Minutes of the Greater Peterborough Economic Development Partnership
04 October 2004
Attending: Allan Arnott Interim Chair, Perkins Engines
Mike Holland Smye Holland Associates
Robert Dalgliesh City Centre Forum
Roger Tallowin O & H Hampton Ltd
Nick Plumb Greenwoods Professional Services
Richard Dade DWD Property
David Nicholls Business Link Cambridgeshire
John Bridge CCCI
Karen Bartlett EEDA
Simon Chiva UKCEED
Sarah Fowler PECT
Richard Astle GPP Director
Advisors: Liz Wade PCC – Economic and Community Regeneration
Will Spinner PCC – Economic and Community Regeneration
Ed Zefara PCC – Economic and Community Regeneration
Adam Speed PCC – Corporate Services
1. Apologies for absence
Apologies were received from Councillor Thorpe, Sarah Dean, Carolyn Hume, Bill Agnew, Richard Hall, John Neeve and Peter Smith.
2. Minutes
Were accepted as an accurate record of the meeting held on 06 September 2004.
3. Matters Arising
Liz Wade advised that meetings had taken place with colleagues in Fenland and a draft is being put together at the moment. However, it may not be ready until the end of the year.
Liz to encourage Fenland to speed up the process.
At future meetings members would like their names and who they represent placed around the table.
4. EDP input into Community Strategy
Richard Astle took the group through the latest draft of the Community Strategy, explaining that the vision had been moved to the front of the document as this sets the tone for the rest of the document.
The GPP board hopes to sign off the document on the 26th October, it will then go to Cabinet on the 1st November and then to Council.
Breakthrough Goals
To Richard’s point that maybe establishing a URC was not a break through goal, Allan suggested and all agreed that the City Centre regeneration was certainly a breakthrough goal.
Karen Bartlett stated that crime had already reduced by 12%. Therefore the goal, “to reduce crime by 15%,” wasn’t very aspirational.
Richard Astle agreed and will look into coming up with a more aspirational goal for reducing crime.
Richard Astle to add the regeneration of the city centre to the goals.
Where it says: “To create over 17,000 new jobs by 2016.”
It should be changed to: “To be the fastest growing city in the region.”
Where it says: “the establishment of a University of Peterborough.”
It should be changed to “the establishment of a University for Peterborough.”
Economic Growth, Regeneration and Quality of Life
The group felt the section “Better Places to Live” needed to contain more environmental ideas around being cleaner and greener.
The group also felt that the target of delivering “30% of affordable housing” was unrealistic.
Richard Astle informed the group that there would be a progress report every 6 months.
Sarah Fowler to draft some words on making Peterborough “cleaner and greener” and forward them to Richard Astle.
On page 28 change “Deliver 30% of affordable housing units…” to, “Ensure access to good affordable housing for all.”
The headings on pages 28 and 29 should be changed to “A Better Place to Live” and “A Better Place to Visit.”
Part five “Peterborough Today – The context for change,” should be an appendix with a summary and other links.
5. Investing in Communities (IIC)
Liz Wade reported to the group on the “Investing in Communities Strategy.”
The document has been through three sessions of community consultations and received a positive reaction.
The ten-year framework was particularly well received.
The document does need to contain a definition of the management structure that will manage the fund.
The document will be discussed further at the meeting in November, then the final draft will be sent to EEDA for their approval. The plan itself is scheduled to commence in March 2006.
Karen Bartlett added that EEDA were very supportive of what has happened so far, the plan has been shaped according to the needs of the community. The next stage will be a formal application to EEDA, it will then go to EEDA’s peer group for approval and Karen sees there being very few problems.
Mike Holland asked where the IIC team would be based, he felt they needn’t necessarily be from the City Council and could come from the private sector.
Liz Wade agreed, but the decision won’t be made until the next stage on.
Robert Dalgliesh felt there should be more notes on the background of the plan in order to set the context.
Liz Wade replied that there would be these sorts of details in the summary and that they would be reported back to this group.
Robert Dalgliesh asked which bodies had been consulted so far?
Liz Wade answered that the first phase of consultation was at the grass roots level with residents groups, community associations, etc. Business organisations will be consulted in the next phase.
Liz Wade to add a definition of the management structure that will manage the fund.
The document is to be reported back to the group in November including a draft of the 18-month plan.
6. Regional Skills and Competitiveness Partnership
Karen Bartlett gave a presentation to the group on EEDA’s plans for the Regional Skills and Competitiveness Partnership.
EEDA will not always be the leading partner; the group is very participatory.
Allan Arnott commented that it was a very weighty infrastructure with many different bodies.
Karen Bartlett agreed but added that many people want a seat at the table.
Liz Wade felt that the number of bodies could lead to a lack of leadership and problems with decision making.
Karen Bartlett explained that the partnership is looking to develop a centralised, integrated IT system for all the groups to use. It is hoped that this will lead to consistency of information and availability of advice.
Allan Arnott felt that this would cost a great deal of money.
Karen Bartlett agreed but added that the partnership will only work if the groups are willing to commit fully in terms of time and money.
Roger Tallowin asked where the partnership would be based?
Karen Bartlett answered that this had not been decided yet but she expected that it would move around the region.
Robert Dalgliesh stated that the private sector doesn’t necessarily look to the public sector as a source of advice and the partnership needs to remember that they are in competition with the private sector, they are just offering an alternative service.
Close
The meeting having commenced at 16.30 concluded at 18.40.