Agenda item

To consider the report of the Economic Policy, Innovation and Sector Development team which seeks to introduce the current consultation around the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy 2017 – 2023, which underpins the Council’s work to develop a strong economy in a compassionate city. A copy of the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy – Consultation Draft Executive Summary is attached as Appendix 1 of the report.

A workshop to discuss some of the key ideas in the strategy and how they relate to local priorities will follow the Community Committee main business meeting.

Simon Brereton, Head of LCC Innovation and Sector Development, presented a report on Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy 2017-2033, which included ‘12 Big Ideas’ to promote inclusive growth in the city. A copy of the executive summary was included as an appendix to the report, which was presented as the basis for discussion during the workshop session scheduled to follow the formal meeting. The workshop would form part of the formal Strategy consultation process due to conclude on 19^th October 2017.

In presenting the report, Simon highlighted the following key issues:

-  The Strategy sought to ensure that the growth predicted for Leeds benefitted all residents

-  50,000 high quality jobs were predicted; Leeds had the challenge of ensuring its residents could fulfil those opportunities

-  Young people = 16% of Leeds’ population, investment in their future was required to ensure they were prepared for the city’s future growth

-  The Strategy had a ‘people centred focus’ – putting employers and people at the heart of education/better jobs,

-  The Strategy’s ‘place centred focus’ aimed to tackle the expansion of the city centre, to create jobs close to communities and support infrastructure to enable productivity

Having regard to the time left, the Chair opened the meeting to a general discussion on the Strategy which included consideration of the following:

·  Support for small and medium sized business start-ups in local communities

·  Transport infrastructure

·  The impact of the regeneration of one community on neighbouring areas

·  The likely impact of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate NHS Sustainable Transformation Plan in terms of shared services, patient access and infrastructure

·  The challenge of encouraging employers to pay appropriate wages at more than the value of benefits system. This would encourage people into work and meet travel costs

·  Leeds needed to tackle the education and vocational skills gap to ensure Leeds residents benefitted from the anticipated opportunities

·  Recognition that the leisure and sport sector is the second largest job sector in Leeds

·  Balance the needs of the projected city centre growth against those of the inner area communities affected by the expansion

·  The Strategy encouraged employers to consider what action they could take - through individual action plans and employer pledges

·  Comment that “in-work adult training” should be reintroduced

Members broadly felt that there wasn’t sufficient time to discuss the Strategy thoroughly and requested that a further workshop(s) be arranged so that each community could discuss what it already has to offer and to identify its’ needs in order to meet the aim of the Strategy. It was envisaged that young people and representatives of the education and transport sectors could be invited in order to promote discussion on how to link transport; jobs, education and skills effectively. Additionally, information would be sent to local community groups to encourage their participation. The outcomes of the follow-up work will be reported back to the Committee in due course.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report and the discussions

b)  To note the intention to arrange a further Inclusive Growth Strategy workshop(s) with the findings to be reported back to the Community Committee in due course.