Apologies were received from Cllr Cloke with Cllr Wiles in attendance as a substitute. 

The minutes of the Business and Town Centres Committee meeting held on 26^th March 2015 were approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The report outlined the proposed Economic Development projects and initiatives for 2015/16.

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Parker and SECONDED by Cllr Rowlands to agree the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

1.    The proposed Economic Development projects and initiatives for 2015/16 be agreed. 

2.    The projects be undertaken and implemented within the delegated authority of the Head of Planning and Development after first liaising with the Chair of the Committee to utilise the 2015/16 Economic Development budget. 

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

To agree the key Economic Development projects for implementation in 2015/16 to drive forward the priorities of the Brentwood Economic Development Strategy. 

The report outlined the project proposal for “Opportunity Brentwood”.

The proposal within the report looked to have a joint careers event with Thurrock Council who had previously held such events.  The event would involve workshops and interactive exhibits by employers for secondary school students.  The Economic Development team would look to liaise with secondary schools and large employers within the Borough for involvement in the event. 

Members overall were in favour of the event however would look to review the success and take up for Brentwood to potentially run a Brentwood stand alone event in the future.        

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Parker and SECONDED by Cllr Rowlands to agree the recommendations in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

1.    The Economic Development Manager be given delegated authority to investigate the appetite of the Borough’s secondary schools and large employers to take part in “Opportunity Brentwood” on 7 October 2015/16 (Option D), and should such sufficient appetite exists then the Head of Planning and Development  be granted delegated authority to facilitate this event working in partnership with Thurrock Council and “Opportunity Brentwood”. 

2.    The projects be undertaken within the Head of Planning and Development’s delegated authority after first liaising with the Chair of the Committee to utilise the 2015/16 Economic Development budget. 

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

To progress the project proposal for “Opportunity Brentwood” in order to support the skills and employability priority of the Brentwood Economic Development strategy. 

On the 10^th June 2015, a revised budget was brought forward to Members for 2015/16, which included the allocation of £24,000 for an apprenticeship scheme to be introduced. 

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Parker and SECONDED by Cllr Rowlands to agree the recommendations in the report. 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED that:

1.    Work would commence on the “Brentwood Apprenticeship Scheme 2015/16” to include both opportunities within the Council and through partnership working with the private sector to be agreed.

2.    Discussions would commence with Brentwood Community Print and other mental health groups within the Borough to identify joint working and opportunities under the apprenticeship scheme.

3.    A detailed project proposal would be submitted to the Committee for approval at the next Economic Development committee meeting.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

To progress an apprenticeship scheme for Brentwood Borough to support the employability and skills priority of the Economic Development Strategy in line with the Councils 10^th June 2015 revised budget approvals.  To help facilitate and support the Councils approved “mental health champion” status.  

The report outlined the Brentwood Borough Renaissance Group 2015/16 workplan of projects and initiatives which introduced an illustration at the Business Trade Cluster level. 

On the 4^th March 2015, Council approved the budget for 2015/16.  At the 10^th June Ordinary council meeting, an amended budget report was presented but there was no change to the Brentwood Borough Renaissance Group budget allocation. 

The committee were thankful for the work of Clive Othen, Chair of the Renaissance Group had been doing. 

Members were dissatisfied with delays on the Multi Storey Car Park signage caused by Essex County Council.  

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Parker and SECONDED by Cllr Wiles to agree the recommendation in the report.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

1.    The Brentwood Borough Renaissance Group 2015/16 workplan be agreed. 

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

For the committee to agree the 2015/16 Brentwood Borough Renaissance group workplan. 

Temporary Season Ticket Parking to the Old Fire and Rescue Authority Headquarters, Rayleigh Road, Hutton.

The purpose of the report was to obtain the approval of the Committee to urgently progress terms which had provisionally been agreed by officers to pursue an opportunity to relieve or prevent the congestion of traffic.  This would be by adapting land at the former headquarters of the Fire and Rescue Authority on Rayleigh Road, Hutton for use as temporary off street parking.  This would assist to resolve Crossrail issues arising from displacement. 

The project proposed offered temporary additional car parking for season ticket holders that had been displaced by the Crossrail works at Shenfield Station, with associated works including security measures.    

The financial cost to deliver the temporary off-street parking place would be in the region of c. £15,000.

It was intended to fast track the project in order to open  the off-street parking place as soon as possible by requesting planning permission at the 1^st September Planning and Licensing Committee. 

Initial discussions with the Fire and Rescue Authority had indicated that the site would be given over to the control of the Council without charge, and that the site would be immediately available without any payments being made. 

The Chair confirmed that further details would need to be confirmed following future scheduled meetings.  

A motion was MOVED by Cllr Parker and SECONDED by Cllr Wiles to agree the recommendations in the report. 

A vote was taken and by a show of hands it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

1.    The Head of Paid Service be granted delegated authority to negotiate and enter into an agreement with Essex Fire and Rescue Authority to use the land at the former headquarters, Rayleigh Road, Brentwood to provide temporary additional off-street parking facilities which would address the displacement of permit holders by Crossrail.

2.    The Head of Paid Service be granted delegated authority to undertake all statutory steps to amend the Off-street Parking Order by including such reasonable provisions as he sees fit, in consultation with the Chair of the Economic Development Committee, including a provision for setting the operating time from 7am-7pm Monday to Friday. 

3.    The costs of these works which would be estimated to be no more that £15,000 and the majority would be taken from the existing capital budgets allocated to the matter of Crossrail be noted by Members.  

RESOLVED by assent:  That, in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, members of the public (including the press) be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following item if business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 3 and 5 of Part 1 to Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to an individual, the financial and business affairs of a person and information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings. 

Members discussed the report and RESOLVED to agree the officers recommendations as set out in the report.

The meeting ended at 21:00.