Agenda item

6.1

International Economic Commission

6.1.1

Diana Buckley, Economic Strategy Manager, Creative Sheffield, gave a presentation on the recent launch of Sheffield’s International Economic Commission, the aim of which was to position Sheffield globally, share thinking at an international scale and level, showcase the City’s best assets and ambitious plans, raise the profile of the City across the world, and test and boost confidence in the City’s future plans.  Ms Buckley reported on the work of the Commission, referring specifically to the three spatial and functional assets that were seen as the main drivers in terms of attracting people to the City, and which included its proximity to the Peak District, the vibrancy of the City Centre, and the Sheffield – Rotherham Economic Corridor and Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District.  The launch of the Commission had involved visits from internationally-renowned delegates, to enable decision-makers in Sheffield to share expertise and ideas on a global level, and boost confidence in the City’s economic plans.  Specific reference was made to the workshop – ‘A Roadmap for an Innovation District: Establishing a Vision for the Sheffield – Rotherham Economic Corridor’, which was held on Friday, 16th January 2015, which had included a lecture from Bruce Katz, Vice-President of the Brookings Institute and former adviser to President Obama, and which had showcased the City to the world and enabled City leaders to make global investment connections.

6.1.2

Ms Buckley reported on the proposals to move from a science park model to the creation of an Innovation District, which comprised a geographic area where anchor institutions and companies clustered and connected with small firms, start-ups, business incubators and accelerators.  The districts were physically compact, transit accessible, technically wired, and offered mixed-use housing, office and retail.  Reference was made to the proposed masterplan for the area, in terms of the Sheffield – Rotherham Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District.  Ms Buckley also referred to a number of news stories, which had appeared in both the local and national press, relating to the proposed Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, and focusing on Bruce Katz’s visit to the City.

6.1.3

Ms Buckley concluded by reporting on the achievements of the Commission’s launch, indicating that it had helped to galvanise City partners, tested and developed Creative Sheffield’s thinking, provided confidence in terms of the plans, in the form of international support and seal of approval, built new international relationships with global champions/cities, provided the City with a profile, and was building reputation on a national and global stage, attracting interest from the Government and creating a platform for future investment.

6.1.4

Members of the Committee raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

·                It was proposed that by working in collaboration with Rotherham MBC, any economic benefits of the Advanced Manufacturing Park would be shared throughout the Sheffield City Region.

·                It was appreciated that, in terms of the Advanced Manufacturing Park, the vast majority of the business rates were being paid to Rotherham MBC, and that the housing development sites identified were all within the Rotherham area.  Enterprise Zone policy was for any uplift in business rates to go to an Enterprise Partnership, with the funding having to be reinvested.  Also, there were plans to identify housing development sites in both Sheffield and Rotherham in the long-term. 

·                Sheffield was in an advanced position due to the fact that the City already had an Advanced Manufacturing Park, and the current plans were to build on this development and create an Innovation District.  Whilst several other cities were planning, or in the process of developing, Advanced Manufacturing Parks, it was envisaged that new investment would be secured within the next 18 months, to enable the necessary plans to develop in terms of the Innovation District.

·                There were several different companies and different components based in the Advanced Manufacturing Park, with a considerable amount of common will between them, with all being in favour of the vision for the future. 

·                The issue of enabling more people to live nearer to the Advanced Manufacturing Park was at the heart of the discussions arising from the visit by Bruce Katz, and it had been identified that there was a need to find out why this was the case.  Having housing next to the research centre was not considered to be the most important issue, but it was felt that there was a need to concentrate on using the identified housing sites.  It had also been identified that there was a need to find out why the various different companies wished to be based in the same location and, if the plans for the Innovation District were to be a success, there was a need to ensure that relevant investment was made in terms of what the various different components required.

6.1.5

Members also made the following comments:-

·                There was a need to review the operation of the International Economic Commission at least once a year, as well as the need to look at the plans from a City Region perspective.

·                The relevant Cabinet Member should be requested to look at which part of the project would be most beneficial for the City over the next three to four years.

·                A Task Group should be established to look at how major planning developments affect the City, in terms of the effects on the environment and transport network. 

6.2

Sheffield Cultural Consortium and a Year of Making 2016

6.2.1

Dan Bates, Chair, Sheffield Cultural Consortium, and Kim Streets, Chief Executive, Museums Sheffield, gave a presentation on the Year of Making 2016. 

6.2.2

Dan Bates reported on the Sheffield Cultural Consortium, which  comprised a group of cultural institutions, based across the City, and worked in partnership with the City Council.  The Consortium had four main priorities – Nurturing Talent, Sustaining Existing Cultural Institutions, Children and Young People, and City of Festivals.  The Consortium raised over £350,000 in 2014, mainly through Arts Council funding. 

6.2.3

Dan Bates and Kim Streets reported on the plans in respect of the Year of Making 2016, during which the City’s manufacturing and cultural heritage would be showcased through a number of creative programmes, including art and craft, theatre, music, dance, film and festivals.  It was hoped the year would showcase the City’s cultural and artistic heritage, as well as raising the City’s identity and increasing vibrancy across the whole of the City.  Funding for the proposals would be provided by the University of Sheffield and, hopefully, the Arts Council.  The Cultural Consortium would be taking the lead, and a Steering Group, comprising a wide membership, would be established to work on the day to day operation.

6.2.4

Members of the Committee raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

·                The programme was based on a very broad plan, with the different elements of the programme having a different focus. 

·                There were plans to have a wide range of shows/films and displays, with some having been known to be popular in the past, to ensure that there was some level of success.  The programme, however, would also provide an opportunity to try out a number of new shows and activities, which would hopefully prove successful.  It was important that the Consortium looked at how all the various partners could pool their existing resources, as well as looking at how it could tap into new sources of funding, in order to boost the success of the event.

·                One measure of success that would be explored was how to put a value on national press coverage generated.

·                The concept in terms of how the programme was delivered was important, specifically in terms of showcasing the wealth of culture and heritage in the City, to all Sheffield residents. 

·                Mapping activity was planned to take place, and the Consortium would look to hold events and activities in as many areas of the City as possible, although it was likely that the larger events would be held in the City Centre.

·                It was hoped that, with all the partners working together, something very positive will be created in terms of the programme, which will hopefully result in more people and groups becoming involved, which would hopefully result in more being able to be done.  There were plans to reach out to people of all ages.  A number of smaller, lesser known groups in the City were very keen to be involved, and were presently creating programmes based on the ethos of the event. 

6.2.5

Members also made the following comments:-

·                Every effort should be made, where possible, to ensure the programme was accessible to children and young people.

·                There was a need to link the work in terms of the International Economic Commission and the Year of Making 2016.

6.3

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       notes the information reported as part of the presentations, together with the comments now made and responses provided to the questions raised;

(b)       thanks Diana Buckley, Dan Bates and Kim Streets for attending the meeting and making the presentations; and

(c)        agrees the following points, arising from the presentations:-

(i)            every effort be made, in respect of the Sheffield Year of Making 2016,  to (A) involve children and young people and (B) ensure that, where possible, events and activities were held at locations across the City;

(ii)          the Committee should (A) monitor the developments of Sheffield’s International Economic Commission and (B) give consideration to establishing a Task Group during 2015/16 to scrutinise the proposals in respect of the Commission;

(iii)      requests officers look at ways to identify the impact, including the projected benefits for the City, of Sheffield’s International Economic Commission and the Year of Making 2016; and

(iv)      raise with the Overview and Scrutiny management Committee how scrutiny work is undertaken, including tracking implementation of recommendations and ways of improving linkages between Committees and joint working across the Committees.