Agenda and minutes
Economy Committee - Tuesday 22 January 2013 10.00 am

To receive any apologies for absence and any announcements from the Chair.

1.1  Apologies for absence were received from Gareth Bacon AM and Andrew Boff AM.

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note as disclosable pecuniary interests the list of memberships of functional bodies and London Borough Councils, as set out in the tables at Agenda Item 2;

(b)   Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any disclosable pecuniary interests in specific items listed on the agenda and the necessary action taken by the Member(s) regarding withdrawal following such declaration(s); and

(c)   Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any other interests deemed to be relevant (including any interests arising from gifts and hospitality received which are not at the time of the meeting reflected on the Authority’s register of gifts and hospitality, and noting also the advice from the GLA’s Monitoring Officer set out at Agenda Item 2) and to note any necessary action taken by the Member(s) following such declaration(s).

2.1  Resolved:

(a)    That the list of memberships of functional bodies and London Borough Councils, as set out in the tables at Item 2, be noted as disclosable pecuniary interests;

(b)  During the course of Agenda Item 6 (Mayor’s Chief Economic Adviser), John Biggs AM declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Member of the London Finance Commission; and

(c)    That gifts and hospitality received by Members, as set out in the Authority’s gifts and hospitality register, be noted.

2.2  In accordance with Standing Order 2.2D, the Chair decided to take Agenda Items 3 to 8 in a different order to that set out on the agenda for the meeting.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Richard Berry; [email protected]; 020 7983 4199 

The Committee is recommended to recommend to the GLA Oversight Committee the appointment of Tom Copley AM as a rapporteur to carry out an investigation into small theatres with the terms of reference outlined at paragraph 4.2 of the report.

3.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

3.2  Resolved:

That the GLA Oversight Committee be recommended to appoint Tom Copley AM as a rapporteur to carry out an investigation into small theatres with the following terms of reference:

·  To examine the challenges facing small theatres in London; and

·  To identify steps the Mayor can take to help theatres address these challenges.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Richard Berry; [email protected]; 020 7983 4199 

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note its work programme and priorities for 2012/13; and

(b)  Invite London & Partners to its meeting in April 2013.

4.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

4.2  The Chair drew Members’ attention to the letter sent to the Chair of the Committee from Middlesex University’s Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Researchthat had been circulated after the publication of the agenda, attached as Appendix 1 to the minutes. 

4.3  The Chair agreed, in accordance with section 100(B)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to accept as an item of urgent business, the discussion of the letter in order to allow its consideration at the earliest possible opportunity.

4.4  The Committee agreed to delegate authority to the Chair to respond to the request for the Committee’s support for a research seminar series on home-based enterprise.

4.5  Resolved:

(a)  That the work programme and priorities for 2012/13 be noted;

(b)  That London & Partners be invited to the Committee’s meeting in April 2013; and

(c)  That authority be delegated to the Chair to respond to the request for the Committee’s support for a research seminar series on home-based enterprise.

The Committee is recommended to confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 December 2012 to be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

5.1  Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2012 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Dale Langford; [email protected]; 020 7983 4415

The Committee is recommended to note the completed and outstanding actions arising from previous meetings of the Committee.

6.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

6.2  Resolved:

That the completed and outstanding actions arising from previous meetings of the Committee be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Simon Shaw; [email protected]; 020 7983 6542 

The Committee is recommended to note the report as background to the discussion with invited guests.

7.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat as background to putting questions to invited guests:

·  Megan Dobney, Regional Secretary, Southern and Eastern Region Trades Union Congress;

·  Paul Fisher, District Manager for East London, Jobcentre Plus;

·  Kit Malthouse AM, Deputy Mayor for Business and Enterprise;

·  Joyce Roberts, Head of Area Relationship Team (East London), Skills Funding Agency; and

·  Bev White, Managing Director - HR Consulting, Penna.

7.2  A transcript of the discussion is attached at Appendix 2.

7.3  Resolved:

That the report and discussion be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Richard Berry; [email protected]; 020 7983 4199 

The Committee is recommended to note the report as background to putting questions to Gerard Lyons, the Mayor’s Chief Economic Adviser, and notes the answers given in response.

8.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat as background to putting questions to Gerard Lyons, the Mayor’s Chief Economic Adviser and Kit Malthouse AM, Deputy Mayor for Business and Enterprise.

8.2  A transcript of the discussion is attached at Appendix 3.

8.3  During the course of the discussion, the Chair referred to a letter from the Deputy Mayor for Business and Enterprise that had been delivered to his office that morning.  The letter is attached at Appendix 4.

8.4  During the discussion, the Committee requested the following additional information in writing:

·  An assessment by the Chief Economic Adviser of whether the net change in construction jobs or the gross number of jobs generated was the best way to assess the impact of GLA group investment in infrastructure, regeneration and housing projects;

·  An assessment by the Chief Economic Adviser of how London’s economy would benefit from an amnesty for illegal immigrants as previously proposed by the Mayor; and

·  Further details from the Deputy Mayor for Business and Enterprise on the timescale for the Mayor’s Homes Energy Efficiency Programme, the definition on which the 2,674 jobs generated was based and an indication of whether  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for 12 February 2013 at 3.30pm in Committee Room 5.

9.1  The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for 12 February 2013 at 3.30pm in Committee Room 5.

10.1  There was no other business.

11.1  The meeting ended at 12.54pm.