Agenda item

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report AMED-010-2015/16.

The Economic Development Officer (EDO) presented a report to the Cabinet Committee and updated them on a number of projects and issues being explored by the Economic Development Team.

(1)          Eastern Plateau Rural Business Funding – Economic Development Officers have been trailing and promoting the Eastern Plateau without the ability to actively encourage applications to be submitted. Eastern Plateau have now finalised organisation and administrative arrangements with Defra and are open to receive applications from our rural businesses.

The goals of the programme are to create jobs, develop rural businesses; and support the rural economy. Outline application forms can now be issued to rural businesses interested in accessing funding to increase farm productivity; support micro and small businesses and farm diversification; boost rural tourism; provide rural services; provide cultural and heritage activities; and increase forestry productivity.

EDOs will work with Eastern Plateau to promote and publicise the scheme to our rural businesses and to ensure they are able to access the available advice and give support to complete their applications.

(2)        Town Centres – The Economic Development Officers have been working closely with Waltham Abbey Town Partnership to submit an application to the Essex County Council Community Initiatives Fund for funding towards design consultancy support, to design a wayfinding project for Waltham Abbey town centre. The application has been successful and £20,000 has been awarded.

The first and second rounds of the Town & Village Centres Opportunities Fund had now closed and it is hoped that further bids will be received. Work had been ongoing to assist one town partnership to develop its bid for seed funding. The EDOs have been developing some outline ideas to be taken forward in the last few months of the year subject to submitting applications to the Portfolio Holder for consideration. A number of these potential bids are focused on building capacity amongst our town centre partnerships and a deeper understanding of the issues that face the towns.

A report went to Cabinet on the 3 December 2015 to request a further £35,000 of District Development Funding for 2016/17 for the operation of the Town & Village Centres Opportunities Fund in 2016/17. This was approved to go forward as a growth bid to the DDF and will be assessed alongside other funding requests during the budgeting cycle.

(3)        Superfast Broadband – The construction phase of the Rural Challenge Project (Phase 2b of the Superfast Essex Rollout) had now begun. The first cabinet had been built in the Bobbingworth and Bovinger area. Connections to residential properties were currently being installed and the first live customer would be connected before Christmas.

The Superfast Broadband would give coverage to just over 95% of residents in the rural areas, residents who would not be able to have the fibre broadband would be able to apply to have satellite broadband which would give them speeds of up to 20mb per second.

(4)        Local Plan / Economic Development Strategy – EDOs recently attended a planning policy workshop on the Economic Development Strategy which was an opportunity for Members from District, Town and Parish Councils to have an input into the priorities on economic development

(5)        Visitor Economy – Work was underway with partners looking at opportunities to better join-up and package the tourism offer across Epping Forest District, Broxbourne and East Herts. There was the potential for further collaboration with North London counterparts and joining with Harlow to the north. At the heart of this emerging work was Lee Valley Regional Park’s immense visitor offer.

The Tourism and Visitor Board had confirmed that Annual Tourism Summit will be held on 4 March 2016.

(6)        Business Support – The Economic Development Team had received a number of enquiries from individuals looking to set up in business locally and existing businesses looking to invest in the district.

BEST Growth Hub were proposing a suite of workshops for start-up and established businesses in West Essex and EDOs will be liaising to ensure these are relevant to local business need and will be promoting locally to encourage a strong take-up.

(7)        Partner Liaison – The Economic Development team continued to liaise with, support and attend meetings with a number of Partner Organisations.

The ED team were working with Essex County Council and it had been agreed to establish meetings on a regular basis with key Members and Officers at Epping Forest District Council and Essex County Council, who are involved with economic development.

Resolved:

That the progress and work programme of the Council’s Economic Development Section be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

To appraise the Cabinet Committee on the progress made with regard to Economic Development issues.

Other Options Consider and Rejected:

None, as this monitoring report was for information not action.