Agenda item

To seek Cabinet’s endorsement of actions to develop and deliver the corporate plan theme TENDRING4GROWTH as a catalyst for growth across the District, supporting businesses and communities.

RESOLVED that –

a)      the overall approach to Tendring4Growth, as outlined in the report of the Leader of the Council, be approved;

b)      the allocation of £60,000 of agreed Section 106 funds to commission a 3 year business support service be approved;

c)      the allocation of £30,000 from the Regeneration and Investment Budget to deliver actions for 2020-21, be approved;

d)      the actions to deliver Tendring4Growth will be developed as part of annual Departmental Service Plans is duly noted; and

e)      an Annual Report on Tendring4Growth activity will be produced is duly noted.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Leader of the Council (A.1) which sought its endorsement of proposed actions to develop and deliver the corporate plan theme Tendring4Growth as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth across the District, supporting businesses and communities.

It was reported that Tendring4Growth (T4G) would be a catalyst to create growth through partnership and investment across the District. T4G would bring together partners, local businesses and communities to ensure growth in the District was sustained and that it benefited all who lived and worked in Tendring.

It was felt that Tendring4Growth would underpin and support delivery of the following Corporate Plan (2020-2024) priorities:

• Develop and attract new businesses
• Support existing businesses
• More and better jobs
• Promote Tendring’s tourism, cultural and heritage offers
• Maximise our coastal and seafront opportunities

Cabinet was informed that T4G would underpin actions and services delivered by the Council and it was a brand through which Tendring could be promoted both locally and nationally. The success of T4G would be dependent on both internal and external factors which focused on the services and support offered and the way in which those were delivered. This was dependent on T4G becoming embedded into the culture of the Council and having a positive impact both internally, with staff and elected Members, and externally with local businesses and residents.

Members were made aware that, whilst local businesses and stakeholders had had some degree of exposure to the T4G there was a requirement for further investment in branding & promotion, T4G Business Week and the provision of dedicated business support activity (a 3 year external commission) in order to help stimulate and sustain business growth. Those activities would help to bolster business growth rates; support new start-ups and attract inward investment. In total a budget of £90,000 was sought in 2019-20 to deliver Tendring4Growth activity.

Cabinet was advised that the report now before it set out how Tendring4Growth could be used as a means of drawing together activities, projects and initiatives within the Council that are linked to the objectives in the Corporate Plan, the Local Plan and other key place shaping strategies for the District such as Housing; Economic Growth; Creative & Cultural; Tourism; and Heritage.

It was considered that T4G needed to be a Council wide philosophy that underpinned the organisation’s strategic thinking and its operational activity to ensure long term success. T4G would be embedded corporately within the culture of the organisation at all levels (Members and Officers) and this would be achieved by developing linked principles and values (leadership tools; typically including strategies and policies) and then reinforcing those through practices and processes (management tools) including communications, training and delivery of services.

It was reported that actions to support delivery would be developed as part of annual Departmental Service Plans. In order to track progress and impact a set of “Success Measures” would be established for T4G, including outputs and outcomes from activities, and this would be reported to Members through an Annual Report.

Following matters raised by the Leader of the Tendring First Group (Councillor Allen) and echoed by the Leader of the Council (Councillor Stock OBE), the Chief Executive (Ian Davidson) undertook to include the topic of Section 106 Legal Agreement monies and how they were allocated and spent by this Council on the agenda for a future All Members’ Briefing.

Having considered the proposals contained in the Leader’s report:-

It was moved by Councillor Stock OBE, seconded by Councillor McWilliams and:-

RESOLVED that –

a)      the overall approach to Tendring4Growth, as outlined in the report of the Leader of the Council, be approved;

b)      the allocation of £60,000 of agreed Section 106 funds to commission a 3 year business support service be approved;

c)      the allocation of £30,000 from the Regeneration and Investment Budget to deliver actions for 2020-21, be approved;

d)      the actions to deliver Tendring4Growth will be developed as part of annual Departmental Service Plans is duly noted; and

e)      an Annual Report on Tendring4Growth activity will be produced is duly noted.