Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Aniela Bylinski Gelder, Craige Southern and Matthew Tomlinson.

Councillor Jacky Alty attended as substitute.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

There were no declarations of interest.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the last meeting held on Wednesday, 4 December 2024 be agreed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

By Virtue of Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Condition:

Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under-

The Companies Act 1985

The Friendly Societies Act 1974

The Friendly Societies Act 1992

The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1978

The Building Societies Act 1986 (recorded in the public file of any building society, within the meaning of the Act)

The Charities Act 1993

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the press and public be excluded from the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Change and Delivery.

The Director of Change and Delivery presented the confidential report that sought agreement for the establishment of a shared service for Economic Growth subject to consultation and in line with the Council’s Change Policy. A review of the new arrangements would be undertaken at 6 months and 12 months.

The Committee noted the existing team structures and explored the benefits of moving to a shared team in terms of responding and adapting to a changing economic development and local government context. The proposals would build capacity and resilience as well as creating efficiencies on programme delivery. Members expressed some concerns in regards to the risks, but understood that these had been recognised and would be monitored carefully against both council’s corporate indicators, the Shared Services Joint Committee, and Members.

Resolved: (Unanimously)

To approve the establishment of a shared service for Economic Growth subject to consultation and in line with the Councils’ Change Policy. A review of the new arrangements would be undertaken at 6 months and 12 months.