education or training be increased from 150 to 325, which was welcomed by the Scrutiny Board.

The Scrutiny Board thanked Rebecca Young, Economy and Jobs Manager, who was attending her last meeting before leaving the Council, for all of her work and wished her the very best for the future.

RESOLVED that the progress made by the Jobs and Growth Strategy for Coventry between April-September 2016 be endorsed.

Briefing note of the Executive Director of Place

The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note of the Executive Director of Place on HS2 Connectivity and which included:-

  • Links to Europe and Impacts/Opportunities for Coventry

  • HS2 Route and Proposed Stations

  • HS2 Interchange

  • Connectivity to Europe by HS2

  • HS2’s impact on Coventry (including challenges and opportunities)

  • Coventry’s Rail Connectivity to the North and possible future journey

  times

The Scrutiny Board questioned officers on aspects of the briefing Note including:-

  • Timescales for completion

  • Light rail connectivity to the Interchange

  • The impact and possible changes to the current West Coast Main line

RESOLVED:-

1)  That the Briefing Note be noted

2)  That the following key lines of enquiry be identified for the Scrutiny Board’s Select Committee On Public Transport meeting on 15 February, 2017:-

• Connectivity to Europe

• Links from HS1 to HS2

• Prioritising domestic connectivity

Briefing Note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Scrutiny Board noted a Briefing Note of the Executive Director of Resources which detailed the schedule of meetings in preparation for the Board’s Select Committee meeting on Public Transport on 15 February, 2017.

There are no outstanding issues

The Scrutiny Board noted that there were no outstanding issues.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Scrutiny Board noted the Work Programme for 2016/17.

There were no other items of urgent public business.