Consultation starts into Shropshire’s new economic growth strategy

A new strategy which sets out Shropshire Council’s commitment and ambition to grow the local economy of the county has gone out to consultation this week (week commencing 13 March 2017).

The aim of the draft economic growth strategy is to provide the vision and ambition that will direct the actions the council will take to achieve increased economic productivity and a prosperous and resilient economy.

The draft strategy has taken into account the recently commissioned work with economic and social policy specialist consultants IPPR North to develop a new economic vision, alongside the council’s own corporate plan and vision to ‘make Shropshire a great place to live, learn and work’.

It also links into and informs the Marches LEP Strategic Economic Plan, the West Midlands Combined Authority Strategic Economic Plan and the national economic picture, in particular the modern Industrial Strategy for the UK.

The consultation runs for seven weeks from Monday 13 March to Friday 28 April 2017.

To take part in the consultation, people are asked to read the draft strategy on the Shropshire Council website – click here – then complete a short online survey or provide feedback by email to bigconversation@shropshire.gov.uk.

Shropshire Council officers will also be visiting different stakeholder groups and attending a range of meetings during the consultation period.

Feedback received will be used to develop the final strategy and development on an action plan, which will be updated annually.

Gemma Davies, Shropshire Council’s head of economic growth, said:

“As a council, we recognise that we have a key role to play in supporting and developing economic growth across Shropshire for the benefit of businesses, residents and our communities.

“Developing a clear economic vision and strategy is a key milestone in setting out the council’s ambition to grow the local economy – one of the key objectives of the corporate plan.

“The draft strategy sets out three key objectives to drive economic productivity: to support and grow existing businesses, increase new investment and develop and retain skills and talent in the county.

“Economic growth is also a key financial tool for our own sustainability as a council given the reductions in funding from central government and our ability to retain more business rates locally to support services in the future.

“We have a key opportunity to use our own investment power and assets, our services and influences to maximise economic growth and, importantly, to create the environment for the private sector to succeed in Shropshire. Enabling and facilitating the businesses and investment to flourish in the county is an important part of our role and route to successful economic productivity.”

The economic growth strategy is one of three new, key strategies which underpin Shropshire Council’s new focus on economic growth, commercialism and investment.

Further information

The draft economic growth strategy says that:

“Our vision is for Shropshire to be an excellent location in which to do business, renowned for the pool of talent among its people and widely respected for its ability to attract investment. We will maximise our full economic potential and fully utilise our high quality assets to generate growth and increase productivity.”