Meeting documents

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2015, copy attached.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2015 be agreed as a correct record.

Members to declare any interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Economy and Business Development Scrutiny Committee received a report outlining the skills shortages faced by local employers.  The report provided an update on the progress made by local partners in addressing the issues of skills to ensure that workforce was work ready and had the skills required by employers.  The Committee received three presentations; from Ian Harper, University Campus Aylesbury Vale (UCAV), Ruth Farwell, Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership and Jackie Campbell, Skills Development Manager, Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership. David Handley, Director, Thame Workholding was in attendance to provide an account the skills shortages experienced.

The Committee were informed that one in three businesses had reported a skills gap, especially with job specific skills.  The skills that were lacked in particular included technical or practical skills and IT skills.  Businesses across the Vale reported experiencing difficulties recruiting skilled people.

David Handley, Director of Thame Workholding, attended the meeting to provide a first hand account of the difficulties experienced in recruitment and skills shortages.  He stated that education centres did not talk to businesses to establish which skills would make students most marketable. It was also noted that education centres tended to use equipment that was either out of date or too sophisticated for most businesses.  He suggested that it would be helpful if additional links between education providers and employers were established.

Councillors suggested that there may be a lack of interest in engineering amongst students, but it was noted that education establishments may not be guiding students towards this as a career choice.  It was also suggested that careers advice at schools could be improved.  It was questioned how companies should be able to communicate with schools and also with parents.

The Committee received a presentation (attached) from Ian Harper, the General Manager of University Campus Aylesbury Vale (UCAV), which was noted to be a partnership between Aylesbury Vale District Council and Buckinghamshire Education, Skills and Training (BEST).  BEST was an educational partnership formed by Aylesbury College and Buckinghamshire New University to enable the delivery of a broad range of educational opportunities to meet the area’s education and skills needs.  This would include the delivery of degree level courses and professional development programmes.  It was noted that UCAV would  include two technology centres and would aim to support the delivery of technical and higher level workforces skills development within Aylesbury and Bucks.

Two presentations were received from the Bucks Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (BTVLEP).  A Skills and Employability Board was set up to support BTVLEP with its skills strategy.  The Bucks Skills Hub was noted to be at the centre of the activities for the Bucks Skills and Employability Programme.  This programme had recently been launched and would provide an online presence to improve engagement between schools, employers and training providers.  The BTVLEP Skills and Employability Programme would provide:

1.    A closer engagement between schools and employers to work ready employees

2.    Information, advice and guidance to young people by showcasing opportunities in Bucks,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The Economy and Business Development Scrutiny Committee received a report that provided an update on the progress made in implementing the actions outlined in the Aylesbury Town Centre Improvement Plan.  The Improvement Plan was developed by Aylesbury Vale District Council in liaison with Buckinghamshire County Council and Aylesbury Town Council.  A number of private sector stakeholders and the general public were consulted before the Plan was finalised in 2014.

The Plan comprised of four key elements:

i)              The establishment of seven guiding principles designed to enable partners to collectively and carefully manage the future development of the town centre

ii)             Identifying a Vision and unique selling point for the town centre, i.e. what do we want Aylesbury town to be and be known for, what will be the compelling reason(s) for people to live, work and visit?

iii)            Defining two strategic aims to determine what action should and needs to be taken.  These reflect the guiding principles and the Vision.

iv)           A set of actions for the different areas of the town, e.g. Kingsbury, together with a set of actions that support the whole of the town centre, e.g. setting up a joint marketing group to promote the town centre in a consistent and engaging way.

It was noted that, while the Plan has no statutory status, since being finalised and published, it has had considerable influence on a range of other strategies, policies and decisions both within and outside the council.  It was referred to by Development Management when considering town centre planning applications, by Licensing and Economic Development when reviewing policies and it also formed part of the suite of marketing material to invite developers to bid for works relating to Waterside North.

The Committee received a presentation from the Head of Communications, Marketing & Town Centre Management, which provided an update on the implementation of the Plan, which is attached.

RESOLVED

That the progress made in implementing the actions outlined in the Aylesbury Town Centre Improvement Plan be noted.

The Committee was provided with a work programme outlining the items that would be considered at future meetings.  It was noted that the following items were currently on the work programme:

7 December 2015

·         Aylesbury Vale Estates Business Plan

·         Economic Development Budget

30 January 2016

It was noted that there were currently no items anticipated for the meeting in January.

15 March 2016

·         Economic Development and Inward Investment Strategy

RESOLVED:

That the work programme of the scrutiny committee as circulated at the meeting be agreed.