Agenda and minutes

[To receive any apologies for absence]. 

Apologies received from Cllr Darke

[To receive any declarations of interest]. 

Councillor Birch declared a pecuniary interest in Agenda item 6.

[To agree the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record]. 

Minutes 30 November 2022 resolved.

[To consider a report on the Green Economy]. 

Briefing note is marked: To Follow. 

The Deputy Leader Inclusive City Economy expressed his view that the Green Economy was the future in industry. Statements were made surrounding the history of the Black Country and the Industrial Revolution. 

The Director of Regeneration opened the presentation (a copy of the presentation is attached to the signed minutes). The Head of City Development informed the panel that the Green Economy was a growth economy and had huge opportunities for the City. He informed the Panel that partners would lead a Green Growth Strategy Plan. He discussed the National Centre for Sustainable Construction, explaining that The City of Wolverhampton was experiencing the alignment of unique local conditions and drivers for change. He told the Panel that the future success of Wolverhampton, if it was to be an innovator, would rely on leveraging physical, networking, and economic assets. He discussed the National Brownfield Institute (NBI), which was located in the City, specifically as part of the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield Campus. The NBI provided vital information through its research to enable a brownfield first approach to future construction methods and techniques within the City. This would contribute to and enable carbon neutral construction standards and help reduce building on Green sites, protecting British eco systems. The site provided great opportunities for students and jobs in the City. The Director of Regeneration was pleased the City had gained a National Asset, which was a real boost for the City. The Head of City Development then discussed the Green Innovation Corridor (GIC); a “Place-Based Approach” developed in partnership with the Council, the University and the private sector.  The priority of the GIC was to contribute to the development of sustainable construction and a circular economy, to support inclusive growth, transform the local economy, create quality jobs and new skills for the emerging green sectors and help align the City’s existing strengths to high value manufacturing, green technologies and digital innovation.

The Head of City Development raised the i9 building, which was the second headquarters for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The i9 was designed and built with locally sourced materials which reduced the carbon footprint during its construction period. It was designed for energy efficiency which included low to zero carbon emission technologies. The Head of City Development felt this was an example to highlight, displaying the Council’s approach to development. He then informed the Panel that the City of Wolverhampton Council in partnership with the Canal and Riverside Trust had appointed Legal and General Modular Homes to build the regions first Net Zero carbon residential development. This was called the Canalside South zone development. It was to be built on former industrial land, in line with the Council’s brownfield first approach and would incorporate eco-friendly green technologies in all its houses. He also discussed the i54 Business Park, one of the most successful enterprise schemes in the region. He informed the Panel that green technologies were actively promoted by all partners on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

[To receive a briefing note on Business Support Activities within the City Council Wards].

Briefing note: To Follow. 

The Head of Enterprise began the presentation (a copy is attached to the signed minutes) and displayed a map of Wolverhampton’s wards and businesses which received support, 499 had received funding, with 1066 interventions, subject to European Union funding criteria. She then displayed a map of Wolves at Work links to local businesses, with 206 businesses supported and 388 interventions. The Head of Enterprise summarised the “Let’s Talk Jobs” events that had occurred around the Local Authority, 283 jobs gained through this scheme went to Wolverhampton residents. The Head of Enterprise encouraged Councillors to share a business survey which had been launched to gather further information on the makeup of businesses across the City of Wolverhampton.

The Director of Regeneration added that these schemes were in line with and reliant upon European Union funding, which was coming to an end. He informed the Panel that regional support funding packages were currently being drawn up as a replacement scheme for the near future.

The Vice-Chair asked if a report of the breakdown of businesses helped at ward level could be provided to the Panel in the future. He commented that night-life economy applied to wards outside of the main city also. The Vice-Chair praised the Wolves at Work scheme, but cited the Office for National Statistics which showed that Wolverhampton had higher than average unemployment rates nationally. He wanted to know why people were not taking up the opportunities being provided.

The Head of Enterprise replied that they did have the information in reference to ward level businesses and would have a conversation about it with the Councillor at a later date. She then stated that Wolves at Work were hosting events and doing outreach in communities to attempt to communicate to local people about the services they provided and the jobs available. Businesses had also expressed openness to learn and make their job application processes easier for people. The Council was aware of the work needed to be done to try and get more people into employment.

A Councillor praised the Council’s work in this area and felt they were listening to Councillors and improving their communications.

A Panel member asked how the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund would compare in funding levels to the European Union funding and where would these new funds be targeted.

The Head of Enterprise said the funding plan from the National Government would be significantly less than the funding from the European Union. She explained that because of this, ensuring well targeted funding was more crucial than ever and stated the new business survey was exactly the type of work the Council was doing to get more detailed information on businesses so they could make more informed choices on where funding is utilised.

[To consider the support package to businesses impacted economically by the Public Realm works]. 

Briefing note is marked: To Follow. 

The Deputy Leader Inclusive City Economy gave background information on the trader’s board, which had formed to give local businesses a direct voice to the Local Authority on business disruption caused by the City’s regeneration works. The Director of Regeneration began the presentation (a copy is attached to the signed minutes) and gave more detailed background information on the Public Realm Improvement Works. £15.5 million had been invested into the City as part of the Government’s Future Highstreet Programme.

The Director of Resident Services summarised the interactions the Local Authority had had with businesses disrupted by the works. The Council had been clear to state that it was not legally responsible to make disruption payments, but had given a commitment to support local businesses where clear and substantiated evidence had been provided. Transparency and Scrutiny on this matter was fundamental.  The Head of Enterprise set out in chronological order the planning, interaction with partners and business representatives and construction periods from the end of 2018 until present. The main contractor for the development had a liaison officer for businesses on site every day, with multiple outlets utilised for communications with businesses. Businesses had engaged and inputted with the contractor and the Local Authority throughout. Further reviews had been taken since then with another report planned in the near future. Business support was changing as European Union funding was coming to an end post-Brexit. The Council was now working with the West Midlands Combined Authority and other stakeholders to develop a new business support programme in place of the EU schemes.

The Vice-Chair asked how many advisors had been employed by the Council to deal with the issues facing businesses and the development. He also enquired about business support payments and wanted to know if the 6 businesses that had gone out of business could provide evidence that their loss of earnings was caused by the developments that they would be given money.

The Deputy Leader Inclusive City Economy explained that the Trader’s Board agreed with the investment and works that were being done in the City and that the reduced footfall had occurred post-pandemic due to people increasingly moving to online shopping. This market fact, he argued, complicated matters and that a legal framework had to be followed when handling public money. He said that all works had been done in consultation with and in agreement with the local traders.

A Councillor gave examples of the entertainment industry and asked if the Council was reaching out to those within that industry to look to set up businesses within the City, as he felt the City and Council shouldn’t just focus on retail trading. The Director of Communications and Visitor Experience agreed and said the Council was looking towards all investors to increase footfall in the City centre.

A Councillor cited newspaper articles which discussed issues with business viability in the City centre due to the roadworks and asked how the Council could change the perception of the City  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.