The Regional Minister used SEEDA’s Annual Open Public Meeting to launch the new Council, which will support the Regional Economic Council recently established by the Prime Minister and chaired by the Chancellor.
The South East Economic Delivery Council is expected to meet every six to eight weeks and be jointly chaired by Jonathan Shaw and the SEEDA Chair, James Brathwaite (until the end of 2008). Members will come from across other regional agencies, and will include business leaders, to agree collective action on specific local issues which are affected by wider economic conditions.
The Council will provide a forum to feed local intelligence into the Regional Economic Council and the Council of Regional Ministers, which is chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Liam Byrne.
South East Regional Minister, Jonathan Shaw, said:
“The government has recognised the need of a new approach to coordinating economic policy in the light of the current downturn, and as such I am delighted to announce the creation of a new South East Economic Delivery Council.
“As joint Chair I will be looking forward to bringing together the South East’s key economic players to address issues of regional importance. I envisage the Council being a key forum for our region to feedback to central government.”
SEEDA Chair, James Brathwaite, said:
“We very much welcome the creation of the South East Economic Delivery Council to support the government and SEEDA in addressing the current economic challenges.
“The Regional Minister and SEEDA have listened carefully to local business people to understand what is happening on the ground. Right now our priority is to help businesses ride out the storm, prepare for tougher times, and emerge stronger for the upturn. We will be helping small businesses through improved Business Link services, brokering deals, bringing in investment, avoiding redundancies, and helping businesses innovate.”
For more information contact Mark Fenwick, COI News and PR, on 020 7261 8541 / 07990 795 557 or email: mark.fenwick@coi.gsi.gov.uk
