Agenda item

Report No: OAS/SE/17/027

The Committee received Report No: OAS/SE/17/027 and supporting PowerPoint presentation (Appendix 1), which sought views on the four principles proposed for the emerging West Suffolk Growth Investment Strategy.

At this stage, officers were proposing a set of four principles to ultimately inform the development of the final strategy, which were:

Principle 1: Investing in our Place and People

Principle 2: Acting commercially

Principle 3: Collaborating to maximise benefit

Principle 4: Using our powers and policies

The presentation (Appendix 1) included information on the evidence base and needs of the community; where the council would be focusing its energy and resources to achieve good growth in West Suffolk; what the council’s role should be in responding to its growth priorities; a map setting out the roles and high level strategies and resources which would apply in delivering growth across West Suffolk; the council’s role as an investor; what the council’s Investment Strategy should be; how projects would be assessed on a case by case basis using an assessment criteria; understanding stakeholders and partners, and what was the council’s overall Strategy for investment.

The principles had been considered by the West Suffolk Joint Growth Steering Group, and after consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be presented to Joint Cabinet on 14 November 2017.  The final strategy itself would then be developed for subsequent agreement.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee was requested to consider any other factors which should be assessed by Cabinet as they developed the final strategy.

The Committee considered the presentation and principles in detail and asked questions to which responses were provided. 

In particular discussions were held on monies which had been invested in Barley Homes and concerns about whether it was delivering new homes as quickly as expected.  In response members were advised that achieving good growth was about getting the correct balance, which took time and involved economies of scale.  The Committee in March 2018 would receive a report on Barley Homes and members would have the opportunity to hear about the company and its plans.

In response to a question raised on how the council would make sure it had the right infrastructure in place, members were advised that the emphasis going forward was “forward planning”.  Appropriate planning for infrastructure was needed, which Suffolk County Council was lobbied for.  Within the Local Plan the Council would need to know how much infrastructure was needed which would be essential.  Also the Council as a local planning authority asked for Section 106 contributions towards infrastructure.

Members also referred to slide 17, which highlighted “increased investment and skills and education”, and noted it referenced Suffolk University, which was in Ipswich, and did not mention Haverhill where people went to Cambridge and suggested the council needed to look outside the county boundaries.

Comments were made on the following principles contained in the presentation:

(1)        Principle 1: Investing in our Place and People – bullet point 5: reference was made to “supporting community start-ups” and  suggested a future policy to “source more locally” goods and services.  A recent example provided was Preston City Council.

(2)        Principle 2: Acting commercially – bullet point 4: reference to the 1% net return was an assumption/aspiration, and suggested rewording to read “… return of 1% minimum xx”

It was then proposed by Councillor John Burns, seconded by Councillor Patrick Chung and with the vote being unanimous, it was

          RECOMMENDED:

That subject to the approval of Cabinet and Council the principles of the emerging West Suffolk Growth Investment Strategy, as outlined in the presentation, Appendix 1 to Report No: OAS/SE/17/027 be endorsed, inclusive of comments made during the meeting.