Agenda item

(A report by Matthew Hogan, Assistant Director – Strategic Growth and Development)

Portfolio Holder: Councillor Anne Dorrian

The Leader presented the report which sought support for the Growth and Prosperity Plan for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership.

The Leader advised that the growth and prosperity plan reflected the vision and priorities of the sub regional strategy for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership. It was the first plan which sought to capture the common objectives and priorities of a partnership in respect of economic growth. To date, there had been three separate sets of corporate strategies to refer to when doing one of three things, either seeking to influence partners, speaking to businesses, or seeking investment and funding. The purpose of the strategy was to capture the priorities around economic growth within a single unifying document.

Members noted that the document had been shaped through regular briefings with members across the partnership, and it set out five strategic priorities and eight core principles that the partnership would follow to deliver economic growth. A single growth and prosperity plan for the partnership would demonstrate to external partners the alignment and collective focus of the three Councils on a prosperous, productive and creative economy. It would also be useful when liaising with the Government and other stakeholders as it would be used as a means of helping to communicate the priorities of the partnership. It would also be exceptionally helpful when seeking funding and seeking to attract inward investment to the partnership. It also directly responded to the issues and challenges in each of the localities.

Councillor Callum Butler referred to paragraph 2.6 within the report in respect of the list of proposed strategic priorities identified. He queried whether the parishes and the rural community were also going to be included as part of the Strategy as there was a lot of focus on the towns. The Leader advised that the authorities were seeking to expand their work into the more rural communities.

Councillor Sandeep Ghosh queried when the project would start. The Leader advised that the growth directorate had been very busy in the background, seeking to attract inward investment, working with local businesses, developing a business forum and attending events like UK REiiF. She added that the plan brought all of that work into one document that could be used to inform the authority.

The Assistant Director – Strategic Growth & Development reported on his recent attendance at UK REiiF which was a national events, lasting three days, in Leeds which was around promoting the area for investment and building connections with new investors. Officers attended on behalf of the partnership and came back with around 300 leads in terms of further conversations with the whole range of investors looking at Town Centre investments and cultural investments in infrastructure.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Anne Dorrian and seconded by Councillor Dale Broughton.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the Growth and Prosperity Plan in Appendix A within the report be supported and adopted, subject to any final consultation feedback as agreed with the relevant portfolio holders; and

2.     That the Growth and Prosperity Plan become a line of inquiry within the Partnership’s Annual Scrutiny, complementing the sub-regional strategy process.