Agenda and minutes

The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting. 

Councillor Kevin Parry made a non prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of Agenda Item No. 7 as he was employed by Honda.

Councillor Junab Ali made a non prejudicial declaration of interest as he was a Non-Executive Director for Business West.

            No public questions were received during the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th March 2020.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th March 2020, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

(Oral)

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change made an oral report to the Committee regarding the Council’s response to climate change, including the work of the Climate Change Cabinet Members’ Advisory Group.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change highlighted the following issues as part of his presentation and members’ scrutiny:

·        That the Cabinet Members’ Advisory Group had initially constituted four sub-groups (buildings, transport, policy and lobbying and communications and education) but that these were to be consolidated into two as most of the activity had centred on buildings and transport which were the two largest contributors to climate change.

·        The transport had already identified a lot of work and the Council could influence a lot of areas relating to transport, including alternative forms of transport and strategic planning for transport.

·        The LED street lighting replacement programme which it was anticipated would reduce emissions by 60% and would also offer a major contribution to reducing the Council’s carbon footprint by 2030 and would be in place by 2022.

·        In June 2019, the UK Government set a legally binding target for the UK to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

·        The preferred option to achieve carbon neutrality was in order (i) Remove carbon production to reduce the amount of emissions at source by removing the need, for example, estate rationalisation, working practises, organisation structure and ensure that resources are used as efficiently as possible removing waste, through the design and operation of the building, (ii) Reduce Carbon production - ensure that resources are used as efficiently as possible removing waste, through the design and operation of the building and by behaviour through education, (iii) the use of technology - ensure that resources are used as efficiently as possible removing waste, through the design and operation of the building and behaviour through education, and (iv) Offset any remaining carbon emissions.

·        A breakdown of Scope Emissions within the Carbon Reduction Strategy and targets including, Scope 1 - Carbon emissions from sources that directly burn the fossil fuel, such as gas boilers and combustion engines, Scope 2 -Carbon emissions from electricity usage, Scope 3 - Carbon emissions from sources that the Council does not directly control; but over which it has some responsibility and influence and Scope 4 - Carbon emissions from sources that the Council does not directly control; but over which it has some responsibility and influence.

·        The use of standardised Government methodologies and conversion factors, we have gathered and calculated our Baseline (The target for Swindon Borough Council is to reduce our carbon emissions from 11,823 CO2e down to Net Zero by 2030).

·        A break-down of the Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and targets related to their reduction.

·        The further complication that accurate monitoring and measurement of emissions was very challenging and in some cases impossible.   In order to help measure Borough wide emission the SCATTER (Setting City Area Targets and Trajectories for Emissions Reduction).

·        The target for the wider Borough of Swindon is to work towards  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Director of Economy, Growth and Place submitted a report updating the Committee on the work to date by Swindon Borough Council officers working with business and other partners in support of the economic recovery of Swindon, in the light of circumstances arising from Covid-19.

In presenting the report the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive and Director of Economy, Growth and Place highlighted the following issues and responded to Members’ questions in relation to:

·         Covid-19 response and recovery plan that had been considered by the Cabinet.

·         Economy work streams with partners and enablers which fell with the broad heading of (i) Intel, Impact and Evidence (including businesses, the LEP and Councillors), (ii) Business Support (£30 million had been distributed and welcome feedback on the efficiency of this work), (iii) Business Growth (grow existing businesses and encourage new business to the Borough), (iv) Investment in Swindon (including Switch onto Swindon and new investment strategy), (v) Regeneration and Capital Schemes - Town Centre and (vi) Strategic Place Making (including a review of employment land with the Local Plan).

·         Swindon’s Bounce Back Campaign which had commenced on 7^th September 2020 which was a call to action to galvanise the whole community and to seize every opportunity to reinvent, innovate and play to the economy’s strengths Demonstrate how the Council is playing its part to boost the local economy.

·         The Role of the Council in using influence, powers and assets to boost the local economy, spelling out key projects and activity and what this means for Swindon’s residents and the lobbying of Government.

·         COVID response and recovery work such as business grants “Business As Usual” measures such as attracting investment and supporting employers in the town.

·         The Coivid-19 recovery framework and interaction between the Council and key partners.

·         The Town Centre Recovery Plan which included:

Mission – Attract people and businesses to Swindon – now in the context of post Covid-19 restrictions.

Strategy: Tell the story to:

(a) position Swindon as a top UK town for quality of life

(b) attract investment and funding

(c) challenge perceptions

(d) React quickly as a collaborative network

Objectives (measures of success): footfall level, economic activity, level of investment, crime rates and other to be agreed by the Plan Ahead Teams

Method: Establish stakeholder networks, leadership group and Plan Ahead Teams.

·         A summary of key partners in the Town Centre Regeneration work.

·         A summary of the work of Plan Ahead Teams (Retail, Community, Leisure, Commercial, Public Space, Transport, Marketing and Public Service).

·         That Swindon’s town centre footfall had recovered more strongly than a lot of areas, for instance, Birmingham.

·         Examples of new business being attracted to Swindon, including the new business warehouse recently given planning permission at Symmetry Park which would create around 2,000 new jobs through £400 million of investment.

·         To continue to promote Swindon’s quality of life to help drive inward investment and to dispel misconceptions about the town.

·         The creation of strong partnerships, both existing and new, through the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Business & Economy Manager, Economy Growth and Place submitted a report updating on the activity of the Honda & Supply Chain Coordinating Steering Group and responded to Members’ questions in respect of:

·        An overview of the suppliers and stakeholders involved in the work of the Steering and Task Groups.

·        That there were around 100 people involved in supporting the recovery programme with the majority of work focused on the Honda workforce and the workforce of suppliers.

·        The national and local collaboration on economic recovery work and financial and mental wellbeing of employees and their families.

·        Planning to reduce potential pressure on public services through partnership working and who were still busy dealing with Covid.

·        Training and career advise available to those facing redundancy and the support the Council added to this process.

·        Planned virtual events being planned to support people facing redundancy.

·        Work with the Department for International Trade and other organisations to help Honda suppliers find new contract opportunities and where necessary to diversify. 

·        The site was owned by Honda and work by the Planning Department to continue its use as employment land and to maximise its potential.

·        That conversations with employers was through a tailored approach depending on a company’s needs.

·        The use of £200,000 approved by Council to support work on Honda, £100,000 of which had been used to gain matched funding from the European Union for the start-up support training programme and supplier diversification work, and potential use of the remaining monies.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

(Councillor Kevin Parry made a non prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of this item as he was employed by Honda.)

The Committee considered (a) a report of the Head of Skills, Employment and Lifelong Learning setting out proposed Terms of Reference for the work of the

Apprenticeship Task Group, and (b) proposed recommendations for the Task Group to consider forwarded to Members by the Chairs of the Growing the Economy and Children’s Health, Social Care and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Members’ considered the report and officer responses to questions in respect of the following issues:

·        The proposed membership of the Task Group which would be employer led.

·        The work of the Task Group to increase the number of apprenticeships through a collaborative approach and support for smaller employers.

·        The promotion of apprenticeships during the National Apprenticeship Week.

·        The use Government Kick-Start Scheme as an alternative or in support of apprenticeships.

Resolved – That the report be noted and the Terms of Reference for the Apprenticeship Task Group, as set out in the Appendix to the report, be approved.

The Committee considered a report by the Chief Legal Officer setting out the Committee’s proposed Work Programme for the Municipal Year 2020/21.

Resolved – (1) That the report be noted and Work Programme for the current Municipal Year be approved.

(2) That a report reviewing of Employment Land within the Local Plan be submitted to the Committee in November 2020.