Decision details

Economic Recovery & Growth: Enhancing Delivery

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Consideration by Cabinet for additional investment in economic growth and skills activity to support the County's economy.

Decisions:

 

“It is a county council priority to support the Staffordshire economy, so our communities have increased opportunities through better paid, better skilled jobs. Our role is to attract major investment – ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place for new and existing business, as well as a skilled workforce and an ideal environment to start and nourish new enterprise.

 

Additional investment will enhance the successful work we have already carried out, particularly as our economy recovers from the pandemic. We remain committed to ensuring there is the right balance between our rural and urban areas and crucially to work in close partnership with our district and borough councils”.

 

Cllr Philip White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills

 

Reasons for the Decision – To consider how the additional £1m per annum budget to support local business has been used over the last 12 months; and, for future years, how it will support economic growth, in particular, the areas where this money will help expedite the delivery of the Council’s economic priorities, as set out in the strategic plan.

 

Decision – (a) That the key priorities for delivery be confirmed as:

 

(i)                Supporting the regeneration and transformation of our town centres.

(ii)               Enabling infrastructure for economic growth through ready to fund projects.

(iii)              Developing and implementing programmes which will make Staffordshire one of the best places to start-up or step up in business.

(iv)             Having a high skilled, better paid workforce.

(v)               A50/A500 Strategic Investment Corridor, realising opportunities it presents through innovative and sustainable growth.

(vi)             Activities to be underpinned by the drive for Net Zero Carbon.

 

(b) That the use of the £1M p.a., as set out in Table 1 in paragraph 13 of the report, be supported.

 

(c) That authority be delegated to the Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, to move resources between activities as required to meet changing requirements (within the budget envelope).

Report author: Anthony Hodge

Publication date: 20/01/2022

Date of decision: 19/01/2022

Decided at meeting: 19/01/2022 - Cabinet

Effective from: 26/01/2022

Accompanying Documents: