Agenda item

The Chair welcomed the Rt. Hon. Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to the meeting.

The Minister thanked Councillors for their input into the industrial strategy, advising them that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy would continue to engage with local authorities on this. He discussed recommendations set out in a series of pillars (Appendix C), highlighting that the strategy would build on successes in universities and the manufacturing industries. He touched on opportunities for improving productivity across the country, including providing better training and encouraging new business ideas. He highlighted the importance of place and local leadership in driving forward the economy, emphasising that the government’s approach would need to recognise diversity and specialisms in the localities, and be more empowering of local differences.

The department would make its response to the strategy consultation within the next few weeks. He invited councils to build the industrial strategy with the department going forward, suggesting that local government should be given a formal ‘constitutional’ role in proceedings.

In the discussion which followed, members made the following points:

·         Local authorities were pivotal in their oversight of the planning process, but needed further powers to help development opportunities to advance. The Minister agreed with the point, citing growth in Cambridge as an example where City Deal funding had been used to invest in transport and housing. He emphasised that the industrial strategy would help to expand similar opportunities to other parts of the country.

·         The attitude of some MPs towards local authorities’ role in the industrial strategy was discussed. It was emphasised that the vision for councils to be part of the strategy going forward needed to be shared with both MPs and other government departments.

·         The negative effect of messages of Brexit on overseas students considering study at UK universities was raised. The Minister emphasised the importance of attracting foreign students to the UK, adding that neither side in the campaign had been in favour of protectionism, and had supported the UK being open to the world. 

·         Members discussed skills and asked whether skills funding could be devolved from departments to local authorities. The Minister highlighted that local and central government would need to work together in this area.

·         Members argued that local authorities needed the opportunity to establish trade and investment arms within localities. The Minister assured members that the department would work with local and national trade arms as the industrial strategy was rolled out.

·         There was a discussion on the need to understand what constituted a successful local economy. Members emphasised the importance of building communities with the facilities and services to support economic prosperity. The Minister agreed that economic success was inseparable from environmental and cultural success. The cultural flourishing of towns was important to improve the quality of life and attract overseas investors.

·         Members asked whether funding would sit with combined authorities where they existed, or whether this would be devolved to local authorities.

·         Members asked what the government’s goal to increase productivity was, and whether it was measurable.

The Chair thanked the Minister and the discussion was drawn to a close.

The Chair welcomed the Rt. Hon. Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to the meeting.

The Minister thanked Councillors for their input into the industrial strategy, advising them that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy would continue to engage with local authorities on this. He discussed recommendations set out in a series of pillars (Appendix C), highlighting that the strategy would build on successes in universities and the manufacturing industries. He touched on opportunities for improving productivity across the country, including providing better training and encouraging new business ideas. He highlighted the importance of place and local leadership in driving forward the economy, emphasising that the government’s approach would need to recognise diversity and specialisms in the localities, and be more empowering of local differences.

The department would make its response to the strategy consultation within the next few weeks. He invited councils to build the industrial strategy with the department going forward, suggesting that local government should be given a formal ‘constitutional’ role in proceedings.

In the discussion which followed, members made the following points:

·         Local authorities were pivotal in their oversight of the planning process, but needed further powers to help development opportunities to advance. The Minister agreed with the point, citing growth in Cambridge as an example where City Deal funding had been used to invest in transport and housing. He emphasised that the industrial strategy would help to expand similar opportunities to other parts of the country.

·         The attitude of some MPs towards local authorities’ role in the industrial strategy was discussed. It was emphasised that the vision for councils to be part of the strategy going forward needed to be shared with both MPs and other government departments.

·         The negative effect of messages of Brexit on overseas students considering study at UK universities was raised. The Minister emphasised the importance of attracting foreign students to the UK, adding that neither side in the campaign had been in favour of protectionism, and had supported the UK being open to the world. 

·         Members discussed skills and asked whether skills funding could be devolved from departments to local authorities. The Minister highlighted that local and central government would need to work together in this area.

·         Members argued that local authorities needed the opportunity to establish trade and investment arms within localities. The Minister assured members that the department would work with local and national trade arms as the industrial strategy was rolled out.

·         There was a discussion on the need to understand what constituted a successful local economy. Members emphasised the importance of building communities with the facilities and services to support economic prosperity. The Minister agreed that economic success was inseparable from environmental and cultural success. The cultural flourishing of towns was important to improve the quality of life and attract overseas investors.

·         Members asked whether funding would sit with combined authorities where they existed, or whether this would be devolved to local authorities.

·         Members asked what the government’s goal to increase productivity was, and whether it was measurable.

The Chair thanked the Minister and the discussion was drawn to a close.