Agenda and decisions

To note any declarations of interest from councillors. They are asked to indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular

whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declaration of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of

interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

To receive any announcements from the Chair.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Any member of the public or councillor may participate in Public Forum. Public Forum items must relate to the remit of the committee and should be addressed to the Chair of the committee.

Members of the public who plan to attend a public meeting at City Hall are advised that you will be required to sign in when you arrive. Please note that you will be issued with a visitor pass which you will need to display at all times.

Please also note:

Questions

1.      Written public questions must be received by 5.00 pm, at least 3 clear working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that questions must be received at the latest by 5.00 pm on Tuesday 23^rd July. Please email questions to policycommittees@bristol.gov.uk

2.      Any individual can submit up to 3 written questions.

3.      Written replies to questions will be available on the Council’s website at least one hour before the meeting.

4.      At the meeting, questioners will be permitted to ask up to 2 oral supplementary questions.

Statements

1.      Written statements must be received at latest by 12.00 noon, at least 2 working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that statements must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on Thursday 25^th July. Please email statements to policycommittees@bristol.gov.uk

2.      Statements, provided they are no more than 1,000 words in length, will be circulated to all committee members and will be published on the Council’s website at least one hour before the meeting.

Petitions

1.      Details of the wording of any petitions, and the number of signatories to petitions must be received at latest by 12.00 noon, at least 2 working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting, this means that petition details must be received at the latest by 12.00 noon on Thursday 25^th July. Please email petition details to policycommittees@bristol.gov.uk

2.      At the meeting, individuals presenting petitions may be required to read out the objectives of the petition.

When submitting a question or statement please indicate whether you are planning to attend the meeting to present your statement ask your question

To note the Annual Business Report.

The Committee RESOLVED:

1.      To note the membership of the Economy & Skills Policy Committee for 2024/25.

2.      To note the appointment of Cllr Andrew Brown as the Chair of the Economy & Skills Policy Committee for 2024/25.

3.      To note the appointment of Cllr Jenny Bartle as the Vice-Chair of the Economy & Skills Policy Committee for 2024/25.

4.      To note the terms of reference of the Economy & Skills Policy Committee.

5.      To note the Economy & Skills Policy Committee’s meeting dates for 2024/25.

To seek approval to hold detailed bid negotiations to secure essential grant funding from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to extend and maintain our specialist employment support programme designed to improve employment outcomes for Disabled people with Learning Difficulties and Autism across the West of England region.

The Committee RESOLVED (unanimously):

1.      To approve the proposal and authorise the Head of Service Employment, Skills and Lifelong Learning in consultation with the Committee Chair to negotiate with WECA and, if successful, to accept and spend funding of up to £1,835,500 (including procuring and awarding contracts) and lead on the regional implementation and delivery of the We Work for Everyone Phase 3 programme from January 2025 to March 2027.

2.      To note the Director of Adult Social Care and the Director of Education and Skills will support the implementation of the WE Work for Everyone Programme, in partnership with specialist providers and employers, to improve the employment outcomes of young people and adults with Learning Difficulties and Autism supported by the SEND and ASC teams.

To update committee members on the planned activity in the regeneration service.

The Committee RESOLVED:

1.      To note the planned activity in the regeneration service as outlined in this report including securing £260k Homes England Funding to deliver priority projects within Bedminster Green, Whitehouse Street, Frome Gateway and the City Centre.

2.      To note the regeneration service will be submitting external funding bids to deliver projects identified with the City Centre Development and Delivery Plan, Frome Gateway Framework, Whitehouse Street Framework, Bedminster Green Framework, and the emerging Harbour Place Shaping Strategy.

To agree the re-establishment of an informal cross-party Local Plan Working Group to operate under the auspices of the Economy & Skills Committee.

The Committee RESOLVED:

1.      To endorse the establishment of an informal cross party Local Plan Working Group in principle in accordance with the terms of reference as set out in Appendix A.

To provide an update on current significant strategic risks to achieving the Council’s objectives, within the Economy and Skills Committee, as set in the Corporate Strategy 2022-2027 and summarises progress in managing the risks and actions being taken as at Quarter 1_2024-25.

The Committee RESOLVED:

1.      To note the Corporate Risk Management Report for Quarter 1, 2024-25 for Economy and Skills.

To present the Economy and Skills Committee financial forecast at Period 2 / Quarter 1 (P2/Q1) against the budget as at the end of May 2024.

The Committee RESOLVED:

1.      To note the contents of report, on the provisional P2 outturn position for budgets within the remit of the Economy & Skills Committee.