Agenda and minutes

1.1  Apologies for absence from Cllr Billington and Cllr Lynch.

1.2  Officer apologies from Aled Richards.

1.3  Apologies for lateness from Cllr Race.

2.1  Following the absence of the Chair the Vice Chair (Cllr Potter) was in the Chair for the meeting.

2.2  The order of the business was as per the agenda.

3.1  No declaration of interest.

4.1  The Chair outlined the areas the Cabinet Member was asked to cover in this cabinet question time session.  The areas were as follows:

·  Encouraging community wealth building business models

·  Creating a Green and Circular Economy

·  Ensuring local businesses are supported (facilitation or signposting) to meet the Council's objectives for these two policy areas.

4.2  The Chair welcomedto the meeting Cllr Guy Nicholson, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Delivery, Inclusive Economy & Regeneration; Stephen Haynes, Strategic Director Economy, Regeneration and New Homes and Michael Toyer, Economic Development Manager from London Borough of Hackney (LBH).

4.3  The Chair commenced the item by explaining a key element of the scrutiny function is to hold the Mayor and Cabinet to account in public.

4.4  The Chair informed the Commission the Deputy Mayor for delivery, inclusive economy & regeneration was asked to provide information in relation to the areas outlined in point 4.1.

4.5  The Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Delivery, Inclusive Economy & Regeneration informed the commission that his portfolio remit no longer included culture. His portfolio no longer covered culture this was now the remit of another Member in the Cabinet.

4.6  The Deputy Mayor for Delivery, Inclusive Economy & Regeneration commenced his presentation and made the main points outlined below.

4.6.1  In relation to encouraging community wealth building business models the Council had spent time developing a coherent definition of the different business models that can deliver community wealth building.

4.6.2  The models range from Cooperative business models through to the Commercial Shareholder business model.  The primary difference between the first and last type of business model is how the income generated is treated.

4.6.3  The intention behind having community wealth business models is to keep as much of the wealth within Hackney’s economy.  For consumers and producers within the economy to create a circular economy.  This would feed into creating a green and circular economy.

4.6.4  After the cooperative model is the traditional social enterprise model, the ownership of the business is part of the community (a type of social shareholding of a business).  These models do generate a profit, but the aim is to circulate the profit within a community / local market.

4.6.5  The half-way house is a smaller commercial business (these are in hackney’s economy).  They do not have shareholders but may have 1 or 2 investors who tend to be either the business proprietor, family members, friend or an acquaintance, rather than a third-party investor.  These companies can have a clear social ethos when doing business.  The Council will consider their role within the environment and their impact on the environment.

4.6.6  The impact of community wealth building is not just about net zero but local employment, local skills development, apprenticeships, internships etc. 

4.6.7  The Council views elements like the London living wage as a key ingredient to community wealth building.  Alone it is not community wealth building but as an ingredient it can make a good contribution to community wealth building.

4.6.8  So far, a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.1  The Chair referred to the draft minutes on pages 9-36 in the agenda of the meeting held on 21^st November 2022 and asked Members to agree the minutes.

Members agreed the minutes.

5.2  Members also thanked the Overview and Scrutiny officer for an comprehensive and valuable set of minutes.

6.1  The Chair referred to the work program on pages 37-50 of the agenda. 

6.2  The Chair referred to the next meeting on 8^th March 2023 and informed the Commission the Cabinet Question Time session (CQT) would focus the new green deal.  The area on climate change would move to the new municipal year and will be in July 2023 meeting date.  The date will be confirmed once when the new council calendar is finalised.

6.3  Members pointed out taking into consideration the council’s announcement to extend LTNS in the borough, could information about the economic impact of LTNs on local businesses to be included in the update from Cllr Coban when he attends the scrutiny commission meeting on 8^th March 2023. 

The Chair agreed to add this request to the CQT.

6.4  In relation to the work program the following updates were provided.

·  Re London Research report on circular economy jobs and skills for London - (requested by Cllr Premru).  The Chair advised they will have a further discussion offline to consider where this fits into the current work program of if this should be a stand alone item on a future agenda.

·  In terms of the voluntary community sector item on HCVS (requested by Cllr Walker).  This is proposed to be a substantive item.  This will be for the new municipal year in June or July.

Cllr Turbet Delof asked if the voluntary sector item could include speaking directly to voluntary sector organisations via a site visit or speaking to front line services in the meeting.

The Chair agreed and advised this would be noted.

·  The sustainability and licensing item (requested by Cllr Smyth) and the request for information about how to use our powers in licensing to drive SME behaviours.  This is proposed for the new municipal year in either June or July).

7.1  None.