Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th January 2015 be agreed.

Will Curtis, Managing Director, and Katy Woolcott, Estate Manager, London Biggin Hill Airport provided an update on developments at London Biggin Hill Airport following its identification as a Strategic Outer London Development Centre in the London Plan, and as part of the LoCATE (London Centre for Aviation Technology and Enterprise) project which brought together a cluster of modern aviation-related businesses at and around London Biggin Hill Airport to support continued economic development in the area.

A proposal had been submitted by London Biggin Hill Airport to the Local Authority on 5^th November 2015, on plans to extend the operating hours of the airport.  Following extensive consultations by the Local Authority and London Biggin Hill Airport with local residents and stakeholders, the proposal was considered at special meetings of the Council and the Council’s Executive on 25^th March 2015, at which the extension of the airport’s operating hours was agreed in principle, with the Local Authority agreeing a variation of operating hours for Saturdays, Sunday and Bank Holiday based on 8am to 10pm in principle, rather than those proposed by London Biggin Hill Airport. 

The proposed extension of opening hours aimed to ensure the airport remained competitive with other business aviation airports across Europe, and would support the future development of the airport’s offer which included plans to build a hotel, establish an aviation training college and significantly increase employment opportunities at the airport, with the potential to create 2,300 additional jobs over the next 20 years and increase the number of businesses accommodated on site.  Nine pledges had been made by the airport in conjunction with these proposals, which included limitations on the number of flights and an annual Festival of Flight.  The introduction of measures to monitor noise caused by aircraft would be prioritised in response to concerns raised by a number of residents, and would include noise mitigation measures and a flight path review.

In response to a question from the Chairman, Will Curtis confirmed that the proposed extension to operating hours would provide the flexibility needed to attract new businesses and business aviation to the airport.  The London Growth Fund had approved funding in principle for the establishment of an aviation technical college, and that the airport hoped to work closely with Bromley College of Further and Higher Education to develop a high quality engineering offer for young people in the Borough.

The Chairman was pleased to note that the Government had pledged £1m funding towards a Biggin Hill heritage museum based at St George’s Chapel, which housed a war memorial to 454 servicemen who lost their lives in World War Two. 

RESOLVED that the presentation be noted.

Members of the Partnership gave an update around progress across the main themes of the Partnership.

The Head of Town Centre Renewal gave an update on Town Centre Development across the Borough.

Progress was continuing across the sites that made up the Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan.  With regard to Site G: West of the High Street, the Council’s Executive had agreed to adopt a revised development approach for Bromley town centre, including a revised phased development of the site at its meeting on 26th November 2014.  A range of improvements were planned for Bromley Centre Area High Street for which outline designs were being prepared.  The Cathedral Development at Site K: Westmoreland Road Car Park was progressing well and was expected to be completed in early 2016.

In terms of development across the Borough, funding through the New Homes Bonus had been secured by the Local Authority for four projects across the Borough.  These comprised projects for Penge Town Centre/Crystal Palace, place making for the Walnuts Centre and Orpington business enabling and support, the Biggin Hill Aviation Technology and Enterprise Centre, and Lagoon Road Industrial Estate Redevelopment.  An allocation of £125k capital funding from the High Street Fund had also been made to deliver public realm improvements to Orpington town centre.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.

The Head of Town Centre Management and Business Support gave an update on progress across the main Partnership themes of Town Centre Management and Business Support in Quarter 4 2014/15.

In Quarter 3 2014/15, a number of events had taken place in town centres including a celebration event in Bromley North Village and a Penge Easter event. 

The Local Authority continued to maintain direct contact with the Orpington 1^st Business Improvement District (BID) Board.  The Bromley BID Working Group had worked with Central Management Solutions to complete the Feasibility stage of the Bromley BID set up process in February 2015.  This included a review of business rates data, and a consultation survey of 13% of businesses who might be expected to vote in the BID ballot which had identified that the highest priorities of local businesses were the promotion and marketing of Bromley town centre and public events to encourage more customers and investors into Bromley. 

Work continued in town centres across the Borough.  The Bromley Town Centre Manager had led on the second stage of a review of the operation, location and offer of Bromley’s three day market and following the completion of the review, consideration would be given to the development of a new market configuration which would be reported to Members in Summer 2015/16.  The Beckenham Town Centre Manager continued to work to support the Town Centre team and the Beckenham Member Working Group. 

Future activities for the Town Centre Management and Business Support Service included encouraging and supporting the Bromley BID Working Group in engaging with businesses across the town centre to consult on a potential BID, assisting the Beckenham Town Centre Team and the Beckenham Town Centre Working Group in engaging with businesses on designs for the major Transport for London funded scheme for Beckenham, and delivery of the Town Centre Team’s High Street Fund alleyway improvement and Purple Flag projects.  Work would begin on the revenue (business support) elements of the New Homes Bonus funding allocated to Penge and Orpington for expenditure in 2015/16 and 2016/17.  An events and activities programme for the managed town centres would also be developed, including the Bromley Means Business Expo on 16^th June 2015, and a programme of support workshops and seminars for local businesses. 

In considering the potential for a Business Improvement District for other town centres aross the Borough, the Chairman noted the possibility to establish a joint BID for Beckenham, Penge and West Wickham.  An initial ‘light touch’ feasibility study had been undertaken into the possibility of a Business Improvement District (BID) on the Lower Sydenham/Beckenham Industrial Estate which was seeking to fund a CCTV provision. 

RESOLVED that:

1)  Recent work around Town Centre Management and Business Support in the 4^th Quarter of 2014/15 be noted; and

2)  The plans for Town Centre Management and Business Support activity for the 1^st Quarter of 2015/16 be noted.

Stella Marshall, Youth Support Programme Development Officer and Lesley Holland, Operations Manager, Bromley Education Business Partnership, gave an update on the Bromley Youth Employment Project (Round 2) which had been developed by the Local Authority to support sustainable employment opportunities for young people who were unemployed.

The project aimed to:

1.  Target priority client groups, including young people identified as at risk of being ‘Not in Employment, Education or Training’ (NEET), young people aged 18-24 years claiming Jobseekers Allowance and Looked After Children aged 15-24 years.

2.  Increase the supply of local employment opportunities for young people by implementing a Borough-wide employer engagement programme, and recruiting two graduate interns to develop a Local Authority strategy to increase the offer of work experience placements, traineeships and apprenticeships across the Local Authority and its partners, and work with Community Links Bromley to stimulate the creation of work experience placements, traineeships and apprenticeships across the voluntary and community sector.

3.  Increase the work readiness of young people and raise their awareness of apprenticeships by delivering Next Step employability conferences and employability workshops to priority client groups, providing a tailored recruitment and matching service, and supporting short intervention mentoring relationships aimed at Jobseekers Allowance claimants aged 18-24 years.

The key project outcomes over the two year project included creating 100 employment opportunities for young people, getting 500 employers participating in awareness raising events, offering one to one support for 200 employers, and creating 25 employment or work experience opportunities within the voluntary and community sector.  It was also aimed to deliver employability support to 900 students, enhanced employment opportunities for 25 Looked After Children, targeted mentoring support for 40 Jobseekers Allowance claimants aged 18-24 years, and to support 100 young people into contracted employment lasting a minimum of six months. 

Members of the Partnership were advised that since the project had been launched in September 2015, significant work had been undertaken with employers to promote the value of work experience placements, apprenticeships and traineeships, and 54 employment opportunities for young people had now been identified.  Work was underway to identify apprenticeship and work experience opportunities across the Local Authority and its contractors, as well as in voluntary and community organisations.  Five events had been held in schools across the Borough during the 2014/15 academic year to raise awareness of the opportunities available, and further events were planned for Summer 2015.  Young people who could benefit from the support offered by the Project were also being targeted through Youth Support Services, and 24 young people had now been supported into employment with local employers. 

Will Curtis, Managing Director, London Biggin Hill Airport noted that a range of apprenticeship opportunities were available in businesses located at the airport.

The Chairman of Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee commended Officers for their excellent work in delivering the Bromley Youth Employment Project (Round 2). 

RESOLVED that the update be noted.

Members of the Partnership had undertaken a range of activities since the last meeting.

No update was provided.

Colin Maclean, Community Links Bromley was pleased to advise members of the Partnership that a Corporate Social Responsibility Expo had been held on 18^th March 2015 at Bromley Civic Centre to showcase the work of the voluntary sector and help build links with local businesses.  Community Links Bromley was working to engage harder to reach groups across the Borough, and was exploring the possibility of establishing a shop front in partnership with other agencies to promote opportunities in the voluntary sector.

David Warnes, Bromley College of Further and Higher Education was pleased to announce that the new hospitality training centre at the College’s Orpington campus had now opened.  The new sports centre facility at the Bromley campus had also opened and would operate as a learning company, allowing students to build employability skills through managing the facilities.  Work was underway to develop the Bromley Business School, which would be based on the Orpington campus and would deliver a wide range of training and business entrepreneurial activities.

Carol Arnfield, Bromley Adult Education College, confirmed that Bromley Adult Education College was still working with Jobcentre Plus, although the number of referrals had fallen as the level of unemployment in the Borough reduced.  A Job Club was held at the Kentwood Centre twice a week and offered a range of support including help with CVs and online job searching.

Kate Miller, intu Bromley, was pleased to announce that building works would start on its planned restaurant development shortly and would be completed in early 2016.  Negotiations were taking place with regard to several vacant units in the shopping centre, and work continued to attract high quality retailers.

Mark Henderson, MSE UK, advised members of the Partnership that his company was developing an innovative new product and hoped to launch it at an international conference at the ExCeL London Exhibition and Convention Centre in Summer 2015.  Work continued to identify new premises for MSE UK and it was hoped that the company would remain within in the Borough.

Dave Freeborn, Proctors, noted that there continued to be a high level of interest in land development in Bromley, with 170 developers now registered with Proctors. 

Steve Nelson, South East London Chamber of Commerce, reported that a number of free business events had recently been held, and that the Chamber was seeking to establish four different sector groups, including a construction forum, which could be rotated between the four South East London boroughs.

Suzanne Sharp, NewsQuest, confirmed that 2015 was the 50^th anniversary year for the News Shopper.  Special celebratory publications would be published on a quarterly basis, including a business publication, and members of the Partnership were requested to submit their stories, as well as utilise www.newsshopper.co.uk/business to promote their businesses and events.

Peter Scott-Wilds, FLR Spectron/South East London Chamber of Commerce outlined the benefits of working with the Bromley Education Business Partnership, of which FLR Spectron was a longstanding sponsor.

Sharon Baldwin, Manager, Orpington 1^st BID Company was pleased to announce that a number of events had been held during Spring 2015, including a business show and wedding fair.  The summer programme of events included a live music festival and a cycling event, and a food festival which would link in with the work of the Hospitality and Catering College, would be held in October 2015.  A number of new residential developments were planned for Orpington town centre, and an investment pack for Orpington had been developed to promote the benefits of the town. 

Adam Smith, Mytime Active, confirmed that a wide range of volunteering opportunities were available through Mytime Active, as well as a number of seasonal employment opportunities.

RESOLVED that the updates be noted.

Members of the Partnership considered the forward rolling work programme for the Bromley Economic Partnership for 2015/16.

The Chairman requested that Transport for London be invited to a future meeting of the Bromley Economic Partnership to discuss the proposed extension of the Bakerloo Line to Hayes.

Information on a range of European funding opportunities would be provided to members of the Partnership following the meeting.

RESOLVED that the forward rolling work programme be noted.

There was no other business.

4.00pm, Tuesday 14^th July 2015

4.00pm, Tuesday 13^th October 2015

4.00pm, Tuesday 12^th January 2016

4.00pm, Tuesday 12^th April 2016