Agenda item

To provide an update to the Performance Monitoring Panel on current work being undertaken to support the South Holland economy (report of the Assistant Director – Strategic Growth and Development enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Strategic Growth and Development which provided an update to the Performance Monitoring Panel on current work being undertaken to support the South Holland economy.

The Deputy Chief Executive – Growth introduced the report by stating that the wider geographical area of the S&ELCP enabled an increased sphere of influence with national partners, businesses and public sector partners to impact combined health outcomes, skills deprivation outcomes, transport, connectivity and business volumes.

An update was provided on the following continuing workstreams:

• business engagement and inward investment: a supportive and symbiotic working relationship with businesses had influenced the success of the Levelling Up bid and other opportunities;
• key employment sites;
• South Lincs Food Enterprise Zone;
• skills, careers and employment;
  • the impact of joint projects with council officers, businesses, schools, the college, and university had served to inspire students, inform businesses of local candidate potential, and therefore encourage local family stability;
  • the reputation, influence, ambition and strategic approach of the S&ELCP had enabled engagement with Midlands Connect, Midlands Engine and the achievement of Arts Council NPO status; and
  • Grants4growth.

Members considered the report and update and made the following comments:

·       Members thanked the Deputy Chief Executive – Growth, Assistant Director - Strategic Growth and Development and the Inward Investment Manager for an enthusiastic and inspirational update.

·       Members referred to point 5 of the report regarding ‘skills, careers and employment’ and asked whether links were being pursued with the University of Peterborough in respect of South Holland opportunities both within and outside of agriculture.

o   The Deputy Chief Executive – Growth responded that:

§  the University of Peterborough was an important site and a contact was being sought;

§  an increased profile of Agri-Tech careers in world-leading companies in the South Holland district would be coming forward;

§  reference was also made to the Future Fens Project in respect of the value of land and the potential for increased GVA (gross value added) as had been achieved in Zeeland, Holland; and

§  discussions were being made with colleges regarding the evolution of future ‘green jobs’.

·       Members welcomed the engagement with the Midlands Engine and asked how they could help shape SHDC in the coming years.

o   The Deputy Chief Executive – Growth outlined a specific example where the connection with Midlands Engine had led to a South Holland visit by Midlands Connect in summer 2022. The itinerary had included a visit to Sutton Bridge and the Western Relief Road as well as networking opportunities with local businesses. As a result of the visit, Midlands Connect decided to adapt consultancy specifications to encompass opportunities that were specifically relevant for the area.

• Members asked whether the Growth team worked with primary schools.
  • The Deputy Chief Executive – Growth responded that:

• Members supported the approach and welcomed the opportunities for young people to acquire skills. 

• Members welcomed the connections that the Growth team had made with large companies/employers but questioned the level of engagement with smaller businesses. Had contact been made with all businesses?
  • The Deputy Chief Executive – Growth confirmed that open contact with businesses was available at breakfast meetings and networking events. Activity was only restricted by the limited resources within the team.
  • The Inward Investment Manager confirmed that the team worked with smaller businesses, and engagement was evident through work with:

§  Chamber of Commerce;

§  Federation of Small Business; and

§  Grants4growth scheme.

• Members stated that the strategic transport network was not fit-for-purpose and improvements were needed for existing businesses and to attract new businesses to the district. There was disappointment that the A16 was built as a single carriageway and that the condition had deteriorated. Investment and improvements were vital for the future prosperity of the district. Members also asked whether the prevailing unstable financial situation would affect the programme of the Growth team.

o   The Deputy Chief Executive – Growth responded that:

§  national investment opportunities were being sought. As the district was one of the most concentrated manufacturing/food processing areas in the country, surrounded by land, investment could stimulate exponential growth;

§  concerns regarding the A16 were acknowledged and engagement with Midlands Connect regarding the matter had been established. A case study in respect of transport investment would be submitted to an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in the following months; and

§  although not the delegation of the SHDC, presentations had been made to Highways Agencies to promote the transport agenda where this was deemed to be influential.

• Members acknowledged that specialised industries operated in the area however a large per centage of wealth of the area was reliant upon few industries. Had the Council attempted to broaden the balance of businesses operating in the area.
  • The Inward Investment Manager confirmed that developments had been evident regarding the type of businesses in the area which had included:
    • the harnessing of technological advances in the agri-food, horticultural and logistics sector had attracted technology experts to the area; and
    • two high profile ICT companies in the area worked with local and national businesses.

AGREED:

That following consideration of the Economic Development and Inward Investment update, the comments of the Panel be noted.