STIRLING ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
NOTE OF MEETING
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Present:
Apologies
John Rogers
Stirling University (Chair)
Rebecca Maxwell
Stirling Council
Ken Thomson
Forth Valley College
Rachel Nunn
Going Carbon Neutral Stirling
Billy Howie
Job Centre Plus
Rosaleen Brown
Job Centre Plus
Pamela Brown
Raploch URC
Les Goodfellow
Stirling Council
Antonia Kelly
Skills Development Scotland
Valerie Ormiston
Skills Development Scotland
Veronica Noone
Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley
Katy Oliver
Stirling Council
Tracey Lees
Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley
Tony Cain
Stirling Council
Lesley Gallagher
Alasdair Tollemache
Stirlingshire Voluntary
Enterprise
Christine MacLean
Stirling Community Planning
Partnership
Stirling Council
Cllr Scott Farmer
Stirling Council
Helen Winton
Stirling Council
Des Friel
Stirling Council
Tony Moulsdale
Stirling Business Panel Exec
John McMillan
Stirling Council
Andy Kennedy
Stirling Council
Attendance
Deborah Murray
Stirling Council
Clare Fisher
Stirling Council
Jonathan Padmore
Stirling Council
Marie McGrath
Stirling Council
Mike Cairns
TACTRAN
Rowan Maguire
Stirling Council
Gail McLaughlin
Stirling Council (Clerk)
1
Welcome and Introductions
John welcomed everyone to the meeting and reminded partners of the
complexities of the economic context in which partnership activity is now taking
place. The implications of this for public sector cuts and welfare reform are
clearly raised by the Audit Commission’s report and demand partnership
intervention. Therefore over the next couple of meetings the Partnership would
be discussing the findings of the Audit Commission’s report.
2
Notes of previous meeting
The note of the 24th August meeting was accepted as a true record.
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3
MCMC: update and action plan - Presentation
Clair Fisher provided some background to MCMC (More Choices, More
Chances) and how the MCMC Partnership is supporting vulnerable young
people.
The MCMC Partnership is a sub group of the Economic Partnership and brings
together a range of partners to work together to raise the employability potential
of all young people, but particularly those who are most disadvantaged. The
Partnership is just about to complete its Action Plan, which will be reported back
for approval by the Economic Partnership in due course.
Ken Thomson drew attention to the difficulties faced by colleges in the current
financial circumstances. The impact of the budget settlements means that Forth
Valley College is constrained in its ability to support 16-19 year old applicants.
Cllr Farmer said that the Partnership must engage with employers regarding the
people they employ, look at the areas where jobs are available and support
young people to develop the skills to compete for these jobs.
It was agreed that it is important to work with employers. The MCMC were asked
to return to the Partnership when their Action Plan had been agreed.
Action: Des
4
Employability programme in Raploch
Pamela supplemented her previous presentation.
Pamela asked partners to consider placement opportunities for trainees in the
Raploch programme. Pamela also reiterated the importance of working with
employers and commented on good partnership arrangements with both Scottish
Enterprise and Forth Valley College.
John suggested there was scope for discussion with NHS Forth Valley for
placements and recruitment in with auxiliary nursing activity.
Matters arising from previous meeting
4.1 Action Plan: outstanding actions – Christine circulated the report.
4.2 Audit Commission Study: outputs and strategy refresh
These two items were discussed together. The need for partners to be explicit
about progress on action plan commitments was noted. The workshop on 7th
November specifically aims to address the Partnership’s response to the
recommendations in the Audit Commission study.
The challenge of the next Single Outcome Agreement is to prioritise actions for
the best impact, based on evidenced need. The Action Plan needs to focus on a
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limited number of high impact actions. At the next meeting and the workshop,
the proposal is that we identify six priority actions that have a deliverable output.
The current Action Plan requires to be closed off, and an Annual Report
completed. John asked theme leads to consider some success stories for
inclusion in the Annual Report. Draft to be prepared for the meeting on 23rd
November.
Action: Theme Leads/ Christine
5
Membership: Proposal to invite STEP & SUIP to join the Partnership
The Chair proposed to invite a representative Stirling Enterprise & Stirling
University Innovation Park to join the Economic Partnership: this was agreed.
Action: John
6
Scottish Government’s refresh of Economic Strategy
Veronica Noone summarised the refreshed Scottish Government economic
strategy: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/357756/0120893.pdf
Points highlighted: 
Increased productivity

Refreshed strategy - a strong emphasis on the opportunities - retaining the
strategic objectives of GES 2007 whilst having a stronger emphasis on
jobs and low carbon, where it is estimated that 130.000 jobs could be
created by 2020.

Plan for recovery is focused on - capital investment through an ambitious
infrastructure programme, access to finance - maintain pressure on banks,
support for early stage technology companies and better private sector
leverage, and enhanced economic confidence through growth,
employment and income security. No compulsory redundancies in the
public sector, and delivery of 46,500 training places and 26,000 modern
apprenticeships

Change to finances, there have been massive cuts.
Scottish
Government’s capital budget has been cut by approximately 35% over the
current Spending Review Period.

Local Authorities & Scottish Enterprise working together to maximise
environmental and economic benefits arising from low carbon
technologies. Jobs in the low carbon sector could grow by 4% a year to
2020, rising from 70,000 to 130,000, representing over 5% of the Scottish
workforce.
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
National Renewables Infrastructure Fund aims to tap in to the private
sector to invest in renewables and help deliver targets for this sector.
16:30 – Des left the meeting.
John recognised the long term view of the Government’s Economic Strategy, and
welcomed the refocus to reprioritise and take into account the current economic
circumstance. There is a clearer focus on generating employment and
opportunities in particular sectors.
Partners reiterated the major challenges across the public sector as a
consequence of the Spending Review. The particular challenge facing Colleges
was noted. Forth Valley College is looking at a reduction of 1,500 - 2,000
technically trained people. By contrast the Universities settlement is much better
than anticipated and the real partnership working in Stirling between the College,
the University and other community planning partners could help mitigate the
negative impact of the cuts to the College settlement.
Stirling University is about to launch its own internally financed capital project.
It was also noted that a previous discussion at the Economic Partnership had
highlighted the real opportunities employment and training to benefit from
Scotland’s investment in new technology, renewables, sub sea and tidal power
generation.
Toni reported useful links on the SDS website that had some helpful information:
http://rethink.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/
http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/news/new-website-encouragespeople-to-consider-a-career-in-financial-services.aspx
7
Tackling Poverty Action Plan
Christine explained that she had redrafted the Action Plan and the Tacking
Poverty Group would complete work on it at its next meeting on the 8th
November. SEP will receive a copy of the action plan.
Action: Des, Christine
16:40 Christine left the meeting
8
Skills Pipeline
Lesley reported that a mapping exercise is now underway to collate and analyse
all activity across the Stirling area at all stages of the Employability Skills
Pipeline. Once the basic mapping is done, partners will be able to better identify
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gaps or duplication in provision, and work together to better target provision
accordingly. The completed mapping will be reported to SEP.
Action: Lesley
9
AOB
9.1 Stirling’s Local Transport Plan.
Jonathan Padmore circulated a paper on Stirling’s Local Transport Plan – the
group was asked to read the paper and then discuss how best to prioritise action
on transport.
9.2 Business 2 Business event 8th November 2012, Hotel Metropole Brussels
Michael Cairns reported that SEStran and the West Flanders Development
Agency (POM) has issued an invite to attend a business-to-business event that
aims to encourage businesses on both sides of the North Sea to use the Rosyth
– Zeebrugge ferry service
The event was for potential users rather than existing users of the service and
local manufacturers within the region, who export or may wish to export to
Europe. Deborah Murray agreed she would send out the invitation to all the
Business Partners.
Action: Deborah
9.3 Local Development Plan
John informed everyone that the LDP had been presented for approval at the
most recent Stirling Council meeting, but had been returned for further
consultation. The Plan will then be resubmitted to Council in 2012 for final
approval.
10 Date of Next Meeting:
Wednesday 23rd November 2011 @ 3pm in The Wallace Room
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