Agenda item

Item five was introduced by Susan Attard, Head of Productivity, alongside Lead Member Cllr Ron Woodley.  The report provided gave the Board the business/work plan for the productivity team for 2019/20.  Susan made reference to Appendix A in the agenda, which provides a summary of the business/work plan for 2019/20.

Susan’s update included the following information:

-       Update on the grant funding digital improvement programme, which is currently supporting councils.

-       Contract management – the team are still carrying out the diagnosis exercises, as well as working with government on commercialisation functions in the sector. 

-       Susan thanked the Chairman for launching the transformation and innovation exchange conference this year, feedback of this was a great success. 

-       An update on our support for councils on cyber security. 

In the discussion that followed, the following points were raised:

-       Members agreed how important this work is, particularly in relation to climate change. 

-       The climate emergency declaration by the government and the LGA were also discussed, and how a SLI approach to tackle this would both be innovative and a great incentive for the take up within the sector. 

-       Discussions were had as to why the government is taxing new renewable technologies, still after declaring a climate change emergency.  Members were notified that this was actually EU legislation.

-       Such technologies discussed were solar panels/farms and wind farms, although it was agreed that any information on these expenses needed to be collected from the sector, as manufacturers could not be trusted. 

Dennis Skinner and Matthew Hamilton concluded the conversation by updating members that improvement discussions in relation to the climate emergency had already started, including any SLI approaches.  Dennis confirmed that currently, this area of policy is with the Leadership Board and discussions are still ongoing.

Decisions

1.    Members noted the business/work plan for the productivity team for financial year of 2019/20.

2.    Members provide guidance necessary to ensure that the programme meets its objectives in 2019/20.