Agenda item

To note and comment on the draft Call for Evidence and next steps.

David Smith (Director of Economic Development) and Johanna Howarth (Deputy Director of Economic Development) were in attendance for this item.

1.    Mr S Holden (Deputy Cabinet Member for Economic Development) introduced the report that provided an update on the development of a 2050 Enterprise and Productivity Strategy for Kent and Medway. The work programme over the coming year included the launch of the Calls for Evidence and data collection analysis to form an evidenced based strategy. Mr Holden informed the committee that an informal meeting was due to be held directly after the Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee to discuss the development of a Kent and Medway Enterprise and Productivity Strategy, Members were welcome to attend.

2.    Mr Smith said that the main objective of the strategy was to contribute to the improvement of people’s living standards in the long term, to 2050. This would be achieved through working with and listening to key sectors, local businesses, local authorities and public service providers to ensure Kent County Council identified better ways of measuring and understanding standards of living to provide stronger evidence with which to develop the strategy. The report was one of a series of updates that would be presented to the committee over a period of time containing details of upcoming work.

3.    Mrs Howarth said that there would be a number of planned additional activities that would be used to strengthen the Enterprise and Productivity Strategy for Kent and Medway. Alongside the Call for Evidence. Other activities included: engaging with residents and young people to ensure that the strategy addressed issues that were inherently important for them, discussions with businesses and local public agencies to interpret the evidence and the practical actions that should be taken collectively in response in order to improve productivity and address living standards; and finally, a commissioned detailed scenario analysis which would be used to forecast the current trends , identify the likely drives of change and the impacts this would have on the Kent and Medway Economy. The Call for Evidence looked at two elements, the first being living standards and the second was business productivity. Mrs Howarth said that as part of the strategies development, Kent County Council would be seeking the views from Local authorities, public agencies, academies and business representatives in relation to four main areas, this included:

·         a set of measures to help understand and define living standards in Kent and Medway

·         the potential impact that future external changes i.e. democratic/ environmental/ technological would have to Kent and Medway

·         the characteristics that made businesses high performing and what could prohibit them from being more productive; and

·         the opportunities and challenges raised by technology

Mrs Howarth said that the two call for evidence documents were in draft form, however feedback had started to be received from Members of the Committee and businesses on how to increase accessibility.

4.    In response to queries regarding the inclusion of committee members at the evidence gathering events, Mr Smith agreed to provide details of the events to the Members of the committee and welcomed the active participation of the relevant committee Member at those discussions.

5.    Mr Holden confirmed that the Membership of the Enterprise and Productivity Leaders Working Group consisted of the following individuals – Mr S Holden,Mr A Bowles, Mr A Cook, Mr G Lymer and Mr J Kite

6.    RESOLVED that the draft Call for Evidence and next steps, be noted.