Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Manager of the Rotherham Investment and Development Office and the Economic Development Manager, concerning the Rotherham Economic Growth Plan 2015 to 2025.  The report stated that the Rotherham Economic Growth Plan had been officially approved and adopted by this Council and by the Rotherham Local Strategic Partnership in the Autumn, 2015 (Minute No. 74 of the meeting of the Council held on 21st October, 2015, refers). The Growth Plan comprised seven themes, each of which had a number of targets and a delivery plan, setting out the priorities and activities for the first year of delivery.

Members were informed that, with the Growth Plan having been “live” for twelve months, the Council’s Economic Development Team was now leading an exercise to monitor the progress against the targets and work plan. The full monitoring return document was attached as an appendix to the submitted report.

The submitted report provided details of the progress of each of Growth Plan themes:-

Theme 1 - Grow Existing and Develop New Business            

Theme 2 - Skills for Employment and Progression      

Theme 3 - Inclusion, Wellbeing and Employment        

Theme 4 - Employment Land and Business Premises

Theme 5 - Housing

Theme 6 - Town Centre     

Theme 7 - Transport

The Select Commission members raised the following issues during discussion of this item:-

: the arrangements for the sub-groups dealing with the seven themes of the Growth Plan;

: the development of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (at Waverley);

: the Tram-Train transport link between Sheffield, Meadowhall, Rotherham and Parkgate, scheduled to begin operating during 2018;

: the impact of the proposed development of the HS2 high-speed railway line;

: the business incubation scheme, encouraging new business start-ups; the business accelerator programme, usually lasting thirteen weeks, helping to accelerate the process of establishing a new business with a strong, sustainable business model;

: the availability of business administration support for existing companies within the Rotherham Borough area;

: a scheme relating to the identification and acquisition of suitable properties for business growth;

: the possible development of a cinema and a hotel within, or near to the Rotherham town centre;

: proposed improvements to retail markets;

: the Council’s acquisition of the Forge Island site, within the Rotherham town centre and the possible redevelopment of that site;

: the Council’s imminent acquisition of the Rotherham Magistrates’ Court building;

: the availability of appropriate employment-related and vocational training and courses offered by the Rotherham College of Arts and Technology; enabling young people to obtain employment locally;

: the implications of the Growth Plan for social inclusion, equalities and deprived communities;

: the incidence of self-employment and also of people who have ‘zero-hours’ employment contracts;

: Members requested details of the proposed mainline railway station to be developed at Parkgate;

: the implications of the eventual termination of existing European funding being provided for business start-ups and for employment creation;

: the installation and construction of infrastructure for broadband connections to business and domestic properties;  Members requested details of the installation and construction programme affecting the Rotherham Borough area;

: Members requested details of the Rotherham Investment and Development Office apprenticeship scheme;

: the refurbishment of the Rotherham Passenger Transport Interchange which is currently taking place;

: the level of footfall within the Rotherham town centre; anti-social behaviour within the Rotherham town centre and the endeavours of various organisations to improve public safety within the town centre.

Resolved:- That the report be received and its contents noted.