Issue - meetings

31.1     The Lead Member for Economy introduced a presentation on the activity being undertaken to improve the economy, infrastructure and skills in East Sussex. One of the main challenges for local businesses now is being able to employ people with the right skills. Since 2014 the Economic Development Team has raised £557m for investment in East Sussex, and without ESCC involvement this money is unlikely to have been raised. The presentation will demonstrate the impact this investment has made.

31.2     The Assistant Director Economy outlined that infrastructure, skills, and business support are the main areas of focus for the work of the Economic Development Team. However, culture and creative industries, as well as visitor services, are becoming increasingly important. Business growth helps the local economy grow, individuals realise their potential, and helps increase the resilience of communities.

Infrastructure

31.3     In terms of infrastructure, the Team work to influence strategic road and rail investment as well as enabling the development and delivery of infrastructure projects such as:

• Newhaven flood defences to support the creation of employment space;
• The construction of road infrastructure which has opened up land for housing and employment space such as Combe Valley Way (Bexhill link road), North Bexhill Access Road (which is now open), and the Newhaven Port Access Road;
• Superfast Broadband project which aims to get 99% coverage for superfast broadband throughout the County, to support the digital economy and rural businesses.

31.4     Examples of other infrastructure projects the Team are working on include the strategic investment in the upgrade of the section of the A27 between Lewes and Polegate, and High Speed 1 (HS1) to provide high speed rail access to Hastings, Bexhill and onwards to Eastbourne. Work has also been undertaken on the Major Route Network (MRN) which provides an opportunity to bid for money to upgrade key principal roads in East Sussex.

31.5     The Team has secured £2.8m to build out the North Bexhill Enterprise Park and the North East Bexhill Gateway Road has enabled more development after opening 18 months ago. Projects have been undertaken to regenerate Town Centres including Eastbourne, Hailsham and Uckfield, with activity also planned in the Bexhill and Hastings areas. There have also been improvements in walking, cycling and public transport through the Local Transport capital programme.

Skills

31.6     The skills work is delivered through Skills East Sussex which is a board of local employers and colleges in East Sussex. It has established six sector task groups to ensure the curriculum is tailored to address the skills needed locally and in the local economy. All schools now have business advisors to help link schools to enterprise and running your own business if that is a career option students wish to pursue. This area of work also involves working with careers advisers and Children’s Services on the Open Doors project which has helped 400 young people work with 40 local businesses.

Business Support and Finance

31.7     Business Support work has involved the establishment of Business East Sussex which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

17.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.  The Assistant Director Economy set out the key features of the report including the creation of 900 new jobs, the cost per job created, the focus on those indigenous companies with high growth potential (‘gazelles’), and the efforts made to attract businesses to re-locate to East Sussex.

17.2     The Department keeps a close eye on the long term impacts of intervention through the reporting required by central Government.  Applicants are required to produce a business case and attend an interview, and to set out the number and salary ranges of the jobs to be created.  These are then included in the contractual terms agreed by the applicant and the County Council.

17.3     The Committee agreed that increased publicity for the Council’s interventions, particularly for local Members, would be beneficial.  It was made clear that the local member would not be part of the decision making process for accepting an application, but would be notified of successful bids, in order to act as ambassadors to other businesses who might benefit from the County Council’s aid.  The Committee suggested that successful applicants should also be asked to act as ambassadors.

17.4     The Assistant Director welcomed the suggestions of the Committee as to how to engage most effectively with the business community, as it was acknowledged that not all business are associated with a Chamber of Commerce or similar umbrella organisation.  It was suggested that an enclosure could be included with the annual business rate demand. 

17.5     The Assistant Director reassured the Committee that bids with obvious potential, but which failed to meet the criteria, will be referred to other organisations to help develop the business plan and to support a re-submission of the bid.      

17.6     The Committee discussed the manufacturing sector, with its strong base in the Hastings area and engineering companies in Wealden, which are linked to the skills development initiatives at the County’s universities and colleges.  The Committee also noted the expected outputs from the Social Business Investment Fund, which are different to the other funds with its focus on safeguarding existing jobs and apprentice/volunteer training.

17.7     RESOLVED to (1) note the report; and

(2) congratulate all the officers involved with the Economic Intervention Fund and Business Growth funding.