Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 23rd July, 2020 10.00 am

Venue: Virtual Meeting - Webcast at - https://manchester.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/485340

Contact: Michael Williamson 

Media

Items
No. Item

26.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 136 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision

 

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2020 as a correct record

27.

Update on COVID-19 activity pdf icon PDF 209 KB

Report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development) attached.

 

This report is intended to provide the Committee with a very brief overview of the three key documents which are appended to this report. These documents provide an update on the economic recovery work which is underway in response to COVID-19 which is relevant to the remit of the Committee.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute ESC/20/24 (Update on activity under COVID 19), the Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development), which provided a further update of the current situation in the city in relation to COVID-19 and an update on the work progressing in Manchester in relation to areas within the remit of the Committee.

           

The main points and themes within the report included:-

 

·                An update on the Our Manchester Strategy re-set, which included a proposal for an engagement plan structured around a three tiered approach comprising universal citywide engagement; targeted engagement with key groups; and targeted engagement at a neighbourhood level;

·                An update on the economic recovery work structured around the nine sub-workstreams;

·                The outcomes and recommendations of the report from THINK, who had been commissioned to develop a detailed labour market analysis and recommendations for potential interventions; and

·                An overview of the Chancellor’s Summer Statement which was structured around three themes, Supporting Jobs, Protecting Jobs and Creating Jobs.

 

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:-

 

·                Clarification was sought on how the Council was gauging the likely long term occupancy levels of businesses going forward as part of the recovery phase and the impact this may have on associated businesses in the city;

·                How was the Council communicating with residents on the constraints it faced in terms of “Building Back Better”;

·                In terms of the recovery of the cultural sector/offer in the city, what role would the Council play in this, including those self-employed;

·                As part of the proposed High Street Fund, what was the expectation for Wythenshawe Town Centre;

·                What support was to be offered to women in relation to the development of skills and their long term prospects for the workplace;

·                How much employment opportunities for Manchester residents would the “shovel ready” projects bring;

·                There was concern that the support from Government was short term based which would make it difficult for the Council to plan recovery for the long term;

·                How would Councillors scrutinise the Transport Consultant Plan and would City Centre Councillors be able to comment on this Plan;

·                How would the Council ensure that the funding it received to assist in the recovery of the City’s economy would be distributed in an equitable way;

·                More information was requested on the “We’re Good to Go” kitemark and were there any potential barriers to businesses achieving this;

·                Concern was made in relation to the survivability of businesses where advanced bookings did not turn up;

·                There would need to be enough capacity to provide the necessary level of support to the labour market recovery to ensure there was equality for all in gaining employment;

·                Clarification was sought on how the KickStart Fund would engage with current schemes;

·                The COVID19 pandemic had highlighted large short comings in the way the city’s economy operated, specifically around employment opportunities within social care and health;

·                There was concern that as the Government’s furlough scheme came to an end, certain families and communities within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

Overview Report pdf icon PDF 275 KB

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

 

This report provides the Committee with details of key decisions that fall within the Committee’s remit and an update on actions resulting from the Committee’s recommendations. The report also includes the Committee’s work programme, which the Committee is asked to amend as appropriate and agree.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment.

 

Decision

 

The Committee notes the report.