Agenda item

Peter Kemp, Planning Change Manager, explained that the report provided an overview of how the council used S.106 funds for training and skills.

The council’s planning policy DM B3 – Local employment, training and skills development initiatives, stated that ‘the council will seek appropriate employment and training initiatives for local people of all abilities in the construction of major developments and in larger employment generating developments, including visitor accommodation and facilities when these are completed.

Mr Kemp then explained that the council currently held £742,638 for Training and Skills, although the individual agreements meant that the ways in which the money could be spent were restricted. The council did not currently centrally hold information about how previous S.106 money intended for these purposes had been spent, but the Economic Regeneration team was currently carrying out a review. As well as financial contributions, developers often offered apprenticeships and work placements; around 120 apprenticeships had been offered as a result of S.106 agreements.

Mr Kemp explained that much of the mitigation previously covered by S.106 agreements was being moved to a new charge called the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL); Training and skills are likely to be outside of the scope of CIL and so the use of S.106 agreements for this purpose would continue.

Councillor Connell said that it was important that the council spend the funds currently held well, and also praised the current administration for their renegotiation of agreements to increase the amount of money the council could spend on improving services.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Cowan, outlined the administration’s vision for training and skills. The council wanted to use money to not only help its residents find jobs, but to help them find good jobs in emerging areas of the economy. He explained that the council was working with partners to increase opportunities in the fields of micro-biology, digital industries and the arts. This included giving funding to organisations such as the Lyric theatre and the Bush theatre, as well as providing affordable office space for new businesses.

Councillor Connell said that it was important that the council identified the skills which would be useful in five years’ time so that residents had the skills needed to get jobs for the long term. He supported the council’s focus on arts and culture as these fields were currently being neglected by others but could provide good employment for residents.

Councillors discussed the current planning policy’s focus on delivering jobs in construction, which it was felt didn’t address residents needs for training and long term career opportunities.  As decisions on planning applications were made based on the policies in the development plan, members discussed the need for the policy to be updated to meet the aspirations of the council. 

RESOLVED

That the committee recommend that policy DM B3 be altered to cover a wider range of sectors of the economy as well as emerging sectors. The motion was proposed by Councillor Connell, seconded by Councillor Brown and agreed unanimously.