Agenda item

To receive a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development inquiring into ‘marketing and promotion of the city’.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which introduced the first formal session of the inquiry.

The report submitted by the Director of City Development outlined Leeds and Partners’ approach and activity to attract and retain the next tranche of inward investment for the City and how Leeds City Council is working with Leeds and Partners to promote inward investment to Leeds.

In attendance to answer Member questions were:

Lurene Joseph – Chief Executive of Leeds and Partners; and

Tom Bridges – Chief Economic Development Officer.

Initially Tom Bridges briefly summarised the position of Leeds in terms of investment and job creation in the city, linking this to the work of Leeds and Partners in increasing these variables.

Subsequently Lurene Joseph informed the Board of her strategy to capitalise on Leeds’ strengths and highlighted the key sectors Leeds and Partners would be focusing on, namely:

·  Healthcare – Medtech;

·  Digital;

·  Professional Services; and

·  Financial Services.

Members questioned witnesses present about the partners involved with Leeds and Partners and asked about the links that exist with other local authorities within the Leeds City Region. Members were informed about the relationships that are in place with other authorities and also about the other private and public sector organisations that Leeds and Partners work with.

Members stressed the importance that Leeds residents were given every opportunity to apply for and get jobs created in Leeds and that better relationships need to be developed between the schools and colleges and private sector employers.

It was broadly noted by Members that as much work as possible needs to be completed to ensure that Leeds capitalises on the Grand Depart of the Tour De France in 2014.

Members commented that Leeds was 10^th out of 12 UK regions for inward investment in 2011. Members debated with witnesses present where it was likely that Leeds would be positioned in terms of inward investment in 5 years’ time.

Comment was also made that the focus of Leeds and Partners appeared to be on large companies investing in Leeds but that consideration should be given to promoting smaller businesses at a local level. Members noted the role of City Development in this regard, and particular emphasis was given to the work with manufacturing businesses.

Members asked questions about the makeup of the Leeds and Partners Board and the choice of countries that had been focused on by Leeds and Partners to help contribute to inward investment.

Members sought clarification of the delivery horizon presented to them by the Chief Executive of Leeds and Partners and what quick wins could be achieved within Phase 1 (1-2 years).

Other sectors were also suggested to be made focal points by the Board including construction and manufacturing which are both strong sectors in Leeds. Also questions were asked about the future importance of green technology. At this point the Chief Executive of Leeds and Partners re-iterated the resource issues that she is faced with and that the areas focused on had been carefully selected due to Leeds’ unique strengths in these sectors.

Members wished to know what the benefit was for each pound spent by Leeds and Partners.

The Chief Executive of Leeds and Partners offered to return to the Board to present the detailed planning that her organisation has put in place as a framework to promote Leeds. The Chair accepted this offer and suggested that a working group be set up to undertake some more detailed analysis in relation to the benefits of Leeds and Partners and the business planning they have put in place.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted; and

(b)  That the Chief Executive of Leeds and Partners attend a working group of the Board to assist analysis of the Leeds and Partners Business Plan.

(Councillor Wadsworth left the meeting at 11:30am during discussion of this item)