Issue - meetings

The Deputy Leader (Economic Development and Community Engagement) and the Executive Member for Environment will provide an overview of priorities and challenges for the Economy & Place Development Committee in 2017/18.

The Deputy Leader (Economic Development and Community Engagement) gave an overview of his Economic Development priorities and challenges for 2017/18.

Members welcomed the update and made the following comments:

·        Encouraging more companies to the city who could provide a greater number of high value jobs was good but it would require the necessary premises and space to be made available.  Also, that an equal focus should be given to encourage green energy jobs and new retail and hotels etc as those types of business continued to provide substantial employment across the city. 

·        In regard to the job losses at Fulford Barracks, the Committee was pleased to note that quarterly meetings to discuss the closure of the barracks, involving City of York Council, the Ministry of Defence and associated businesses were ongoing.

·        Reference was made to the consideration of sustainable travel when discussions with new or expanding businesses were taking place.

·        High quality jobs and retaining graduate workforce were important but consideration to other jobs across the spectrum needed to be given.

·        It was noted that the York Skills Plan 2017-20 addressed the need for the range of skills required across the city.

·        All new businesses should be encouraged to sign up to the One Planet York initiative - Members queried whether Make it York had signed up to the initiative. In regard to the future renewing of Make it York’s service level agreement, Members queried whether there was potential to expand their key account relationships.

·        Members acknowledged that ‘Gross Value Added’ was an important measure but queried whether there was a more holistic set of measures that could be used.

The Executive Member for Environment gave an overview of his priorities and challenges for 2017/18, and provided an overview of the funding available from Leeds City Region for natural flood management work.

Members welcomed the update and made the following comments:

·        The number and location of electric charging points for the expected increase in electric vehicles in the future needed to be considered, along with the city’s preparedness for that increase and how the suppliers intend supporting that work.

·        Further communication to residents about recycling was required.

·        The council needed to continue to encourage residents to separate waste and recyclates, and welcomed the possibility of including tetrapaks to the list of recyclates in the future.

Resolved:           That Members note the priorities and challenges for Economic Development and Community Engagement and Environment 2017/18.

That a workshop on ICASP and flooding be arranged.

Reason:              To understand the  priorities and challenges for Economic Development and Community Engagement and Environment 2017/18.

To understand the work of ICASP.