Agenda item

Report of the Director of Planning and Property attached.

The Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Social Justice and Wealth Building (Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder) and the Director of Planning and Property (Jonathan Noad) presented the South Ribble Community Wealth Building Action Plan to the Committee and responded to members’ comments and queries.

The independent Policy Advisor (Matthew Baqueriza-Jackson) for the Action Plan was also in attendance at the meeting.

Members were informed that the Action Plan would ensure resiliency in the local business and community sectors and would identify tangible benefits with the intention of localising wealth and supporting enterprise.

This would be achieved by diversifying the local economy, using planning powers to recognise wider benefits and ensuring that wealth reaches more residents through a democratic economy.

Members initially sought assurance that the proposals were realistic for a shire district like South Ribble compared to cities and unitary authorities. In response, confidence in the delivery of benefits in South Ribble was expressed with particular reference to the large numbers of public and private sector employers in the borough. 

Other local authorities such as the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Camden, Birmingham City Council and Wakefield Council had successfully implemented similar Wealth Building Action Plans. Further information on other authorities who had adopted similar strategies could be found on the Centre for Local Economic Strategies website.

In response to a query regarding the evidence base for the Action Plan, the Committee was informed that significant engagement had been undertaken. A core officer group had been established in the Council’s Economic Development department and consultation had been undertaken with South Ribble Partnership.

Disappointment was expressed that the report and draft action plan did not include engagement with businesses and business organisations. Assurances were provided, however, that officers would meet with local businesses to discuss the Action Plan in early November.

Members suggested that corporate organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and the Institute of Directors, also be consulted.

Members also queried how success of the Action Plan would be measured and were informed that a Social Value Monitoring Officer would be employed to oversee progress and observance by businesses and employers. A social value portal would also provide ready-made indicators for success.

The benefit of appointing officers to deliver and monitor the Action Plan was questioned and the Committee was informed that they would be able to monitor the outcomes of the Action Plan and provide evidence for the Council to make strategic decisions. A review of current resources would be undertaken to confirm whether additional staff are needed before a business case is submitted.

It was confirmed that an implementation plan would be devised for the Action Plan if approved by Cabinet and an annual progress report would be created. All reports going to Cabinet, Full Council or committees would be required to assess social value impacts.

Some concern was expressed over the abilities of small businesses to commit to the social values of the Action Plan and reassurance was provided that the report would recommend that the values only apply to tenders over the value of £30,000.

Clarification on anchor institutions was also sought and it was explained that these are public sector organisations such as hospitals and colleges which are major contributors to employment and the economy in their areas. South Ribble has many anchor institutions and the procurement network within the Action Plan would bring these organisations together to discuss efficiencies and value for money.

Members were interested to note how the Action Plan could link to other policy such as the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. A gap between the Action Plan and health was acknowledged but assurances were provided on the possibility for synergy between the Action Plan and other Council strategies. More explicit links with the Community Strategy and Health and Wellbeing Strategy were requested.

Case studies of social value work and the Action Plan would be used on the Council’s online channels to communicate and promote community wealth-building in a user-friendly and understandable way.

It was suggested that, owing to the implicative and novel nature of the Action Plan, the report should be considered by Full Council. The Cabinet Member and officers were receptive to this recommendation and confirmed that this could be included in the Cabinet’s resolution if appropriate.

A Member Briefing could also be held to ensure that the proposals are sufficiently communicated to all members.

Discuss also focused on worker-owned co-operatives and the need for them in South Ribble. In response, it was stated that there are over 7000 co-operatives in the UK with the aim of preventing divisions between capital and labour. The Action Plan proposed promoting a culture of co-operatives to local businesses.

Members questioned the reference to ‘socially-just use of land’ and how this could be practiced in South Ribble. It was explained in response that the Council could utilise land previously inaccessible to residents for different uses, such as community and health benefits.

Further information on land owned by the Council was requested.

In response to a question regarding the benefits of the Action Plan for residents, it was explained that more opportunities would be available and spending power would be concentrated for residents of South Ribble.

The committee thanked the Cabinet Member, the Director of Planning and Property and the Policy Advisor for their attendance and discussed a series of recommendations to Cabinet regarding the Action Plan.

Councillor Michael Green moved an amendment to the recommendations requesting that they be widened to include that consultation be undertaken with business organisations; that the adoption of the Action Plan be subject to a formal vote at Full Council; and that the risk of attracting less businesses, employment and training opportunities to South Ribble as a result of adopting the Action Plan be incorporated into the report.

The vote on the Amended Motion was For: 5 Against: 7 and the Chair declared that the Amended Motion was lost.

Upon taking a vote on the Substantive Motion it was RESOLVED: (Unanimously) that the Scrutiny Committee

1.    thanks the Cabinet Member, Director and Mr Baqueriza-Jackson for attending and presenting their detailed report.

2.    expresses disappointment that the report and draft action plan does not include engagement with businesses and business organisations.

3.    requests that consultation is undertaken with business organisations, such as the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors and the Confederation of British Industry.

4.    looks forward to performance measures being developed as part of the implementation plan.

5.    welcomes the suggestions to promote the benefits of community wealth building with residents.

6.    requests that the final draft of the action plan be presented to Full Council following a Member Briefing.

7.    more explicit links be made with the Community Strategy and health and wellbeing strategy.

8.    information on the Council’s land ownership be provided to a future meeting.

9.    looks forward to receiving progress report on the action plan as part of the performance monitoring report.