Decision details

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided them with a summary of the Scottish Government’s Phase One Enterprise and Skills Review report which had been issued on 25 October 2016.  The report also provided an indication of the next steps of the process including clear principles of engagement for Argyll and Bute Council.

Decision

1.    Noted the content of the report.

2.    Agreed to the following principles, based on the comments made in the initial ‘Call for Evidence’ for input to the second phase of the review:

·         declutter the economic development landscape so that Argyll and Bute is treated as one region supported by either HIE or SE, in alignment with Business Gateway activity, and by SDS and SFC across all four of its administrative areas;

·         seek clarification from the Scottish Government on what the regional approach in terms of Regional Partnerships will entail in terms of collaborative working and the centralisation agenda with the creation of the new national statutory board;

·         emphasise the importance of the need to de-centralise the inclusive growth agenda with power and resources being placed at the local government level in order to effectively use and share local intelligence with appropriate agencies to tackle inequalities and promote inclusive growth for all of Argyll and Bute’s remote, remote rural and island communities; and

·         seek greater clarity on the roles and responsibilities of local government in terms of risk, innovation (including implementation of the innovation action plan, focusing on business growth) and the retention of sufficient capacity at the local level in order to make the required ‘step-change’ in the economy.

3.    Agreed to delegate to the Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure to undertake appropriate engagement with the Scottish Government, SOLACE, COSLA and SLAED during the second phase of the Enterprise and Skills Review.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 9 January 2017, submitted)