To seek Cabinet’s approval of the North Essex Economic Strategy. The report presents the future ambition and vision for economic growth across the North Essex area as set out in the strategy, an overview of the partnership through which this has been developed and an outline of the way in which the aims of the Strategy will be delivered.

RESOLVED that –

a)      the North Essex Economic Strategy be approved;

b)      the Strategy’s priorities will contribute to the Essex Prosperity Prospectus and the SELEP Local Industrial Strategy is duly noted;

c)      the partnership structures which are in place to facilitate the Strategy are duly noted;

d)      an Action Plan will be developed to guide delivery of key actions is duly noted;

e)      the Council contributes £20,000 as development funding be approved; and

f)       a process for reporting progress will be established by the partners is duly noted.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a detailed report of the Business and Economic Growth Portfolio Holder (A.2) which sought its approval of the North Essex Economic Strategy.

Members were informed that the North Essex Economic Strategy 2040 had been developed through a partnership of Braintree District, Colchester Borough, Essex County, Tendring District and Uttlesford District Councils. Those Councils had recognised that the challenges and opportunities affecting North Essex would best be addressed through a collaborative approach to achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The shared ambition was to promote, plan and deliver sustainable, strategic growth at scale and over the long-term; providing the housing, employment, necessary supporting infrastructure and innovations required in order to ensure the best outcomes for both the current and future communities of North Essex.

Cabinet was made aware that the Strategy provided a platform for strategic intervention at a scale which would achieve transformation in the overall economic prosperity of the North Essex area (and complimented local economic activity which the partner councils delivered). The partnership between the five Councils was set within a structure which brought the required leadership from Members and senior officers together with technical input from economic growth teams. The North Essex Economic Board, made up of Portfolio Holders from each of the Partners, had led the development of the Strategy.

It was reported that the ideas and priorities set out in the North Essex Economic Strategy would contribute to both the Essex Prosperity Prospectus and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) Local Industrial Strategy. The Strategy would also form the basis for the continued promotion of North Essex to Government, key national agencies and industry.

Members were advised that the Strategy had been articulated through an overall Vision and four related Missions, namely:-

The Vision:

“North Essex is a high-value, productive and sustainable economy. People choose to live and work locally, in new and established communities that are well connected and inspire innovation and creativity”

The Missions:

1.      Driving innovation and technology adoption

2.      Developing a skilled and resilient workforce

3.      Creating a network of distinctive and cohesive places

4.      Growing a greener, more sustainable economy

Cabinet was informed that, alongside this Strategy a rolling ‘action plan’ would also be developed, owned by the North Essex Economic Board, through which business cases for interventions could be identified, scoped and further developed. This would enable the Board to consider options in relation to each proposed action, identify lead partners and consider potential risks, with a view to working collectively on shared objectives. The action plan would be subject to annual review and would be monitored and updated over the initial five years of this Strategy. It was being proposed that each Partner would contribute £20,000 in order to create a development budget of £100,000 which would be used to undertake feasibility studies and to develop business cases for interventions arising from the Action Plan.

Having considered the proposals set out in the Portfolio Holder’s report:-

It was moved by Councillor Newton, seconded by Councillor McWilliams and:-

RESOLVED that –

a)      the North Essex Economic Strategy be approved;

b)      the Strategy’s priorities will contribute to the Essex Prosperity Prospectus and the SELEP Local Industrial Strategy is duly noted;

c)      the partnership structures which are in place to facilitate the Strategy are duly noted;

d)      an Action Plan will be developed to guide delivery of key actions is duly noted;

e)      the Council contributes £20,000 as development funding be approved; and

f)       a process for reporting progress will be established by the partners is duly noted.