Issue - meetings

The report of the Chief Executive is attached.

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Borough Wide Leadership, Councillor Robinson, presented the report of the Chief Executive concerning the Borough Council’s role in the East Midlands Freeport.

Councillor Robinson summarised that the Government had allowed the East Midlands to proceed to Freeport status in March 2021, the outline business case had been submitted in September 2021 with the full Business Case submitted in March 2022.  The Cabinet had received a report in February 2022 which gave a commitment to report to the Council seeking approval to appoint a Director of the Borough Council to the Freeport Board. 

In moving the recommendation, Councillor Robinson reminded Councillors that the Freeport was a very important vehicle to attract high quality new jobs into the area, which would also regenerate the Power Station which was due to close in 2024 and would attract innovative new businesses to the Borough, with a particular focus on green energy.  It would also offer significant opportunity to work with universities to conduct research into new technologies.  The site was uniquely located by the River Trent, East Midlands Airport, the M1 and the HS2 route. 

Councillor Edyvean seconded the recommendation in the report and reserved the right to speak.

Councillor Walker, on behalf of the Labour Group, said that she supported the recommendations in the report but remained deeply concerned about the Freeport’s ability to deliver on the promises made, especially the creation of 61,000 new jobs.  She added that she was concerned that the entire project was ideologically based which had the potential to fall short of the promises made and impact adversely on the wealth of local communities. She drew attention to the community wealth building model which sought to invest in the communities and businesses already operating in the Borough and employing local people, rather than attracting multinational corporations that continued to pay zero tax in the places in which they operated. She ended by saying that the Labour Group would continue to push for good quality employment for local communities.

Councillor Jones recognised the level and complexity of work done to reach this stage and supported the recommendations in the report with the following caveats and reservations.  He said that he was sceptical about the practicalities of the Freeport which was located on three disconnected sites. He recognised that the Development Corporation was the most important element and agreed that the power station site needed development.  However, he added that he hoped that engineering and production operations would start on the sites so as to reduce the Country’s dependence on China.

Councillor R Mallender explained that his concerns for the Freeport related to the potential for tax free status for businesses, the misuse of Freeports in other parts of the world and the potential harm to wildlife/ trafficking of animals.  However, despite the reservations, he did note that it was important that the Borough Council had a seat at the Freeport Company so would support the recommendations in the report.

Councillor Thomas said that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13