Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosureofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Education & Skills Policy Development & Delivery Committee held on 12 July 2017 be approved as a correct record.

The Head of Planning & City Regeneration gave a comprehensive overview presentation to the Committee on the Swansea Bay City Region Deal.

As part of the presentation, he outlined in detail the following subject areas:

·       Background history behind the bid

·       The agreements and partnership arrangements in place between the various Local Authorities, Universities, Public Bodies, Private Industry and both Welsh and National Governments

·       The mains aims and challenges of the project

·       The visions, anticipated impacts and planned interventions

·       Alignment with UK Industrial Strategy

·       Aims for Delivery of Projects & Job Creation

·       Funding breakdown and investment from both City Deal money and private industry investment for each scheme was outlined

·       Proposed returns for the investment, and aims and objectives of projects

·       Front loading of Local Authority monies to kick start projects

·       Super Smart Innovation Region Proposals including Life Science and Well Being Campus and Village, Steel Science Centre, Factory of the Future, Homes as Power Stations & Pembroke Dock Marine

·       5 Case Business Model currently being prepared for all schemes

·       The Skills and Talent Initiative being led by Regional Learning Skills Partnership

·       Regional Digital Infrastructure

·       Development of Centres for Excellence in Next Generation Digital Services

·       Links with S4C to develop a Creative Digital Cluster “Yr Egin”

·       Regeneration of Swansea City Centre and Main Projects contained within that project: Arena, Hotel, Multi Storey Car Park, 5G Mobile Communications Test Bed & redevelopment of St David’s site

·       Development of Waterfront Digital Business District

·       Kingsway Digital District

·       Delivery Timelines

·       Governance Arrangements

The Committee asked a number of questions of the Head of Planning & City Regeneration, relating to his presentation who responded accordingly.  Discussions centred around the following topics: -

·       Need for tangible benefits in particular promoting local job opportunities

·       Investment needed in schools, to ensure they are best placed to meet the educational needs that young people require in future

·       Need for current Teachers and those in Teacher Training to develop new skills and subjects which will in turn develop the skills of young people to ensure they make the best of the opportunities that the City Deal will bring

·       Potential to develop links with University, for instance to expand the current “Techno Camps” scheme

·       Need to learn from other City Deals experiences in particular around the ownership of “intellectual property”

·       Potential to develop links with successful local companies in the development of the Kingsway scheme

The Chair thanked the Head of Planning & City Regeneration for his informative presentation.

The Chair outlined the Workplan for the Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2017/2018.

RESOLVED that the Work plan as outlined be noted.