Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interest in respect of matters contained in the agenda.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests.

There was no public participation.

Verbal Presentation

The Head of Strategic Planning and Housing circulated the Terms of Reference of the Economic Development Committee and gave a brief summary on the remit of the Committee and it’s priorities.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report asking committee to consider the need for working groups under the remit of this committee and decide upon the membership.

It was noted that a recommendation was being made to the Policy and Finance Committee meeting on 20 June 2023 that the Climate Change Working Group parent Committee be amended to Economic Development Committee, for the municipal year 2023/24. Committee therefore agreed that a working group should be formed and the membership decided in the event that the recommendation is approved, to avoid delay in the meeting of the working group.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the following working group and the membership for the 2023/24 municipal year, on the condition that it is agreed at the next Policy and Finance Committee meeting of 20 June 2023 that the parent Committee is changed to Economic Development Committee.

Climate Change Working Group - Councillors S Atkinson, L Edge, A Wilkinson-Odudu, S Fletcher, and M Peplow.

Please note, at the Full Council Meeting of 11 July 2023, following a change to the membership of Economic Development Committee, Councillor Malcolm Peplow was replaced on the working group by Councillor Gaye McCrum.

Report of the Director of Economic Planning and Development enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report presenting members with the draft Economic Plan 2023-2026.

The existing Economic Plan covered the period 2019 - 2022 and work was ongoing to deliver projects identified previously. A workshop with the Ribble Valley Economic Partnership had been held on 12 October 2022, and based on the workshop and analysis, a draft new Economic Plan had been created. A second workshop with the Ribble Valley Economic Partnership was held on 20 February 2023 in order to review the draft plan and ensure it reflected the challenges and issues businesses were facing. The results of the workshops and draft Economic Plan 2023-2026 plan were included in the report.

The plan followed a similar format to the existing Economic Plan and was split into five priority areas:

1.     People – Focuses on those actions that will support skills development.

2.     Place – Focuses on those actions that recognise and respect the value and character of the Ribble Valley.

3.     Business Support – Focuses on those actions that sustain competitiveness and strengthens business networks.

4.     Connectivity – Focuses on those actions that will act as the catalyst for better digital and public transport connectivity.

5.     Tourism – Focuses on those actions that will promote the development of accommodation, improve hospitality and support events building on the attraction of the local area.

For each priority area the deliverable projects were explained in the report.

There was discussion at the meeting around ensuring villages and smaller areas receive as much focus as towns and larger areas. It was felt that transport links to rural villages and businesses were vital in supporting businesses and also training and employment for individuals. Rail improvements would also be an ongoing focus.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Authorise the Director of Economic Development and Planning to carry out a public consultation for a period of six weeks on the draft Economic Plan.

Report of the Director of Resources enclosed.

The Director of Resources submitted a report reviewing the final outturn of the 2022/23 capital programme and seeking member approval for the slippage of capital scheme budget on one scheme from the 2022/23 financial year to the 2023/24 financial year.

There had been no spend on the capital programme in 2022/23 for this Committee.

Slippage totalling £55,000 from the 2022/23 financial year in to the 2023/24 financial year was requested.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the slippage of £55,000 as detailed in the report.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report updating members on Clitheroe Food Festival 2023.

The event would be held on 12 August 2023, with ‘Ribble Valley Taste Fest’ running from 5 – 11 August 2023, which would feature a week of events held at farms and food venues across the Borough concluding with Clitheroe Food Festival.

The report noted the number of trader applications, which to date was higher than last year, and that numerous businesses throughout the Borough had signed up for Taste Fest which would spread the economic impact of the Food Festival beyond Clitheroe. The sponsorship opportunities available were also noted in the report, and it was confirmed at the meeting that the main sponsorship packages were now sold.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report updating members on the ‘Annual Tourism Gathering’ event and the Ribble Valley Tourism Association (RVTA).

In conjunction with the RVTA, the Council had hosted the ‘Annual Tourism Gathering’ on 16 May 2023 which had been attended by around 120 local business representatives and was open to any tourism related business. The purpose of the event was a combination of networking and celebration.

The report detailed the presentations and awards which had taken place and noted that it is the intention of the RVTA to write formally to the Council to request that an elected Member be nominated to sit on the RVTA Executive Committee, as they had in previous years.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a follow up report to the Tourism Update which was presented to Committee 30 March 2023.

At the request of Members the report summarised the three major tourism events at which the Council had been represented, with an indication of the collaborations and the results.

Progress in Tourism would continue to be reported to future Committees.

There were no reports from representatives on outside bodies.

None.

There were no items under this heading.