Business Forum Reports

The Business Forum held on 6 February 2001 was attended by 20 businesses and a range of officers and councillors. The objective of the meeting was to identify the perceived problems and issues faced by the business community within Fareham and then to seek to identify possible solutions. To co-ordinate this process a facilitator from Hampshire Business Link undertook a pin-boarding exercise designed to draw out and prioritise the views of the audience. on and then to the issues

 

The Forum opened with an exploration of the main problems / issues facing the local business community over the next 5 years. The wide range of issues identified were then ranked to produce a key issues list

Key Issue 1 - Transport

The issue of investment in and the priority given to mass transport and the road network is impossible for a district council to address in isolation. Lobbying to influence the policy and scale of investment of the County Council and the Government will be an important function of the community planning process.

 

FBC have supported the County Council in its policy of promoting the merits of green commuter plans and encouraging businesses to work together to address the problems of peak hours congestion (as at Segensworth / Whiteley). This issue should be examined further in the context of the emerging community plan

Key Issue 2 - Recruitment

Various issues in relation to recruitment and retention are being addressed by the Council. Investment in the town centre is part of a programme to improve facilities available to residents. Key worker housing is currently being examined. A research study into training needs and skills gaps has been commissioned. Partnerships providing business advice and support are supported as part of the Economic Development Strategy

Key Issue 3 - Skills

In relation to the issue of skills shortages, the Council has commissioned a research study into training needs and skills gaps that will allow the Council to have greater input to the pattern of training provision in the local area. The issue of the level of reward is a market response for the businesses themselves

Key Issue 4 - Business Property

In relation to the issue of property, suggestions made fall into three categories

• Government and planning context - The regulatory context is set by government but there is scope to prioritise business applications locally and to respond to local needs

• Range and quality of the business accommodation - The Council has provided the Fareham Enterprise Centre and has agreed to invest in "move-on" to complement provision on the Cams Hall Estate. The officers in their contact with developers will use the forum's comments in an effort to influence the type of accommodation that is built. However, there is an on-going problem of balancing local needs with demand as expressed in the market place.

• Provision of housing for the workforce - Key worker housing is a topical issue that is being examined in a sub-regional context

Summary of issues related to ED Strategy

The topics raised by the forum cover a wide range of issues that extend beyond the scope for direct action within the context of the Economic Development Strategy. The issues raise questions about the general government and public environment within which business operates and encompass, at a local level, the corporate activities of the Council and, at a higher level, the Council's relationships with other local authorities and government bodies. Many of these higher level issues might be addressed through the lobbying activity of the Council in its relationships with bodies such as the County Council, the Government Office and the South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA). The ability of the Council to influence in this arena should be enhanced in the context of the community planning process arising from the Local Government Act 2000.

 

Many of the suggestions made raise issues for the businesses themselves. Topics such as working hours, staff travel arrangements, teleworking, in-house training and reward packages can all be addressed within the individual enterprise or through a local consortium of businesses.

Priorities

The Economic Development Strategy programme proposed for 2001/2002 builds upon the Strategy Overview adopted in March 1999 and emphasises a number of issues that could help to advance the economy of the Borough. Table 1 below demonstrates that the forum did not challenge these priorities but raised the broad question of how to address the bigger picture of government investment priorities and regulatory control.

Summary and Conclusion

In the context of the comments received, the Sub-Committee at its meeting held on 20 February 2001 resolved that the Economic Development Strategy for 2001/02 should progress unchanged to public consultation

 

ED Strategy Priority	Comment in relation to issues raised at the Business Forum
Building upon Fareham's emerging advantages as a telecommunication hub	Facilitating the adaptation of the local economy to take advantage of modern communications will assist the opportunities for tele-working and home working
Creating opportunities for the start-up and growth of new businesses, and in particular businesses exploiting new technologies	The investment of the Council in a technology centre designed to fill a market gap will assist the process of business growth
Seeking to secure investment that will attract businesses that exploit new technologies	The Virtual London promotional activities of the Council, in association with leading Fareham companies, has had an important impact upon the marketing image of South Hampshire as a leading location for telecommunications infrastructure
Implementation of town centre infrastructure Continued support for town centre management	The investment of the Council in the Henry Cort scheme and the Market Quay project is intended to provide facilities that will enhance the image and range of opportunities within the town centre. Town centre management is a vital complementary activity that co-ordinates the private and public sectors for the benefit of the town centre
Continued support for partnership organisations benefiting Fareham	Partnerships offer economies of scale and value for money in the provision of business support services
Maintenance of a comprehensive business database	Important means of keeping up to date with changes in the local economy and offering business information to local companies. Supports the local economy
Promotion of local inter-trading between Fareham firms (including a information service free to Fareham firms)	Meets many of the issues raised by the forum. The Fareham Technology Forum, in particular, facilitates local business networks and collaborative activity in supports of the local economy
Targeted visits by Officers to understand more fully the concerns of Fareham firms	Important means of keeping up to date with changes in the local economy and advising businesses of the support available to them.
Ongoing review of promotional materials and updating as appropriate	An important part of the process of raising the profile of the area