Agenda item

This report provides background on the development to date of a new Economic Strategy for York; and makes proposals for how Economic Development and Transport Policy & Scrutiny Committee may wish to contribute in their cross-party policy development role.

Members considered a report which provided them with background on the development to date of a new Economic Strategy for York and made proposals for how the Committee might wish to contribute to it in their cross party policy development role.

The Committee were given some background to the report and how  Officers were currently working with businesses in the city to develop the refreshed existing Economic Strategy and how they felt that this would provide a good opportunity for Members to get involved.

The report gave the Committee the option to attend and contribute to cross-sector workshops to deliver the priorities in the Economic Strategy.

Discussion took place during which the following questions and points were raised;

·               What would the attendance levels for the workshops be, would a Member voice be represented?

·               Given greater housing demand and population numbers, could Members be given sight of growth numbers for the city as contained in the Arup report.

It was not known at this stage what the attendance figures would be but it was important to ensure that Councillors did not outnumber business people on certain topic areas and vice versa.

Therefore there was a suggestion that there be an amendment to Option 2 to make attendance to the workshops open to all Councillors.

In relation to growth figures it was suggested that these would be presented to the Local Plan Working Group and that they would be best placed to consider these rather than the Committee.

The Chair proposed the priority of Creative City as he felt that there were not enough job opportunities produced in the creative sector even though the Yorkshire Film Archive was located in the city. Further discussion took place over the priorities. Option 2 of the report to select two priorities was agreed.

It was agreed that “Unlocking Brownfield Sights for Jobs and Housing” and “A Creative City Uniquely Utilising its Distinct Heritage” would be chosen as the topics.

One Member suggested that the Creative City priority might clash with potential work carried out by the Learning and Culture Policy and Scrutiny Committee. It was therefore suggested that if this was the case then the remaining votes for the next highest topic, “A Tangible Shift to Higher Value Sectors and Jobs” be the alternative topic.

It was noted that the workshops would likely take place in the late afternoon or early evening as they involved businesses. The Strategy & Policy Group Manager (Economy and Place) stated that he would update Members following the meeting of the York Economic Partnership meeting in August and also that he could provide a link to the papers for the meeting.

Resolved:  (i)  That Option 2 be confirmed and the following priorities be selected;

·          A Creative City Uniquely Utilising Its Distinct Heritage

·       Unlocking Brownfield Sites

(ii) That the Members assigned to each priority as follows;

A Creative City Uniquely Utilising Its Distinct Heritage

Councillor Cullwick

Councillor Cuthbertson

Councillor Myers

Councillor Rawlings

Unlocking Brownfield Sites

Councillor D’Agorne

Councillor Barnes

Councillor Gates

Councillor Warters

(iii) That if it is found that the Creative City priority clashes with work carried out by the Learning and Culture Policy and Scrutiny Committee then it be replaced with the priority “A Tangible Shift to Higher Value Sectors and Jobs”.

(iv) That the wording be amended so that workshops be open to all Members to attend and contribute.

Reason:  To enable the Committee to fulfil its policy development role in a tangible way, contributing to the key decisions and actions to be taken around York’s economy for the next five years.