Agenda item

The Committee received a presentation on the 2018/19 Annual Report from the Executive Member for Economic Development. A copy of the presentation would be interleaved with the agenda.

In the discussion, the following points were made.

·         The Council’s Inclusive Economy programme follows on from Islington’s Fairness Commission which is based on a community wealth building approach and its focus on equality, social justice and prosperity for all. The meeting was advised that the Strategy is being drafted and will be shared with Members in early 2020.

·         1,352 Islington residents had been supported back into paid employment across the various groups. The Council continues to encourage local businesses to be responsible by taking on apprentices especially among local residents. Meeting was informed that through its ‘Team Islington’ approach it has been able to coordinate employment support which benefits the long term unemployed and those most in need.

·         The Council through its planning policy has been able to create a network of affordable works spaces for micro and small businesses such as tech and digital companies.

·         Members were informed that in March 2019, Employment month was celebrated at the Emirates Stadium to acknowledge the progress of this issue ever since the Employment Commission report was published.

·         Islington continues to commission affordable work space through developer’s s106 contributions. In Finsbury Park, an operator has recently been appointed with agreed targets to help local residents develop skills, get jobs and start businesses in tech.

·         Members were informed that the Service continues to work in collaboration with traders to develop a high quality marketing campaign for Fonthill Village, for example producing a Look Book, which enables local businesses an opportunity to show case their businesses.

·         The Council as an economic agent is developing an enhanced approach which ensures that it derives more ‘social value’ from contracts with third party suppliers and providing more opportunities to local small businesses. On Council’s plans to maximise social value, the meeting was advised that in the last 2 months, the Service has facilitated three workshops with Head of Services to co-produce a corporate social value strategy and a series of ‘asks’ related to council priorities which commissioners can use to secure social value. The Executive Member welcomed the visit from her counterparts from Manchester City Council who shared their pioneering work on social value in a most effective way.

·         The Council remains committed to meeting its commitment to provide 100 hours world of work for young people. The Executive Members acknowledged that although there is a recognition that career support is inadequate there are plans to scale up business engagement with schools in order to prepare young people for future careers. A key programme is to be launched in November at the Institute of Physics to raise the profile of this manifesto commitment.

·         Usama Mohammed, an Apprentice Site Manager with Osbourne Group recently won the Apprentice of the year (Supply Chain) award. The Executive Member acknowledged the efforts of iWork and the Jubba Youth and Community Association and in particular welcomed the shift in the mind set of certain community groups that apprenticeship is a viable alternative than the pursuit of academic qualifications. 

·         With regards to supporting town centres and traditional street markets, a study had been commissioned to better understand its survival and it being able to thrive in the context of new challenges. This study will be shared with members when the exercise is completed.

·         Suggestions of opportunities for the reskilling and retraining of apprentices in retrofitting homes was noted especially in light of the Council‘s goal to achieve a zero carbon circular economy. Also it was noted that there is scope for the use of affordable work spaces for repairs and reuse centres.

·         With regards to accessibility concerns around High streets experienced by people with restricted mobility, and mobility scooters and wheel chair users, the Executive Member noted that work was being done and that work by Council’s accessibility officers are focussed around Stroud Green Road and Blackstone Road. Members were advised that Islington in conjunction with Haringey and Hackney are carrying out a review on this issue, which will be shared with members when completed.

·         In response to a request for more detail on Council’s plan to retain the money in Islington similar to the Preston Model, the Executive Member acknowledged the impact of high business rates, welcoming the temporary business rate relief in the last budget.  However the Council will be looking at opportunities around supply chains and clusters of businesses in the borough to retain greater amounts of expenditure in-borough and in the sub-regional economy.

·         In response to a suggestion for a rethink of the present Council’s planning policy which continues to attempt to revive high streets, the Executive Members advised that the challenge is to ensure that local residents have access to the employment opportunities within the creative and tech businesses in the borough.

·         On the question of the quality and sustainability of jobs facilitated by  external partners, the meeting was advised that the Service now have an understanding of what each organisation currently does in terms of tracking,  and are in the process of drawing up data sharing agreements with each of them and will report outcomes at a future meeting.

The Chair thanked Cllr Shaikh for the presentation to the Committee and in particular with the layout of its dashboard.

RESOLVED:
That the report be noted.