Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dan Morris and Harry Taylor.  Councillor Dean Carroll attended as Substitute for Councillor Morris.  Councillor Carroll’s apologies for late arrival were noted.

Councillor Julian Dean requested that an interest be recorded in Agenda Item 6 as he was employed by Telford College and worked on a casual basis for Pearson’s who provided qualifications for the apprenticeship schemes.

To consider the minutes of the Place Overview Committee meeting held on 14^th September 2017.

Contact: Julie Fildes, Committee Officer, Julie.fildes@Shropshire.gov.uk

The minutes of the meeting held on 14^th September 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any questions or petitions from the public of which members of the public have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is 5pm on Monday 4^th December 2017.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To receive any questions of which members of the Council have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is 5pm on Monday 4^th December 2017.

There were no questions from members of Council.

To receive a presentation and progress report on the Apprenticeship Levy from the HR Services Manager.

Contact: Sam Williams, HR Services Manager, Sam.Williams@Shropshire.gov.uk

The HR Manager gave a presentation to Members on the Apprenticeship Levy [copy attached to the signed minutes].  Members noted that the Levy had come into force in April 2017, it applied to organisations with a pay bill in excess of £3m per year, and was set at 0.5% of the pay bill per annum.  The levy collected was for apprenticeship training and assessments but could not be used for salaries or transport. Government made a contribution of 10% to the fund. 

She continued that Upskill Shropshire Board had been established with the Director for Place and Enterprise appointed as its Chairman.  The Board was a vehicle for delivering apprenticeships but it had a wider function than this.  Apprenticeships were available across all Directorates of the Council and each Directorate took responsibility for considering and approving applications and selecting the Provider from the fifteen on the framework, across the twenty-four available categories.  The scheme also unpinned the Council’s Leadership Programmes and upskilling the Council’s existing workforce, including the new skills identified by the Digital Transformation Programme.

The Council also had a commercial offer, which was open to other organisations and Local Authorities.  There were three levels of offer and organisations could decide to only purchase access to the Council Framework, the Council could provide a full matching service or an advice service. To date, two local authorities had signed up to access the framework, although a number of enquiries had been received, and take-up of the service was expected to increase.  A dedicated website had been developed, Officers had promoted the offer at the NHS employment Fair and would do so at the Telford Apprenticeship Show in March.  A presentation had also been made to the Shropshire Business Board, and further work was being undertaken to better understand their priorities.

Members noted that the Framework consisted of twenty-four categories with fifteen providers, based both locally and nationally.  The larger national providers could offer whole suites of subject areas.  Members noted that apprenticeships were no longer just for young people in low skill roles but were now open to all ages and included professional and post degree level training.

Members considered the scheme’s performance and noted that the Government had set a target of 2.3% of an organisation’s workforce consisting of apprenticeships, which had not yet been achieved.  This was not causing concern as it was accepted that the scheme was still in its early days.  She continued that the funds collected through the levy could be kept in the Council’s accounts for up to two years.  In answer to a Member’s query, the HR Manager explained that there were no targets for schools as maintanined schools were outside the Council’s control in terms of the way they managed their workforce, although the team provided advice to encourage the take up of apprenticeships.  

Members discussed the need to fully utilise the Levy and increasing the number of apprenticeships offered by the Council. The HR Manager confirmed that an apprenticeship  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To receive a verbal update on the development of Shrewsbury Town Centre and to consider possible future work on this topic.

Contact: George Candler, Director of Place and Enterprise, George.Candler@Shropshire.gov.uk

The Director of Place and Enterprise updated Members on the Shrewsbury Centre Shopping Centres development, which was considered by Cabinet on 6^th December 2017.  He advised that following the discussions by Cabinet, a final revised report would be considered by Council at its meeting on the 14^th December 2017. Council would make the final decision whether or not to progress the development. Members noted that the Red Book Valuation was expected to be finalised by Friday 8^th December 2017 and this would be included in the revised report to be considered by Council on the 14^th December 2017.  He continued that should Council be minded to agree the proposal, Officers would then have five working days to finalise the agreement and then four working weeks to complete the contractual information and exchange contracts.

Members noted that a business plan was being developed on an annual basis for the future development of the shopping centres and the scope of the partnership with Montagu Evans.  Internal Governance was anticipated to be completed by the end of December.  The Director of Place and Enterprise observed that this would contribute to the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan as the retail experience was an important part of the overall visitor experience. 

Members discussed the importance of the acquisition to the future of Shrewsbury over the next 20 to 25 years, and the wider impact of the project.  Members considered the possibility of setting up a Task and Finish Group to consider the Council’s role in place shaping and legacy.

To receive a verbal update on Business Rates from the Head of Economic Growth.

Contact: Gemma Davies, Head of Economic Growth, Gemma.Davies@Shropshire.gov.uk

The Head of Economic Growth updated Members on the work being undertaken in conjunction with Shropshire Business Board on the Business Rates Model.  She advised that the criteria was being developed with the Council’s Finance department.  The aim of the model was to explore how discretionary rate relief could be applied on a criteria basis to attract investment to Shropshire and ultimately to drive more business growth and business rates.

She continued that the pros and cons of different approaches to Business Rate Relief had been considered and it was a complicated area with conflicting views. Discretionary Relief was being reviewed but it had been established that it had to be a short term measure and a blanket approach should be avoided. Any changes in policy would require testing with companies to ensure that the policy was fair and robust in its approach. 

In response to a Member’s question on how Business Rates Relief was assessed, the Head of Economic Growth responded that the Relief was based on National Policy and demand.  She continued that it was important the policies centred on encouraging business growth, jobs and supply chain linkages. She added that growth sectors had been identified and the existing criteria’s applied to broad sectors and required revision. 

In response to a Members query, the Head of Economic Growth explained that on 28^th November 2017 there were one hundred and sixty-six businesses qualifying for the one off Business Rate Relief, brought in my Government to help deal with the immediate impacts of the business rate revaluation process.  This equates to a 83.4% take up from eligible businesses in Shropshire. 

The Head of Economic Growth confirmed that the Council had sufficent resources to manage enquiries.  Discussions had also been undertaken with the County’s Members of Parliament and representatives from the Shrewsbury BID companies.  The issue of listed buildings having greater running costs and so disadvantaged the business situated in them had been raised.  Business Rate Relief granted to empty buildings had also been considered.   

To receive a verbal update on the work of the Brexit Task and Finish Group from the Head of Economic Growth.

Contact: Gemma Davies, Head of Economic Growth, Gemma.Davies@Shropshire.gov.uk

The Head of Economic Growth updated Members on the work undertaken by the Brexit Task and Finish Group.  Members noted that the Group had been gathering information and had undertaken a SWOT analysis and received information form the Marches LEP and Government data. 

At its second meeting it had identified the issues that the group wished to focus on.  These included the Government’s Industrial Strategy White Paper.  It had recognised the importance of working with what was already known, concentrating on economic impacts and opportunities specific to Shropshire.  She continued that the Task and Finish Group had considered the current European Structural Investments Funds Programme made up of the European Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Rural Development Fund.  

She observed that the key purpose of the Task and Finish Group was to ensure that the Council was in a position to respond to any future Government consultations. Members noted that it was anticipated that there would be three meetings held over the first three months of the new year, where a number of external guests would be invited to talk to the Task and Finish Group.  She anticipated that further evidence would be collected through a Business Survey to take place in the spring, although larger companies were reporting directly to the Department of International Trade.   A small survey already undertaken had had a low response rate but anecdotal reports showed that business concerns outweighed positive views.  With larger organisations expressing concern over Head Quarter location and the need to move staff to Europe.  

In response to a Member’s question, the Head of Economic Growth confirmed that the Marches LEP were also considering Brexit. 

To set up the future Work Programme, including Task and Finish Group work.

Contact: Tom Dodds, Scrutiny Officer, Tom.Dodds@Shropshire.gov.uk

Agreed: that the Committee would consider the following items at its future meetings:

·         Place Shaping,

·         20 mph speed limit in built up areas;

·         North West relief road;

·         Business/Council relationship;

·         Marketing Shropshire;  

·         Infrastructure Demands; and

·         Review of household waste recycling centres

The Committee is scheduled to next meet at 10am on Thursday 1^st February 2018.

Members noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be at 10am on 1^st February 2018.