Business leaders praise Shropshire Council’s plans for the future
Some of Shropshire’s leading businesspeople have praised Shropshire Council’s plans to protect and improve public services in the face of budget cuts and the need to make further savings.
To make its funding go further, Shropshire Council has set up a new trading company – ip&e – that will provide public services on the council’s behalf, and invest any profits back into service provision.
At a recent meeting of Shropshire’s Business Ambassadors, council leader Keith Barrow and operations director Clive Wright outlined their vision for the future of the council and the county – including ip&e – and those at the meeting welcomed what they had heard.
Robin Morris, from Morris & Co in Shrewsbury, said:
“I left the Shropshire Ambassadors meeting feeling genuinely inspired by the impressive progress being made by Shropshire Council on so many fronts: the enthusiasm to work in close partnership with businesses; the smart thinking and common sense approach they have applied to joining up departmental intel; delivering economies of scale, and generally changing the culture from one of constant reporting to one of positive action and delivery.
“It is so refreshing to see such successful outcomes made possible by less time caught up in bureaucracy and red tape, and more time doing the satisfying work of on-the-ground delivery.”
Duncan Gray, from Muller Dairy (UK) Ltd in Market Drayton, said:
“At the Shropshire Ambassadors meeting I was very impressed by the way in which Shropshire Council have embraced the need for culture change and the enthusiasm and determination that they have for this sizeable task.
“I was also impressed by the way they are going about it – engaging their people out on the ‘coalface’ in an effort to find better ways to do things and cut through bureaucracy in the system.
“I’m sure there will be enthusiasm from all involved, as everyone will be invited to take complexity out and increase the output and quality.
“The ip&e concept is a bold initiative looking to optimise and exploit further the skills and knowledge in the council organisation. The leadership team should be applauded for their proactive response to the challenges they face.”
Howard Thorne, from Shropshire Homes Limited, based at Cross Houses near Shrewsbury, said:
“I am very impressed by the imaginative and innovative ways in which Shropshire Council is approaching the fundamental challenges it faces. The ip&e concept is an exciting one which aims to harness the skills and initiative of the private sector to deliver services in a much more cost-effective and efficient manner. It is heartening to see the emphasis on outcomes and customer satisfaction.”
Shaun Carvill, from Clickingmad Ltd of Bridgnorth, said:
“I applaud the efforts that the council are taking to improve their financial and organisational position. Being more commercially aware and cutting the long-term red tape will only serve to enhance the quality of service for Shropshire residents and businesses.
“I am sure that the staff of the council will also benefit by the reduction of demarcation, and the freedoms provided to them by a change in long-entrenched inefficient systems and procedures.
“Keep up the good work for the benefit of all in Shropshire.”
Mandy Thorn from Marches Care Ltd in Shrewsbury, who is also Chair of the Shropshire Business Board, said:
“As chair of the Shropshire Business Board I have been impressed that Shropshire Council is seeking to engage with the private and community sectors to ensure that it can deliver its key services in a more innovative and cost-effective manner. The council is constantly looking to innovate and develop partnership approaches to ensure it provides quality services.”
Ann Johnson, Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses Shropshire, said:
“The presentation from Keith Barrow gave much promise for clear actions to tackle the economic development of Shropshire; announcing plans not for simply cutting back services, but for developing a clear growth strategy which should do much for ensuring that Shropshire is put on a path of recovery through partnership with the public and private sector, through innovative approaches to council services, and a pledge to work closer with the private sector in designing change.”
Caroline Dalton from Tanners Wines in Shrewsbury, said:
“Having had ip&e explained by Keith Barrow, it seems an excellent initiative enabling Shropshire Council to sell services to other councils.
“If it helps to freeze our council tax bills for that much longer it must be a good thing.”
Tudor Griffiths, from Tudor Griffiths Group Ltd in Ellesmere, said:
“I have been a Shropshire Business Ambassador for five years, and more recently I have also joined the Business Board.
“I come from a private family company background, and historically I had always been sceptical about involving myself in the public sector or making a commitment with regard to a role in local government or a similar organisation.
“However, having heard Keith Barrow’s vision for the future of our county and having gained some insight into the type of proposals that the council were seeking to initiate, I had a change of mind and became sufficiently impressed to become part of it.
“This was four years ago, and I never conceived that we would still be in the midst of the European recession.
“In tough times, very challenging decisions need to be made, and Shropshire Council has delivered by not increasing council tax and by reducing millions of pounds from its budget, without impacting on crucial frontline services.
“I have listened to Keith and Clive set out their objectives and aspirations for the new company, and I am quite certain that we are in safe hands in that the council have a solid and coherent strategy to sustain and take forward the whole community.
“I am backing Shropshire to succeed with this new venture, which should protect all the services that the population depend on from our council.”
Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, said:
“With money being tight, we need to change the way we work so that we can continue to provide people with the services they need.
“It was great to have the chance to outline and explain our vision for the future to some of Shropshire’s leading business men and women.
“I’m really pleased that our plans have been so warmly welcomed by the business ambassadors. To have their endorsement is really important, and I thank them for their feedback and comments.”
The Shropshire Business Ambassador scheme was launched in 2007 and now has 25 members. Each has been selected on the basis of their profile in Shropshire and, in some cases, in the national or international business world, and through having expressed a keen interest in promoting Shropshire.