Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2023 be approved.

No substitute members were noted.

·       Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

·       Other Interests

No interests were declared.

            RESOLVED:

1)    That the Work Programme be approved, subject to, the following item being added for the next meeting:-

           Staffordshire Local Transport Plan

Lorraine Wright, Head of Regeneration gave a presentation on the Growth Strategy for Staffordshire Moorlands.

Topics covered included;

·         Regional and Local data

·         What themes should a Growth Strategy include?

·         What is a Growth Strategy?

·         Thriving Businesses

·         Thriving People

·         Thriving Places

·         Key Priorities

Discussion took place around these topics and the concern was raised that many conversational points were closely linked.

Issues of reducing poverty, health improvement, affordable housing, attractive housing for specific demographics, transport links (both rail and road)  and connectivity to major towns/cities were discussed.

Members debated apprenticeships, increased number of visitor stays, how businesses could be encouraged to be based in the area and the importance of graduates residing in the District.

It was suggested that there were too many specific topics to effectively discuss in one general meeting, it was suggested that this was a long term strategy and the possibility of a working group was suggested.

DECIDED:

1.    For representatives from Staffordshire County Council to be invited to the March meeting regarding the Staffordshire Local Transport Plan;

2.    The Staffordshire Local Transport Plan to be added to the Work;

Programme (March meeting);

3.    County Councillors will hold their own meeting to discuss The Staffordshire Local Transport Plan and will feed back their findings to the Committee.

The Committee received a presentation on The Local Economy.

Topics covered included;

·         Key insights into; Economy, Employment, Salaries, Productivity and Skills.

·         Recent changes to skills and employment.

Discussions included; childcare and costs, working past retirement age, career advice, investment into buildings and infrastructure, increased graduate schemes and apprenticeships.

Members highlighted the importance of connectivity, various business sectors being based in the district, the area being attractive to professionals and the aging demographic of the Moorlands.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the presentation be noted.

The Chair to move:

“That pursuant to Section 100A (2) and (4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or nature of the proceedings whereby it is likely that exempt information as defined in Section 100A (3) of the Act would be disclosed to the public in breach of the obligation of confidence or exempt information as defined in Section 100I (1) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act would be disclosed to the public by virtue of the paragraphs indicated.”

The Chair moved:

“That pursuant to Section 100A (2) and (4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or nature of the proceedings whereby it is likely that exempt information as defined in Section 100A (3) of the Act would be disclosed to the public in breach of the obligation of confidence or exempt information as defined in Section 100I (1) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act would be disclosed to the public by virtue of the paragraphs indicated.”

That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2023 be approved.