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Economic and Industry Development Committee — 2020-08-20
1. The City of Ipswich Defence Industry Development and Attraction Committee Update
Doc ID No: A6391939
ITEM: 1
SUBJECT: The City of Ipswich Defence Industry Development and Attraction Committee Update
AUTHOR: Senior Industry Development Officer
DATE: 30 July 2020
Executive Summary
This is a report concerning the position of Chair of the City of Ipswich Defence Industry Development and Attraction Committee, it recommends Council endorse the City of Ipswich Mayor as Chair replacing the Ipswich City Council Chief Executive Officer.
Ipswich City Council established the City of Ipswich Defence Industry Development and Attraction Committee (CIDIDAC) in 2017. Since then it has guided the implementation of the City of Ipswich Defence Industry Action Plan and advocated for the local defence industry.
In July 2020 the current Chair and Ipswich City Council CEO sought the response of all CIDIDAC members to the recommendations that CIDIDAC install Mayor Teresa Harding as Chair and the CIDIDAC Terms of Reference be amended to recognise the Mayor of the City of Ipswich as Chair and the CEO of Ipswich City Council as Deputy Chair. A majority positive response was received from CIDIDAC members.
Recommendation/S
A. That Council endorse Mayor Teresa Harding as Chair of the City of Ipswich Defence Industry Development and Attraction Committee.
B. That Council endorse Ipswich City Council Chief Executive Officer David Farmer as Deputy Chair of the City of Ipswich Defence Industry Development and Attraction Committee.
RELATED PARTIES
The members of the City of Ipswich Defence Industry Development and Attraction Committee include:
· RAAF Base Amberley, Australian Defence Force
· Queensland Government, Defence Jobs Queensland
· Boeing Defence Australia
· Rheinmetall Defence Australia
· Northrop Grumman Australia
· TAE Aerospace
· University of Queensland
· Queensland University of Technology
· University of Southern Queensland
· Australian Industry and Defence Network
Advance Ipswich Theme
Strengthening our local economy and building prosperity
Purpose of Report/Background
Defence is a priority industry for the City of Ipswich, generating annual exports worth $2.2 billion which accounts for 22.2% of Queensland’s total defence export and 17.5% of the State’s defence employment in 2017-18.
The Australian Defence Force directly contributed over 5,500 jobs, $350 million in workforce investment, $31 million in recurrent operational expenses and an estimated $183 million in capital projects within the Ipswich region and economy in 2016-17.
To support the continued growth of the industry and foster a robust defence industry ecosystem in the region, Ipswich City Council established the City of Ipswich Defence Industry Development and Attraction Committee (CIDIDAC) in 2017.
As per section 4 of the CIDIDAC Terms of Reference (Attachment 1), the membership of CIDIDAC is comprised of key decision makers in defence organisations, government and academia. CIDIDAC provides broad-based expertise and independent advice to Council on defence industry initiatives.
CIDIDAC has been instrumental in guiding Council in the development of the Defence Ipswich Action Plan (the only local government defence industry strategy in Australia) and the delivery of the Queensland Defence Summit: Ipswich 2018 and Defence Ipswich Supply Chain Opportunities Symposium 2019.
With more than 10 years in senior roles with the Department of Defence and strong political and strategic networks with state and federal governments, CIDIDAC will benefit from the experience and expertise of Mayor Teresa Harding as its Chair.
To maintain continuity and allow a proxy for the Mayor, it has also been agreed by CIDIDAC members that the CEO of Ipswich City Council be appointed as Deputy Chair.
The current CIDIDAC Terms of Reference do not specify a process for the appointment of a Chair, as such the recommendations have been put to members by the current Chair and in the majority supported.
With the endorsement of Council, the CIDIDAC Terms of Reference will be amended and the Mayor will assume duties of the Chair.
Legal/Policy Basis
This report and its recommendations are consistent with the following legislative provisions:
Local Government Act 2009
RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
There are no significant risk management implications associated with this report.
Financial/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
CIDIDAC Secretariat support and expenses are carried out as business as usual by Council’s Economic Development section.
COMMUNITY and OTHER CONSULTATION
Responses were requested and received from all CIDIDAC members with majority support.
Additional feedback signalled the preference for CIDIDAC to remain apolitical and ensure a balance of council and industry interests are represented and maintained.
Conclusion
The City of Ipswich Defence Industry Development and Attraction Committee has been a positive vehicle for local defence industry advancement and advocacy since 2017.
CIDIDAC members recognise the defence industry experience which Mayor Harding brings to Council and could better leverage as Chair of CIDIDAC.
With the endorsement of Council, the CIDIDAC Terms of Reference will be amended and the Mayor will assume duties of the Chair.
Attachments and Confidential Background Papers
1.
CIDIDAC Final Terms of Reference Clean Version August 2020 ⇩
Tamanna Monem
Senior Industry Development Officer
I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.
Ben Pole
General Manager - Community, Cultural and Economic Development
“Together, we proudly enhance the quality of life for our community”
Economic and Industry Development Committee
Meeting Agenda
20 August
2020
Item 1 / Attachment 1.
Economic and Industry Development Committee
Meeting Agenda
20 August
2020
2. Queensland Small Business Friendly Council
Doc ID No: A6401937
ITEM: 2
SUBJECT: Queensland Small Business Friendly Council
AUTHOR: Coordinator - Local Business and Investment
DATE: 4 August 2020
Executive Summary
This is a report concerning Council’s progress in becoming Queensland’s first Small Business Friendly Council.
Ipswich City Council has partnered with the Queensland Government Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) to assist in the design, development and pilot implementation of a Queensland Small Business Friendly Council program, which may then be released to other Queensland Councils in 2021.
By agreeing to be part of this program, Ipswich City Council will adopt the Queensland Government Small Business Friendly Council Charter which commits Council to support the small business community, reduce regulatory burdens, create opportunities, and make it easier to do business in the Ipswich Region for small businesses of the region.
Queensland is aligning with other States of Australia that already have Small Business Friendly Local Government initiatives in place, the common thread shared between these programs is the focus for Councils to reduce red tape and increase opportunities to support small business activity.
Recommendation/s
That the report concerning Council’s progress in becoming Queensland’s first Small Business Friendly Council be received and its contents noted.
RELATED PARTIES
The Queensland Government Department of Employment, Small Business and Training will manage and certify the Queensland Small Business Friendly Council program.
Each department in Ipswich City Council will have some responsibility to the successful delivery of this program.
The Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce will be key partners in the development and deployment of this program.
Advance Ipswich Theme
Strengthening our local economy and building prosperity
Purpose of Report/Background
In 2019 the Ipswich LGA had over 9,900 registered businesses with approximately half of those total registered businesses fitting the basic Queensland Government small business definition of employing less than 20 staff.
Almost a quarter of the total number of small businesses registered in Ipswich are in the Construction industry, the Professional Services industry is the next largest with 11% of small business registrations followed by Retail Trade with 8.5% of small business registrations.
Since March 2020, Council’s Local Business and Investment team has refocused its resources and in partnership with the Chambers of Commerce developed and delivered a series of outreach and assistance activities to help the local small businesses of Ipswich navigate the impacts of COVID-19, this included:
Business Resilience Workshops
Leveraging local expertise to facilitate 28 online workshops which were delivered and attended by over 400 business people.
Small Business Concierge
Outreach and visitation program where staff met with local businesses to understand immediate needs and connect them with local, state and federal support programs.
Small Business Funding Program
A quick response support fund of $200,000 to get small businesses back to doing business whilst also stimulating the local economy with local procurement during COVID-19.
Advancing Regional Innovation Program
A co-funded business resilience support fund of $30,000 facilitated on behalf of the Queensland Government to help local businesses adapt to doing business during COVID-19.
Pilot Façade Improvement Program
A co-funded incentive program of $100,000 to support businesses to improve their facades and stimulate investment in Ipswich Central.
Chamber of Commerce Partnerships
Renewed formal agreements with both Chambers of Commerce focused on providing support, education and networking opportunities for more of the region’s businesses.
These local small business outreach and assistance activities have been positively received by industry and stakeholders and they are an example of the focus of Council’s Local Business and Investment team’s progress towards the principles of being a Small Business Friendly Council.
Queensland Small Business Friendly Council Charter
Council’s Local Business and Investment team is actively working with DESBT on the draft Charter and evaluating Council’s processes and priorities in relation to the proposed requirements.
The draft Charter includes a range of commitments to small businesses which Council not only agrees to action but is also monitored and evaluated against, they include:
A) Communication and engagement
B) Raising small business profile and capability
C) Simplifying administration and regulation (red tape reduction)
D) Ensuring fair procurement and prompt payment terms
E) Supporting resilience and recovery
F) Nomination of place-based activities
G) Reporting
H) Evaluation
I) Promotion
Each of these items A to I have a number of sub-actions which detail more specifically the expectations of a Small Business Friendly Council.
Council currently meets or exceeds around 60% of the requirements of the draft Charter, and over the next three months the Local Business and Investment team will prioritise efforts to meet and exceed 100% of the draft Charter requirements.
The most significant sub-project for Council is the mapping of all processes and their internal interdependencies as they relate to any interaction a small business may have with Council. The team is utilising Promapp to identify and improve what is expected to be hundreds of processes across all Council departments over the next six months.
Legal/Policy Basis
This report and its recommendations are consistent with the following legislative provisions:
Not Applicable
RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
The interdependencies of internal processes across all Council departments is viewed to be the most significant risk associated with Council’s ability to achieve and maintain the requirements of a Queensland Small Business Friendly Council.
This risk is being managed through the formal process mapping sub-project to identify all process owners so that appropriate consultation, confirmation and improvements can be actioned and monitored.
Financial/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
There are no significant financial/resource implications associated with this report which cannot be managed within the current financial and resource allocations of the Branch.
COMMUNITY and OTHER CONSULTATION
The Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce have been consulted and have agreed to provide their support.
The Queensland Small Business Commissioner has been consulted and agreed to provide support.
Conclusion
Ipswich City Council has prioritised local small business outreach and assistance activities.
In partnership with the Queensland Government Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, Council is assisting in the design, development and pilot implementation of a Queensland Small Business Friendly Council program.
Over the next three to six months, Council will review its relevant processes and systems to identify and improve its servicing and support of local small business.
Ralph Breaden
Coordinator - Local Business and Investment
I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.
Cat Matson
Manager, Economic and Community Development
I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.
Ben Pole
General Manager - Community, Cultural and Economic Development
“Together, we proudly enhance the quality of life for our community”
Economic and Industry Development Committee
Meeting Agenda
20 August
2020
Mentions: Ipswich · Springfield
3. Chamber of Commerce - 2020/2021 Partnership Agreements
Doc ID No: A6408710
ITEM: 3
SUBJECT: Chamber of Commerce - 2020/2021 Partnership Agreements
AUTHOR: Coordinator - Local Business and Investment
DATE: 7 August 2020
Executive Summary
This report concerns the renewed formal relationship between Ipswich City Council and the city’s two Chambers of Commerce through partnership agreements and an investment of $39,044.50 total for the 2020-2021 financial year.
The Ipswich region supports two Chambers of Commerce; the Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. The Bremer Region Chamber of Commerce merged with the Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce in 2019 but still continues to service the Rosewood and surrounding areas.
In September 2019 Council resolved the cessation of partnership agreements with the Chambers of Commerce to be replaced with a new cooperative model to be co-developed with the Chambers. By 2020 Council and the Chambers had been unable to resolve the new arrangements.
However, the impacts on local businesses following the onset of COVID-19 has kept Council and the Chambers actively engaged on a range of outreach and assistance activities throughout most of 2020.
Concurrently, Council’s Coordinator – Local Business and Investment has been coordinating with both Chambers on renewed formal arrangements based on the priorities and preferences of each region, those arrangements have now been finalised and executed.
Recommendation/s
That the report concerning Council’s 2020-2021 partnership agreements with the Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce be received and the contents noted.
RELATED PARTIES
The Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
Advance Ipswich Theme
Strengthening our local economy and building prosperity
Purpose of Report/Background
The purpose of this report is for Council to again formally recognise the importance of the Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
Both Chambers of Commerce provide valued support to their membership bases and strong advocacy for the City of Ipswich as a whole.
Council’s 2020-2021 agreements with the Chambers outline partnerships focused on providing support, education and networking opportunities for more of the region’s local businesses than Ipswich City Council could deliver on its own.
For example, some of the activities to be delivered by the Chambers of Commerce partnership agreements before 30 June 2021 (subject to COVID19 restrictions) include:
· Small Business Expo
· Small Business Innovation Program
· Ipswich City Small Business Growth Summit
· Joint venture programs to benefit local businesses
Therefore the region will see more events and more programs aimed at small businesses and local businesses with the partnership agreements in place.
The partnership agreements and the ongoing relationship with the Chambers of Commerce will be managed by Council’s Coordinator – Local Business and Investment Ralph Breaden and Manager – Economic and Community Development Cat Matson.
Legal/Policy Basis
This report and its recommendations are consistent with the following legislative provisions:
Not Applicable
RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
There are no risk management implications associated with this report.
Financial/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
The final arrangements and financial commitments are a result of direct negotiation with both Chambers in relation to their priorities and preferences:
· Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce - $22,000
· Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce - $17,044.50
COMMUNITY and OTHER CONSULTATION
The Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
Conclusion
The Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce are key drivers of local business and economic development.
To maximise the resources being applied to local business development, Council has renewed its formal relationship with both Chambers via partnership agreements for the 2020-2021 financial year.
Ralph Breaden
Coordinator - Local Business and Investment
I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.
Cat Matson
Manager, Economic and Community Development
I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.
Ben Pole
General Manager - Community, Cultural and Economic Development
“Together, we proudly enhance the quality of life for our community”
Mentions: Ipswich · Springfield · Rosewood
Source: Ipswich City Council meeting agenda (CC BY 4.0).