Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

The Establishment of the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership

Consider report by Executive Director, Corporate Improvement & Economy, on the phased establishment of the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership (copy attached).

Minutes:

2.1       With reference to paragraph 9 of the Scottish Borders Council Minute of 31 October 2019, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Executive Director, Corporate Improvement & Economy providing the background and context to the phased establishment of the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership (REP).  The report gave an overview of the work of the COVID-19 Team South of Scotland Leadership Group, the forerunner of the REP, then went on to discuss the work of the REP which had now held two meetings.  At its meeting on 31 October 2019, Scottish Borders Council agreed to support the establishment of South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership (REP).  Following this meeting, work commenced to transition from the South of Scotland Alliance (SOSA) to the REP, the remit and composition of which was set out in Appendix 1 to the report.  The Executive Director gave the background of the REP, which aimed to support the establishment of South of Scotland Enterprise by developing and driving forward a South of Scotland Regional Economic Strategy.  It comprised members of Scottish Borders Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, South of Scotland Enterprise, together with appointed members from business, communities, social enterprise, registered social landlords, and representatives from colleges, universities and public bodies including the Scottish Funding Council, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, and VisitScotland.  Nationally, the REP linked into the South of Scotland Convention, which was chaired by the Deputy First Minister.  In early March 2020, it was agreed to pause efforts to establish the REP as the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic became clear. The Councils, together with SOSE, acted quickly to establish the COVID-19 Team South of Scotland Leadership Group with the focus to provide strategic direction and oversight to the initial economic response to COVID-19 in the South of Scotland.  Key activities for the group included: understanding the impact of COVID-19; supporting business; supporting communities; advocating for the South of Scotland; communication (agreeing a joint approach); tackling labour market challenges; aligning response, restart and recovery activity; and setting the groundwork for the REP.  The report went on to provide more details on the membership and organisational arrangements of the REP.  A key task would be to set the development of the South of Scotland Regional Economic Strategy and Action Plan.  Diagrams within the report set out the timeline the REP was working on and the relationship between the elements of the regional landscape.

 

2.2       Members recognised the significant work carried out by the Team South of Scotland during the response to the pandemic, noting that the officers working with the team would be the same as those supporting the REP.  In further discussion, the priority of getting the Regional Economic Strategy in place was emphasised.  In response to a question from Councillor Tatler, Chair of the Scottish Borders Living Wage Group, the Executive Director gave assurance that core principles of a living wage would be addressed and be central to the strategy.  In response to further questions about the position of the REP in relation to the various other groups and bodies meeting within the South of Scotland region, the Executive Director gave a further explanation of the table shown within the report which set out the relationship between the various key elements of activity.  He agreed to put this summary in a briefing note for Members.

 

DECISION

AGREED to:-

 

(a)          recognise the work carried out by the COVID-19 Team South of Scotland Leadership Group; and

 

(b)          welcome the progress being made in establishing the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership and its work programme.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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