Shropshire Council’s Commercial Strategy is approved at Cabinet

A new strategy which sets out Shropshire Council’s ambition to be enterprising and commercially-focused was approved by Cabinet on Wednesday 1 March 2017. 

The Commercial Strategy 2017-2021 is one of three new, key strategies which underpin the council’s new focus on economic growth, commercialism and investment. 

All have the same underlying objective: to become more financially sustainable – something that is vital as money gets tighter and demand on services, such as adult social care, increases. 

The Commercial Strategy outlines how the council proposes to do this, as well as how it intends to empower its staff to be more commercial, to ensure that it continues to deliver high quality services as efficiently and effectively as possible. 

Michael Wood, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for corporate support, said: 

“The Commercial Strategy is an important part of our plans for sustainability.  

“We’ve said time and time again that, whilst we shall continue to advocate to the Government for a fairer and better funding deal for the county, we recognise that we must take more control of our own destiny and become a more commercially-focused and financially sustainable council. 

“This is where the strategy comes in: it sets out some ambitious objectives, redefining the way the council and many of the services provided are delivered. 

“It sits alongside the draft Economy Growth Strategy and forms part of an overarching plan to ensure the council offers value for money for residents, by delivering efficiencies and commercial benefits of planned and existing assets.”