Apologies for absence were received from Councillor P Carpenter.

There were no declarations of interest declared at the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 18 February 2019 were confirmed.

The issue of the removal of the Brexit Resilience item from the Forward Plan was discussed and it was advised that a briefing note had been circulated to all Members with regard to Brexit. A Member commented that it had been requested that the Resilience Officer be asked to attend a Committee meeting to discuss this matter, it was therefore agreed that the Resilience Officer be asked to attend the next meeting of the Economic Development Committee.

The Committee received and noted the contents of the Forward Plan and it was advised that updates would be made to the Forward Plan ahead of the next Committee meeting.

The Committee received a presentation from Richard Goffin, Port Director, which followed a tour of the facilities in advance of the meeting  highlighted current and future activities as follows :-

• 2018/19 Vessel Activity 
• Investment 
• 2019/2020 Outlook
• Future Development Focus

In discussing the presentation received, Members asked with regard to incoming employment and whether there were any proposed plans moving forward to extend the exclusion zone at the port, the Port Director confirmed that there were no plans in place at the present time for an extension.

Members considered the Development Director's and Economic Development Manager for Norfolk County Council's report which informed Members of the offshore energy sector activity and it's significant opportunities for Great Yarmouth with a planned private sector investment of £39 billion over the next 20 years in the southern North Sea, and provided a summary of recent activity.

A Member sought clarification as to the number of jobs created as highlighted within the Enterprise Zone 4.3 and asked whether these were actual jobs created or jobs that had relocatedonto the site. It was agreed that this figure be clarified with the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and be reported back to the Committee.

Reference was made to Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO's) for the areas detailed and whether these were necessary. It was advised that the sites were to be offered to those within the energy sector and that CPO's would only be required if the need arose.

Further reference was made to the potential extension area and closure of roads, and it was advised that there would be potential for some road closures to bring parcels of land together, but that these are mapped in the adopted Local Development Order. Confirmation was given that there were no road closures planned at present. It was agreed that this information be sent to Councillor Jeal.

RESOLVED :

That the contents of the report be noted and endorsement be given to the pro-active workstreams.

Members received a presentation from Helen Johnson, Great Places Project and Cultural Capacity Coordinator which provided Members with an update on the delivery and main impacts of the Project to date.

Members received and considered the Strategic Director and Head of IT, Marketing and Communication's report which asked Members to consider a number of recommendations with regard to the work that had been undertaken to date on a Culture and Tourism Strategy. 

RESOLVED :

That the Committee subject to the inclusion of Heritage within the title of the Strategy  :-

(1) Note the work undertaken to date on a Culture and Tourism Strategy for the Borough of Great Yarmouth including the involvement of many of the stakeholder organisations in the business and community sector.

(2) Reviewed and provided comment on the observations and emerging key themes for the 10-year Strategy.

(3) Note the development of a consortium bid for Great Yarmouth in relation to the Arts Council England Strategic Fund, Creative People and Places, which if successful, will contribute to the delivery of the Strategy’s action plan.

(4) Endorse the emerging place-based approach and request officers develop a forward-thinking delivery plan and place-based brand to support the vision within the new Culture and Tourism Strategy.

Councillor Wainwright passed on thanks on behalf of the Committee to the Chairman for his commitment during his time as Chairman of the Economic Development Committee.

The minutes of the meeting of the Great Yarmouth Town Centre Masterplan Member Steering Group were noted.