Summary of outcomes from the Democratic Leaders/Chairs dinner – Monday 17 October 2011

Attendees

Jane Scott – Leader, Wiltshire Council                 Rod Bluh, Leader Swindon Borough Council

Fleur De Rhe-Phillipe, Portfolio Holder -             Gavin Jones, CEO Swindon Borough Council

Economy & Enterprise Wiltshire Council

Paul Johnson, Chair WSEP                                     Nicky Alberry, Chair SSEP

Alistair Cunningham – Secretariat                        Ian Piper – Secretariat

Steve Richards – Secretariat

A business-like and constructive dialogue between the LEP core partners established a number of common challenges that will form the basis of the work programme going forward – as well as an understanding that there will still be areas where Swindon & Wiltshire may well have differences, but it was agreed that these will be dealt with in a mature and constructive way. Emerging outcomes included:-

·       Agreement that the LEP could provide the vehicle (resources) for more joint working, specifically around Research & Intelligence.

·       Acknowledgement that there were gaps in information (knowledge) and that a common template should be developed so that data from both areas could be assessed against the same criteria;

·       The need to have fresh data as the economic picture has changed considerably in the last few years and will remain volatile;

·       Better balance between ‘rear view mirror’ and ‘front windscreen’ intelligence – specifically trend analysis.

Specific actions were agreed:-

·       Developing a common approach to Brownfield Land (Trading Estates) regeneration;

·       Road/Rail infrastructure – examine the opportunities for better ‘regional’ rail services, including new/re-opened stations – eg West Swindon (Parkway),  Royal Wootton Bassett;

·       Skills and Learning -  both areas have issues in this arena:-

o   Work readiness/Youth unemployment

o   Up-skilling existing workforce

o   Better use of Apprenticeships

o   Lack of Access (presence of) HE facilities – establishment of UTC?

o   Need for Academic representation on the BWG/Board – better collaboration needed between Wiltshire College, New College and Swindon College.

·       Strategic development opportunity – re-development of RAF Lyneham will benefit both areas;

·       Time is now right to expand the BWG to include the Democratic representatives, the Academic and Military representatives – wef November if diaries permit.