Issue - meetings

Civic University Agreement

Meeting: 08/07/2021 - Executive (Item 71)

71 Exeter Civic University Agreement pdf icon PDF 248 KB

To consider the report of the Chief Executive & Growth Director.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

 

(1)        the adoption of the Exeter Civic University Agreement; and

 

(2)        that further amendments to the Exeter Civic University Agreement be delegated to the Chief Executive & Growth Director in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report on the Exeter Civic University Agreement (CUA), which would formalise Exeter City Council’s future relationship with the University of Exeter and endorse formal arrangements with both the University and other key agencies in the city.

 

The Chief Executive & Growth Director stated that the Agreement was a significant statement of the University’s commitment to its role in the life of the city. The University was a major educational institution internationally, having achieved recent ascendancy in world rankings, with the new Vice Chancellor seeking to build on this success. Fundamental to these aspirations was to ensure that the University also played a full role and makes a positive impact on the city and the region.

 

The Chief Executive emphasised the importance of the city’ major institutions working with the Council to complement and enhance the aspirations of the 2040 Vision for the city to deliver key outcomes to make the city more inclusive, sustainable, healthier and delivering a world class education. The commitment and role of Exeter University was key. The University offered world class science and medical research and this expertise not only impacted locally in terms of the Council’s Net Zero and Health and Wellbeing initiatives but was also helping build the city’s prestige on the world stage. The agreement was a major step forward and would enable Exeter University to work with the Council to support wellbeing and the Net Zero agenda.

 

During the discussion the following points were made:-

 

·        the importance of acknowledging the University’s role in the life of the city such as providing job opportunities for graduates who wished to remain in the south west;

·        the importance of developing further the relationships between the Council and all major institutions in the city, needed to be welcomed;

·        the need for residents to respond to the recent University questionnaire sent to Exeter’s residents asking if people feel connected to the University; and

·        welcoming the various strands within the Agreement including health and well-being, culture and tourism.

 

In response to a question from a Member, the Chief Executive & Growth Director, stated that various committees would be quickly established to develop the strands within the Agreement and that the document was shortly to be put to the Exeter College Council for adoption.

 

The Chair highlighted the five priority areas set out in the Agreement, which reflected the ambitions of the City Council:-

 

·        Support the sustainable and inclusive growth of the city;

·        Deliver a Net Zero Exeter;

·        Build a city of Aspiration and Opportunity;

·        Support an ambitious culture and tourism offer; and

·        Enhance the Health and Wellbeing of our citizens

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

 

(1)        the adoption of the Exeter Civic University Agreement; and

 

(2)        that further amendments to the Exeter Civic University Agreement be delegated to the Chief Executive & Growth Director in consultation with the Leader of the Council.