Agenda item

Announcements by the Chairman, Executive Councillors and Lead Officers

Minutes:

The Executive Councillor for Economy and Place commented that the UK was due to leave the EU in a few days' time and it was worth noting that the Economic Survey was also due to be discussed by the Chamber of Commerce.  It was highlighted that there had been a substantial increase in confidence levels despite Brexit and recruitment levels had also risen since the previous quarter.

 

The authority was working hard to help businesses to profit from the opportunities arising from Brexit, and had a full seminar programme.  Government funding had been attracted to provide specialist consultancy support to help businesses change to a post-Brexit world and enter into new markets

 

In terms of new markets, the Executive Councillor reported that he would be accompanying a dozen business and education leaders to Changsha in Hunan Province in November to pursue trade opportunities.  The delegation would have one-to-one meetings with potential Chinese business partners and would be meeting Chinese government officials to agree next steps in pursuing Innovate UK funding for agri-tech innovation schemes.  If the bid was successful it would greatly strengthen south Lincolnshire's international reputation as a leader in food manufacturing.  It was reported that this visit would be the biggest ever delegation from the Midlands to China.

 

The Committee was informed that there had been an excellent Team Lincolnshire event as part of the MIPIM UK exhibition.  100 businesses attended its business dinner, half of whom were potential clients seeking to invest in the County rather than local businesses.  There was a clear momentum for investment in Lincolnshire, as could be evidenced by the authority's announcements about the signing of contracts on Skegness Business Park and the confirmation of the direct rail service between Lincoln and London was a real asset.  The Committee was also reminded that plenty of these trains stopped at Grantham and the County's north-south connections were strong and provided the opportunity to attract investment.

 

It was also reported that work was continuing on the various towns funding projects.  The towns that could attract funding if they got their plans right were Holbeach, Boston, Grantham, Lincoln, Mablethorpe and Skegness.  District councils would be the applicants, but the County Council and the LEP would have a big role to play in developing their bids and in delivering their schemes.

 

The latest STEAM data had been released and it showed continuing growth in the county's tourism economy.  The Council's investments, whether in Lincoln Castle, the green coast or in the PR work which put stories about Lincolnshire into the travel press, had all contributed to that increase.

 

A number of queries were raised by members in relation to the update as follows:

·         In terms of the towns funding projects, there was surprise that Lincoln was included as it was a city.  Members were advised that the project was about return for investment, and there were still large areas of the city that needed improvement.  The application process was fairly broad, but in terms of the bidding process, this would be more specific.  It was about lifting the whole of the Lincolnshire economy. 

·         The launch of the extra Lincoln – London trains was good news, but it was commented that it was quite a commitment to be able to keep six trains going each way.  It was suggested whether a couple of these trains could go to Grimsby and Cleethorpes too.  The Executive Councillor advised that it was very clear that the south bank of the Humber represented a big opportunity for Lincolnshire's economy, and going forward the authority would be happy to support anything that North and North East Lincolnshire wanted to do in terms of improving transport links.

·         It was noted that Boston had Lincolnshire's only international port, and there was a need to get the maximum benefit from the rail connections.  It was queried whether it was hopeful that the steel trains would continue running.  Members were advised that discussions were still ongoing, but society was changing, and young people wanted good public transport.  It was also reported that there was to be an increased service between Lincoln and Peterborough, and it was hoped that this would be an hourly service.

·         It was also queried whether there was a need to look at improving the train service going north as well, for example, to Leeds.

 

 

 
 
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