Agenda item

To provide the Overview & Scrutiny Panel with a general update presentation on Economic Growth activities between the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) & FDC and to provide a specific update presentation on the CPCA’s Growth Service and the impact on Economic Growth in Fenland.

Councillor Mason welcomed Councillor Ian Benney, Justin Wingfield and external guests, Alan Downton from the Combined Authority (CPCA) and Paul Webster from the International Investment Service to the meeting.

The Update on CPCA Growth Service and Impact on Economic Development in Fenland report was presented in two parts. Councillor Benney gave a broad overview of the activity between FDC and the CPCA, followed by a presentation by Paul Webster and Alan Downton.

Councillor Mason thanked both Paul Webster and Alan Downton for their interesting presentation.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses as follows:

1.    Councillor Miscandlon also thanked Paul Webster and Alan Downton for their presentation, saying that as a former apprentice himself he was pleased to see emphasis on the importance of apprenticeships, of which he is an advocate, and looks forward to an exciting time ahead for that programme.

2.      Councillor Wicks said it would be good for councillors to know more about grants available for small businesses to be able to promote them. He said that whilst he favours apprenticeships there are limited opportunities within Fenland for these as we only have three local further education hubs. He questioned whether they are conducting the courses that we will need to grow businesses within this area as he noted that engineering, business administration and business management were not available. Alan Downton replied that the CPCA needs to work with FDC to assess future requirements; not all courses are in place at the moment and there is still work to be done, but working together these issues can be addressed. Paul Webster added that there is a training allocation funding pot within the CPCA that can be accessed to develop new learning pathways as required. They will be demand-led in terms of what businesses are asking for to ensure a work force for the future. Their own programme is looking to have two local apprentices in the in the field of business management and business administration so they will also need access to that form of education as mentioned by Councillor Wicks.

3.      Councillor Benney advised that the funding schemes change as the funds are available, however they tend to be oversubscribed very quickly but he will ensure Councillor Wicks is notified about them as they arise. Addressing Councillor Wicks’ comments about suitable apprenticeships he pointed out that Chatteris has been awarded some £3.2m for an engineering training college. Furthermore, we have a delivery of homes within Fenland that we are not achieving because there is not the labour force here to deliver it. Too many young people are going to university when there are good, well-paid jobs available locally if we can get young people interested in building trade jobs such as quantity surveyors, electricians, plumbers etc. that require a whole range of skills that we can train young people in. He has pushed hard to encourage training centres to get apprenticeships within the building trade because there is a need and jobs are available at the end of it.

4.      Councillor Wicks said that while he accepts the exceptional opportunities available in Chatteris there is a whole wealth of area within Fenland that needs to be developed on all skills, but training opportunities are very limited. It is the actual business sites that we are not blessed with so what is being done to develop a pool of business sites that can become available for development? Alan Downton said he would go back to the CPCA as he does not know what is happening on a local basis.

5.    Councillor Booth asked Councillor Benney what the CPCA is doing specifically about apprenticeships as the presentation is looking at the future and the initiatives within it, such as the Kickstart scheme, are government-led. He had supported the inception of the CPCA because it was envisaged that it would provide educational funding but four years later it seems we are only just now starting to put in place plans for the future. Regarding the fact that many courses on offer are not appropriate, we were told two years ago that it was recognised that many of the adult education courses on offer did not serve a purpose as they were not vocational training, with many more suited to hobbies. This is the main issue that we need to speak up on; we are missing opportunities here. Councillor Benney said he was under the impression that the funding towards apprenticeships was coming through the CPCA and he would investigate this further and get back to Councillor Booth. Paul Webster confirmed that Kickstart is a national programme for 18-24-year olds registered on universal credit but the CPCA has been working with schools, helping students to understand their development and career opportunities along with pathways to education and discussing the merits of apprenticeships versus a university education. There is also a team of business engagement advisors operating across the region; the CPCA complements them and helps by investing in the digital platform to make it more accessible to people wherever they are located and they are looking to scale up that work. Alan Downton said that the CPCA have appointed two new SROs and will ensure that they can inform what is happening immediately when the workshops commence. Councillor Booth said he still feels that opportunities are being missed and we need to ramp up the speed of delivery.

6.    Councillor Booth said in terms of grant funding there seems to have been no progress in the last few years of investment into Agri-tech. We were told that the Fens, with its strong agricultural economy and community, would be ideal to see investment in this area. Why are we not looking to invest more in this area as we should be leading the nation on this considering our position.

7.    Councillor Benney responded that although he agrees with Councillor Booth’s comments, people do need to come forward with applications in the first place. However, we now have additional FDC staff in the Economic Growth team and a list of businesses that they can start targeting to advise that there is funding available and encourage these applications. Unfortunately, the onset of COVID-19 had previously held up this work.

8.    Councillor Cornwell asked how the CPCA intends to work with the emerging university in respect of skills education to identify how it will cover some of the technical shortages that businesses are having or expect to have, as he understands it will be more technical than academic, Paul Webster advised that although broad funding pots are available from the CPCA to create new learning pathways, to include digital skills and the traditional trade supply, it is up to the university to deliver their own plan and run from their own perspective. However, they have reached out and are waiting to engage with the university on their intentions in advance of its launch in about 15 months. We do have our own ability to change learning pathways without the university, however we are here to collaborate and work with strategic partners.

9.    Councillor Cornwell said in effect the CPCA has appointed Anglia Ruskin to produce the university so surely they will have a say in what courses are needed; if not where is the linkage? Alan Downton said he has been working with Anglia Ruskin, and they have been undertaking workshops with businesses to ensure it is demand-led and this has informed the content and structure of courses going forward. Councillor Cornwell said he just wants to ensure that the money invested across the district and the work is being delivered in a coordinated manner to get best value from all the operations. Alan Downton said that he is heavily involved with the working groups and could assure Councillor Cornwell that the work undertaken is joined up. 

10. Councillor Yeulett said the presentation was very interesting with a lot of information provided. The biggest challenge to our area is that of access and infrastructure. The north of the district has the most needs and deprivation and he would like to see a focus and improvement in the area with these proposals. Alan Downton said although he does not know the specific details about infrastructure in the area, he could confirm that the CPCA are looking at the bigger picture.

11. Councillor Benney agreed that infrastructure is a major problem for the whole of Fenland and a priority, particularly for Whittlesey as an artery into Fenland.

12. Councillor Miscandlon said the Skills Panel for the CPCA have previously been made aware that not everybody wants a career, desk or computer job and agreed with Councillor Benney that jobs in the building trade are extremely important and skilled in their own right and can be extremely rewarding.

13. Councillor Topgood said his concern is that the scheme could stall and to ensure it does not would suggest regular updates and scrutiny of the results.

14. Councillor Cornwell said that we have a maritime centre in Wisbech and made a plea that this area be considered for further development in the future. Councillor Benney said the port is his area of responsibility and he has already looked to see what can be done there. Although Crab Marsh boat yard is full, it is being utilised and short of spending a lot of money on the quay there are restrictions because of the tides. However, he would be happy to discuss further with Councillor Cornwell.

15. Councillor Wicks wanted to make the point in referring to apprenticeships that everyone learns in a different way; not everyone is academically gifted, and this should not be forgotten that some people take longer than others to learn their skills. 

16. Councillor Booth asked that it be added to the recommendation that members of CPCA and Cabinet take away the comments made this afternoon and ensure that the issues and concerns raised are addressed. Alan Downton said he had a note of all the comments.

Councillor Mason thanked Alan Downton and Paul Webster for their time.

The Overview and Scrutiny Panel considered the contents of the presentation and progress made in relation to Economic Growth activities between the CPCA and FDC and the impact of CPCA’s Growth Service on Economic Growth in Fenland.

(Alan Downton and Paul Webster left the meeting).