The Placemaking, Economy and Sustainable Communities Policy and Scrutiny Committee of North Somerset Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday 05 November 2026. The meeting's agenda includes updates on the council's financial performance, economic growth, placemaking initiatives, climate emergency action plan, and its potential membership of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). The committee will also review its own work plan for the coming months.

Finance and Performance Update 2026-27

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the financial performance of the Healthy & Sustainable Communities (HSC) directorate for the 2026-27 financial year, based on figures from the end of September 2026. The report indicates a projected net overspend of £216,000 against a gross expenditure budget of £12,088,000. This overspend is attributed to various factors, including income shortfalls in areas such as Building Control and Regulatory Services, alongside additional professional fees within Planning. The report also details progress against key actions within the Annual Directorate Statement, using frameworks for Corporate Plan Actions and the Strategic Risk Register. The council's commitment to achieving net zero by 2030 is noted as a challenge, with a new, achievable target to be considered. The report highlights that underspends or overspends on public health budgets will impact public health reserves, rather than the council's general fund. Looking ahead, the HSC directorate faces significant savings targets for the 2027-28 to 2029-30 period. Key financial risks identified include income volatility in demand-led services, delivery of future savings plans, and the ability to recruit and retain suitably qualified staff. The report also outlines the performance of Corporate Plan actions within the committee's remit, with one action rated as Amber/Red and one as Red. The Strategic Risk Register shows one residual risk classified as High. The report is available in the Public reports pack Public reports pack 05th-Nov-2026 10.00 Placemaking Economy and Sustainable Communities Policy an.pdf.

Economic Growth Plan 2025-2035: Progress Update and Scrutiny Review

This report will provide an update on the first year of the North Somerset Economic Growth Plan 2025-2035. The plan is structured around three themes: People (skills, employability, inclusion), Pro-Business (business growth, innovation, investment), and Place (creating attractive and sustainable places). Overall delivery is described as positive, with 16 out of 22 measurable actions actively progressing. Achievements include reductions in economic inactivity and improved youth participation in education and employment, alongside the mobilisation of the Epic socio-economic programme. However, challenges remain, including lagging productivity, declining business births and density, and persistent deprivation in certain communities. The report seeks feedback on the proposed direction for years two and three of the plan, and on the allocation of resources. It also highlights opportunities and risks associated with future funding and the transition to full membership of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). Specific areas of concern include the sustainability of employability provision, limited progress on higher education expansion, and the impact of reduced funding for business support. The report is available in the Public reports pack Public reports pack 05th-Nov-2026 10.00 Placemaking Economy and Sustainable Communities Policy an.pdf.

Placemaking Updates

This report provides the latest updates on placemaking programmes, with a particular focus on Weston-super-Mare, which has benefited from significant government funding. Key projects in Weston include the £25 million Improving Weston programme, which has seen the completion of refurbishments to high street units, Marine Lake, Grove Park, and wayfinding. Remaining projects include the restoration of Birnbeck Pier and the Tropicana. The report also details the successful ballot for a fourth term of the Weston Business Improvement District (BID) and the impending closure of the BID scheme in Clevedon. For other areas of North Somerset, funding and staff resources for placemaking are described as extremely limited, with new initiatives primarily reliant on external funding. Opportunities may arise through WECA membership and emerging government initiatives focused on neighbourhoods. The report is available in the Public reports pack Public reports pack 05th-Nov-2026 10.00 Placemaking Economy and Sustainable Communities Policy an.pdf.

Climate Emergency Action Plan Update

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP), reviewing the Council's alignment with and progress against recommendations from the Climate Change Committee's (CCC) report on the Seventh Carbon Budget. The CCC report highlights the need for rapid electrification of heat, transport, and industry, alongside energy efficiency improvements. Local authorities are identified as having roles in direct delivery, local leadership, and enabling action by residents and businesses. The report will assess North Somerset Council's (NSC) strategies and policies against these recommendations, identifying potential key priorities for the next 12-24 months. These include strengthening director-led reporting on areas such as procurement and fleet, embedding climate impacts in council reports, adopting the Local Plan with supporting activities, and progressing proposals for renewable energy schemes like the Avoncrest PV project. The report also emphasises the importance of lobbying government and WECA for enabling policies and funding, and embedding carbon reduction in partnerships. The report is available in the Public reports pack Public reports pack 05th-Nov-2026 10.00 Placemaking Economy and Sustainable Communities Policy an.pdf.

WECA Membership and Workstreams Update

This report will update the committee on the progress of North Somerset Council's potential membership of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). It will cover the legislative process, WECA's status as an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA), and the authority's change programme and committee structures. The report outlines NSC's suggested high-level priorities for membership, which include creating local jobs, improving transport connectivity, ensuring fairer growth, strengthening towns and places, fostering partnership, and keeping the benefits of growth local. Two Growth Zones within North Somerset, the Severn Estuary Growth Zone and the North Somerset Growth Gateway, are highlighted as key areas for coordinated planning and investment. The report also details progress on measures to improve visibility and engagement with WECA, including making WECA engagement a standing item on committee agendas. The workstreams most relevant to this committee include economic development and regeneration, skills and employment, housing and strategic planning, environment and climate, culture, rural and coastal affairs, and public safety. The committee is asked to provide feedback on its priorities for membership and the desired frequency and format of future WECA updates. The report is available in the Public reports pack Public reports pack 05th-Nov-2026 10.00 Placemaking Economy and Sustainable Communities Policy an.pdf and the accompanying briefing note on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 is also provided.

PESC Work Plan November 2026

The committee will review and update its work plan for the 2026-2027 year. The overarching objectives for the committee include oversight of the Local Plan process, the Infrastructure Development Plan, policies on social housing and housing energy standards, the development of the Tropicana and Birnbeck Pier, joint working with the Corporate Assets, Transport and Environment Committee on transport strategy and WECA membership, and the further development of the Climate Change emergency plan. The work plan details planned committee working groups, briefings, workshops, and agenda reports for upcoming meetings. The report is available in the Public reports pack Public reports pack 05th-Nov-2026 10.00 Placemaking Economy and Sustainable Communities Policy an.pdf.