Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence was received from Cllr Craig Collingswood and Cllr Paul Birch BEM, J.P.   

The Chair acknowledged that Cllr Paul Birch BEM J.P, prior to the meeting had declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item four because of his links with the Arts Council and therefore would not take part in the item and had sent his apologies for the meeting. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2021 were confirmed as a correct record. 

The Chair commented that the minutes referred to trying to understand why people did not invest in the City of Wolverhampton and that understanding supply and demand was important moving forward.  She asked that the analysis and the deeper extrapolations of the comment be brought to a further meeting of the Panel next year.  

A Member asked whether the breakdown of the £4.4 billion investment in the City was ready to send to Members of the Panel.  In addition, he asked for the details of the 50,000 job ready students.  The Director of Regeneration responded that the information had been updated regarding the £4.4 billion investment but had not yet been published in Z- Card form.  The information would be updated on the Invest website.  Regarding the 50,000 job ready students a response had been provided to Members of the Panel by email before the meeting. 

A Member commented that they had received some ONS data in response to the question he had put about metrics at the last meeting of the Panel.  He also wanted to know what the Council could judge projects and investments on. Citing examples such as whether there were metrics on job growth, footfall, business start-ups, retail start-ups.  The Director of Regeneration commented that he was happy to speak to the Councillor directly and that some of the information would be discussed during the next item.  

[To receive an update from Richard Lawrence, Director of Regeneration, Isobel Woods, Head of Enterprise and Liam Davies, Head of City Development.]

The Director of Regeneration displayed two videos which had been shown at the business week.  The presentation, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes, provided an overview of the work emerging within the Culture, Creative and Visitor Economy, incorporated within the themes of Play, Live and Work. 

The Director of Regeneration remarked that in 2016 a company called BOP had been commissioned to carry out a rapid piece of strategic planning for culture and the creative industries in Wolverhampton.  The aim was to support the economic investment in culture and the creative industries in Wolverhampton and to understand the overall pattern for development of culture in the City.  The report had recommended five priorities for development.  Since the BOP report the City had been active in progressing a number of cultural projects in response to the points highlighted by the BOP report.  A number of funds had been secured and the Council was in the process of bidding for more.  This contributed and supported investment in the City’s cultural offer.  He gave an update on three projects in particular, the Green Room, the Art Gallery and Box Park.

The Director of Regeneration stated that Wolverhampton had been announced as 1 of 50 cities in the UK whom Arts Council England wanted to work with to develop the City’s cultural engagement and investment.  In 2022, the City would be hosting an event for the Commonwealth Games and be holding the prestigious British Art Show 9.  A new City Culture Strategy was being shaped around Partnership, Productivity, Placemaking Pride and Participation.  It would work with the City Cultural Compact a board of cultural and non-cultural organisations, that would align with the Relighting Our City plan, connecting with communities, place shaping, economy and environmental objectives of the City.

The Head of City Development presented a slide on hotels.  Work was well underway on a hotel delivery strategy for the City.  A strong hotel offer was good for business, visitor, leisure and the cultural economy.  There were only 16 hotels in the Wolverhampton market area, accounting for 1,101 bedrooms.  In the last 14 years, only 2 hotels had opened (209 bedrooms).  Therefore, in the last 10 years, the total room supply had declined by 4.5% due to the closure of 4 hotels.  By comparison, over the last decade, hotel room supply had increased by 10.5% and 11.2% in the UK and West Midlands respectively.  International travel accounted for 28% of overnight stays, this was set against a West Midlands average of 14.5%.  A strong hotel brand demand existed but there were viability challenges.

The Head of City Development commented that living in the City was crucial for its vibrancy.  It helped to create a day and evening economy.  He spoke about the Canalside Developments.  With reference to business engagement and Investment, the Council had focused on business continuity throughout Covid, with over £70m of grant issued.  The Relight Business Programme had been launched to build resilience.  The Ebay programme had concluded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

[To consider the draft work programme for the panel.]

The Chair asked Officers to contact Members of the Panel well in advance of the next meeting, if there were any questions which Officers wanted to receive input and guidance from Members.

Resolved: That the Work Programme for the Stronger City Economy Scrutiny Panel be agreed.  

The meeting closed at 7:46pm.