Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Andy McGuinness.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings of the Environment & Economy Select Committee held on 27 February and 6 March 2024.

a)    It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Environment & Economy Select Committee held on 27 February 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the following addition under Item 2:

Some Members suggested that the use of bee bricks in walls, and leaving holes in fences for Hedgehogs, would assist local biodiversity.

b)      It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Environment & Economy Select Committee held on 6 March 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to an amendment on Page 4, Paragraph 3, where the Member was not suggesting the Police should be instructed to do anything but was making a comment on the number of unclaimed bikes that could be utilised were there avenues available.

Members are invited to receive a presentation on the Stevenage Skills Framework. The presentation will be provided by Co-operative Neighbourhoods Programme Manager, Daryl Jedowski and Strategic Director, Tom Pike with input from the CEO North Herts College, Kit Davies and Norman Jennings from Hertfordshire LEP and Greta Gardiner from Stevenage Works. The Presentation will outline who the key organisations are in the local skills network and what each group provides, leading to an opportunity for Members to outline what they see as the key priorities for their community.

Presentation slides to follow.

The Chair introduced the committee's work on the Stevenage skills framework. He highlighted the significant developments in Stevenage concerning the skills agenda, including advancements in STEM fields and the presence of leading companies such as GSK, Airbus, Autolus and MBDA. He emphasised the pressing need to address the skills gap, particularly in life sciences, to create more opportunities for the residents of Stevenage.

The Chair introduced the members of the presentation panel. Operations Director of Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Norman Jennings, Principal and CEO of North Herts College Kit Davies, Strategic Director Tom Pike, and Cooperative Neighbourhoods Programme Manager Daryl Jedowski.

The Strategic Director expressed gratitude to the committee for allocating time in their work programme for the presentation. He acknowledged the busy schedule of the Environment & EconomySelect Committee and recognised the significance of the policy and strategy under discussion and emphasised its priority in maximising benefits for the people of Stevenage.

The Strategic Director highlighted the collaborative effort involved in developing the Stevenage Work Skills Framework, involving various stakeholders such as businesses, education providers, and sector specialists and thanked the Principal and CEO of North Herts College and the Operations Director of Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership for their contributions to the project. He underscored the project's aim to address the needs of local people, including young individuals, those facing barriers, and individuals seeking career progression or stable employment.

The Strategic Director highlighted that although focusing on skills was not a traditional or statutory duty of a district or borough council, it had become a priority in Stevenage's new Making Stevenage Even Better Corporate Plan. He emphasised the importance of aligning the local skills framework with existing policies and initiatives to maximise impact.

The Strategic Director outlined the assets in Stevenage's economy and local infrastructure, including the STEM Discovery Centre, the SITEC Innovation Centre at North Herts College, and opportunities in the life science and engineering sectors. He also acknowledged the challenges in navigating the complex skills environment and addressing issues such as unemployment and gender pay gaps.

The Strategic Director thanked the Cooperative Neighbourhoods Programme Manager for his work in securing funding and driving initiatives to benefit the community.

The Cooperative Neighbourhoods Programme Manager provided an overview of the funding secured over the past few years to support various initiatives related to community wealth building and improving outcomes for Stevenage residents.

He highlighted funding received from three areas:

·         The Community Renewal Fund, through which £750k was secured to support community wealth-building initiatives. He explained that this funding aimed to create a more inclusive economy focused on positive outcomes for residents.

·         The UK Shared Prosperity Fund through which £1m was secured focused on improving outcomes, life chances for communities and was focussed on three priority areas. People and Skills, Supporting Local Business and Communities and Places.

·         Mission 44 – Pioneering Young STEM Futures which was aimed at providing opportunities for young people from underrepresented backgrounds. He highlighted the program's focus on increasing access to opportunities and providing support tailored to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider any Part 1 business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.

To consider the following motions –

1.  That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.  That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.