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V28-21 : CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS

The Chairman gave his thoughts on the role and priorities for the Panel. The Panel had a broad remit and would take a strategic view on issues. Some members could choose to specialise on certain issues, but to attempt to address all initiatives would not be practical.

The strategic vision would encompass Economic Regeneration, the Environment and Sustainability, a strategy for the Local Plan, and Best Value, especially as Economic Development was being reviewed in June. Aims and objectives needed to be defined, and hopefully achieved by the end of the Council year and it was up to the Panel to get things started. In order to achieve this, task force type groups would need to be set up, encompassing the best people from across the Departments, although the Chairman recognised that multi-disciplinary teams were often a challenge for the professional well versed in his own field.

The Chairman listed a number of items that needed to be addressed as a priority. Every effort was needed to pull in as many projects for European Objective 2 funding as possible. The Assisted Area Status had to be exploited to the full, which would involve linkage with Great Yarmouth Borough Council. Review of large developments such as the present South Beach scheme would form part of the remit, but also smaller SRB schemes for the market towns. On inward investment, it was essential to link with the other agencies working in the field. The Chairman envisaged a `Member-led' set up, which would involve Councillors in more work than the old style Committee system; officers advice would obviously be utilised, and more Working Parties would evolve. Above all, the Council had to be seen to be pro- Europe and pro-active.

A member questioned whether leadership on inward investment would come from the Panel. The Chairman felt the Panel would take responsibility wherever possible, but in relationship with the Suffolk Development Agency (SDA) and East of England Development Agency (EEDA). The Chief Executive would provide a report on how the hierarchy operated, including definitions on thresholds etc. The Chief Executive reminded members that inward investment was presently less than 5% of the Economic Development Unit's work.

Members advised a note of caution that the resources of the Unit must not be overstretched on apparently minor matters, although no issue could be overlooked. The Chairman advised that Personnel would be running seminars on important issues, whilst topics of interest could also be the subject of a half-hour session at the start of each meeting.

Volume 28 Minute 21

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