Issue - meetings

To consider whether to part fund, with Hampshire County Council, phase 2 of the development of this business centre.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the caveats set out in paragraph 3.5 of Report Item 4 to the Cabinet, funding of £75,000 to support the Centre for Social Innovation Community Interest Company and its project to develop a Business Centre and associated projects, be approved.

Cllrs Carpenter, E J Heron, Penman and White disclosed non-pecuniary interests as members of Hampshire County Council which had been approached for match funding.  They concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent them from remaining in the meeting to speak and in the case of Cllr E J Heron to vote.  Cllrs Carpenter, Penman and White did not have a vote.

The Cabinet considered whether this Council should give financial support to the Centre for Social Innovation Community Interest Company which was establishing a business centre to promote the growth and development of small businesses, based in South Efford House at the Otter Nurseries site at Everton.  In May 2018 the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership had approved a loan of £220,000 to undertake the initial refurbishment of South Efford House, including fitting out shared, co-working and meeting conference accommodation.  The Company was now seeking match funding of £75,000 from this Council and from Hampshire County Council for phase 2 of the project.  This would establish a seed fund that would help to deliver:

·         A skills and talent incubator – a partnership with this Council, Brockenhurst and Totton Colleges to deliver specific skills and apprenticeships to meet the needs of local business.  The Business Centre’s New Forest Group Training Association would work to overcome the perceived barrier of the apprentice levy and provide an alternative learning model to the traditional university route.

·         The provision of resources and facilities – including the recruitment of a Director of Innovation and meeting some of the building costs to establish the Business Centre

·         Marketing – to attract targeted businesses and sectors.

The Council’s Economic Development Manager had been closely involved in the development of the project which it was considered was capable of driving local economic growth, developing skills in high value sectors and providing much needed flexible employment space.  Accordingly, this would contribute to delivering the Council’s own vision and corporate priority, “Supporting local business to prosper for the benefit of the local community” and there was notable synergy with the Council’s Economic Development Strategy 2018-2023.  Members welcomed the support that this initiative would give to developing high value businesses in the local economy and also, very importantly, the promotion of good quality apprenticeships that would encourage young people to train to fill the new jobs, allowing them to live and work in the Forest.

The Cabinet concurred with the view that a number of caveats should be attached to the funding, as set out in paragraph 3.5 of Report Item 4 to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the caveats set out in paragraph 3.5 of Report Item 4 to the Cabinet, funding of £75,000 to support the Centre for Social Innovation Community Interest Company and its project to develop a Business Centre and associated projects, be approved.