Issue - meetings

    Report by Executive Director Alistair Cunningham.

Cllr Philip Whitehead – Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Procurement and Economic Development, presented a report which provided (i) an update on the progress being made by Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) in agreeing the Local Industrial Strategy (LIS) with the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG); and (ii) seeking Cabinet’s endorsement of the draft LIS that SWLEP has submitted to MHCLG and of the direction set out in it (to the extent that it affects Wiltshire Council’s areas of responsibility).

The Leader explained that the Strategy is being produced by the SWLEP and developed closely with Council’s Economic Development and Planning teams, amongst other organisations and businesses. Following the announcement that Honda would be leaving their South Marston site in 2021, the SWLEP had been asked by the MHCLG to accelerate production of the LIS, bringing the launch forward to Autumn 2019 from March 2020. It was noted that agreeing the LIS for the area with MHCLG would be a necessary condition for the SWLEP to draw down any future funding.

The Cabinet noted that the Draft Local Industrial Strategy document was attached as an exempt document as it was still under discussion with the SWLEP and MHCLG.

Resolved: 

1.    That the progress made by the SWLEP in preparing the LIS be acknowledged and the direction set out in the draft that was submitted to MHCLG in July 2019 be endorsed.

2.    To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Growth, Investment & Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to endorse the final document on the Council’s behalf prior to submission.

Reason for Decision:

1.    To support SWLEP in agreeing the LIS with MHCLG;

2.    To ensure that local needs, priorities and opportunities are recognised at central government level;

3.    To establish the basis for future funding bids in Wiltshire;

4.    To highlight Wiltshire’s strengths and to seek government support for interventions that will drive productivity locally.