Agenda and minutes

1.1  Apologies for absence from Cllr Smyth, Cllr Lufkin and Cllr Rennison.

1.2  Apologies for lateness from Cllr Williams

2.1  There was no urgent items and changes to the order of business.

3.1  There was no declarations of interest.

4.1  The minutes of the previous meeting held on 10^th December 2018 were approved.

5.1  The Chair welcomed to the meeting Councillor Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Planning, Business and Investment, Stephen Haynes, Director Strategy, Policy and Economic Development, Cllr Carole Williams, Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Human Resources and Olga Vanderberg, Communications and Engagement Manager from London Borough of Hackney.

5.2  The Chair opened this item by explaining that the Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission (formally known as the Working in Hackney Scrutiny Commission) conducted a review to look at the changing labour market and skills system needed for the future world of work and skills in the next 5-10 years. 

5.3  The Cabinet Member for Planning, Business and Investment outlined the main points in response to the recommendations related to his portfolio.

5.3.1  Recommendation 3 refers to business engagement tools.  The response covers support for businesses in the borough including those who are self-employed.  This is in the process of being rolled out over the next 6 -12 months when different aspects of the portal come online.  The Cabinet Member explained this has taken longer to implement than anticipated because there are a number of different service areas involved and they needed to develop a common language throughout the platform.  The aim for this platform is to make it easier for those who wish to connect to services and to access services catering to business need.  In addition there is the work the communications and engagement manager has been leading on which is reviewing the ‘Invest in Hackney’ website.  This provides more immediate access to third party advice.

5.3.2  Recommendation 6 refers to affordable rents and how the local plan and Section 106 agreements can be used to bring forward the supply of spaces.  The Cabinet Member explained the response is quite detailed but in summary the Borough’s Local Plan (LP33) is quite an interventionist portfolio of policies around work space including rent controls and setting an affordable threshold.  The Cabinet Member highlighted that commercial rents in the south of the borough are higher than the north of the borough.  In the south of the borough affordable rents are set at a maximum of 40% of the market value and in the north of the borough it is set to 60%.  It was pointed out this covers new developments only and cannot be implemented retrospectively to other commercial properties.  However freeholders and landlords could voluntarily adopt this policy to apply to their properties.  There is no way of retrospectively enforcing these new thresholds.  In addition there is the Council’s Approved Workspace Providers List and this continues to be updated and is expanding.  There are different providers coming forward to be included on that list.

5.3.3  Recommendation 7b refers to the Section 106 aspect of this recommendation and how effective the council is on making sure they deliver on Section 106 contracts.  The Cabinet Member explained this response is from the planning department perspective and related to its effectiveness in monitoring and delivering on Section 106 agreements.  It was highlighted under  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1  The Chair introduced this item.  In attendance for this discussion was Cllr Carole Williams, Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Human Resources, Stephen Haynes, Director Strategy, Policy and Economic Development and Olga Vanderberg, Communications and Engagement Manager.

6.2  The Commission held a roundtable discussion with relevant stakeholders to brainstorm about solutions and barriers to creating an inclusive economy on the 18^th March 2019. 

6.3  Members reflected on the points raised at this the stakeholder discussion.  In the discussion the following points were noted:

a)  Businesses contributing to the roundtable discussion identified very specific business needs and immediate anxieties.  Members discussed the Council having a role in supporting SMEs with the space to do the strategic thinking for them and in co-production with them.  To enable them to constructively contribute to the longer term thinking.

b)  There was concern about skills for them and their staff.  This identified issues with the capacity of their existing staff in relation to new skills and how the skills would change.  They were anxious about where they would get access to training over time.

c)  Businesses needed to be validated and receive recognition from the Council for their social value work.  The council needs to find a way of recognising this and championing it.

6.4  In reference to the request for comments about the proposed areas for the business conference discussion.  The Director Strategy, Policy and Economic Development suggested for discussion point 2 it was amended to talk about business success and health for SMEs instead of just business growth.  The officer explained it would be key to understand how the council could support businesses to stay healthy which is as important as growth.

6.5  Members suggested the council should do some mapping of the demand among SMEs for affordable workspace and from this information create a mechanism to assess need.  Members’ highlighted affordable workspace is a recurring theme when we talk to businesses.  This could be a way to harness the work around affordable workspace and incentivise organisations to contribute to social value work. 

6.6  Member suggested looking at the different modes of ownership to promote other ways of running a business.  Affordable workspace could be used as a lever alongside sustainable infrastructure to promote other modes of ownership.  Although Members did acknowledge this may be intangible to and difficult to quantify.

6.7  The proposed topics of discussion for the business conference were noted to be:

1.  How can local businesses (Sole traders, SMEs and big corporate businesses) be involved in shaping an inclusive economy?

2.  Business success and supporting the local community.  Highlighting the things councils, businesses and key stakeholders could do to support business success and the local community? 

3.  How can businesses and the Council support equality groups (disabled, older workers, young people and people in low pay, low skilled employment) to improve their skills and access better jobs opportunities during a time of economic growth?

6.8  In reference to the evidence sessions the Chair explained although the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.1  The Chair introduced this item and referred to the draft terms of reference on pages 147-168 in the agenda.

7.2  The Terms of Reference outlines how the Commission will seek to complete this review, the questions it will aim to answer and the organisations it wants to hear from.

7.3  The attached terms of reference provides:

§  Research and context to the review;

§  The planned aims and objectives;

§  The proposed work plan and activities to complete the review.

7.4  The Chair pointed out an amendment requested from the Head of Employment and Skills had been updated in the terms of reference tabled at the meeting.  Paragraph 2.3.10 the text was updated to state: 'Through the introduction of a new digital service Hackney Works has embedded a new set of metrics into the design of the Council's employment support service that focuses strongly on quality and journey tracking'.

7.5  Members requested to change all references in the terms of reference to inclusive growth to inclusive economy because the language being used by the council in relation to this topic area has changed.

7.6  The Chair pointed out the review would be in tandem with the Council’s work on developing their Inclusive Economy Strategy.  The Council and the SEG Commission would work in partnership to gather insight to support both pieces of work.  The key focus of the SEG review would be to provide the public voice to help shape and develop the Council’s Inclusive Economy Strategy. 

7.7  Members suggested an additional question was inserted about modes of ownership under point 1.15 in the terms of reference.  Members suggested inserting the following question.  “What the impact will be on modes of ownership in relation to achieving a more inclusive economy.”

7.8  Members agreed the terms of reference subject to the amendments noted in points 7.4, 7.5 and 7.7.

8.1  The Chair asked the Commission to suggest items for the new commission work programme via email and advised the full list would be considered at the first meeting in June 2019.

8.2  The Chair informed the commission the suggestions carried over from last year would be the review of the new licencing policy.

9.1  None.