Apologies for non-attendance were submitted on behalf of Cllr Welcome Koussoukama.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of meetings held on 24 September 2015 and 6 October 2015 as a correct records

Resolved

That the minutes of the previous meetings held on 24 September 2015 and 10 October 2015 be approved and signed as correct records.

6 October 2015

Item – Wolverhampton’s Cultural Offer.

The Chair paid tribute to Cllr Phil Bateman for highlighting that road disruption during the development of the bus station had impacted on the number of coach bookings to the Grand Theatre and his determination that something should be done to address the number of coach trips to the Grand Theatre.

She advised that coach trip bookings were addressed and re-established with –in a couple of days of the meeting by the Chief Executive, Adrian Jackson.

The Chair highlighted that several key items had been raised during both scrutiny sessions and actions implied that had not been captured in the resolutions, but that she thought were worthy of bringing back to the final meeting of the municipal year when summarising the Stronger City Economy Scrutiny Panels work and outcomes.   

Resolved:

That a summary report of actions and outcomes be submitted to the final meeting of the municipal year.

To consider the Draft Budget 2016/17 including the related Savings and Redesign and Income Generation Proposals, Financial Transactions and Base Budget Revisions, and underlying Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) assumptions.

Martin Fox, Finance Business Partner provided a summary of the report and highlighted the key points about the savings proposals. Cllr John Reynolds, Cabinet Member City Economy, highlighted the main points about each of the savings, redesign and income generation proposals, as follows:

Phased Removal of remaining Grand Theatre Grant:

The Panel were reminded that Adrian Jackson, Chief Executive of the Grand Theatre had attended the previous meeting and an in depth discussion had taken place relating to this proposal.

The Panel welcomed the appointment of the new Chief Exec and, in particular, his intention to have a business and profit centred approach to the theatre's development.

The Chair highlighted that the budget cuts to venues in the City could have direct and negative impact on the overall Visitor Economy strategy if care is not taken. The Panel highlighted that it was important for officers to continue to advise and guide management of those venues to assist in their business development.  The Panel requested future feedback on how the venues mentioned have produced business plans for future financial sustainability.

Review remaining Lighthouse Media Centre Grant:

The Panel were reminded that the position relating to the Lighthouse Theatre had been discussed at a previous meeting. The Financial Business Partner and the Service Director had met with the Lighthouse Theatre management and given them an opportunity to come back to the Council for assistance, as it would be useful to change the offer around digital and technology.  As yet they have not taken the opportunity up

Further restructure of City Economy Services:

Cllr Martin Waite highlighted business rent retention in the autumn statement and highlighted the need for employees in the City Economy Service, who work directly with potential investors, to be genuine account managers that manage ‘P and Ls’. He suggested that in order to separate Wolverhampton from other Local Authorities we need to be in a place where the account managers add value to the business community.

The Cabinet Member highlighted that the business improvement does understand the impact of the extra business levy and increases. He highlighted that Scrutiny Panel had heard from Wiggle company representative how pleased they were with the account manager who had done a lot more than other Local Authority account managers.

The Service Director advised that the report had been produced some time ago and that things had moved on since to restructure into five key areas. She advised that the Head of Enterprise was responsible for several managers, who in effect were account managers.  She advised that the strategic management had been strengthened to correspond with Area Action Plan (AAP) and alongside that there would be City Development, Skills and Employment, Visitor Economy, Service support and external funding.

Whilst there were reductions to the mainline budget, it was explained that the Council had reached the financial stage of some substantial bids from European Union which if approved would increase staffing capacity around business support and account management. It is expected  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider the progress by the Council, and its partners, to develop and deliver a Skills and Employment Action Plan for the City to take forward the recommendations emanating from the work of the Skills and Employment Commission, led by Professor Tony Travers.

Keren Jones, Service Director City Economy and Cllr John Reynolds, Cabinet Members City Economy, provided a report to share the progress by the Council and its Partners to develop and deliver a Skills and Employment Action Plan for the City to take forward the recommendations emanating from the work of the Skills and Employment Commission, led by Professor Tony Travers.

She outlined the main points arising from the Final Commission report (Appendix 1 to the report).  She indicated that the actions arising from the work would be at three levels, local, sub-regional and national. She advised that the wider priorities for action were:

·         Influencing the Wider West Midlands agenda for Skills and Employment

·         Securing additional funding from Black Country European Union Structural Investment Funds

She circulated a paper which detailed the ‘Job Box’ – The Integrated Model Key processes at City level. She highlighted that the City Board was keen to develop a flagship project for action that delivers against the priority interventions focused on the following five key themes:

1.    Holistic careers advice

2.    A city skills system

3.    Ready for work

4.    Moving up

5.    Cross sector collaboration

She explained that the Job Box was one of the programmes to deliver against the recommendations. She informed the Panel that initially it would be a virtual one stop shop for information and support on job vacancies, training and employment, but that development would be through a number of phases. The aim of the Job Box was to provide residents with links to the support they need through a single portal.

She advised that the four programmes would be as follows:

·         City Job Box – Three phases to enable development of virtual model and internally aligning services and external marketing.  Engagement with partners with the Councils integrated model and e-communication channels and last phase a one stop shop as part of the City Regeneration programme and linked in to the development of the Combined Authority and the proposed devolution of budgets.

·         Skills for Growth – Addressing supply and demand for skills in the City.

·         Centre One City One Campus – Specialist provision bringing together skills in the City alongside further education.

·         On-going influence of the wider West Midlands

The Service Director informed the Panel that anyone who needs to improve their skills can use the Job Box,  and it would cater for those that needed significant support to those where minimal support was sufficient to help them make the right choices.

She advised that the ‘one’ City Skills and Employment Team will have one representative from all main partner organisations and that the combined partner performance management, research and intelligence will feed the ‘Job Box’. The Job Box would inform the individual what is available:

·         Marketing, communication and engagement

·         Individual approach

·         Informed choices

·         Right route for progression

·         Right support

The Service Director responded to Cllr Martin Waite, who referred to the number of companies that approach schools and colleges to recruit young people to develop specific skills. She advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.