5 July 2011. Brighton & Hove City Council Leader Bill Randall today called for a summit with the city’s business leaders to develop a new economic strategy for the city.
Cllr Randall is also leader of the Green group of councillors. He said: “We are working on a programme of initiatives to improve the local economy and we want to work with the city’s business leaders to strengthen our city economic strategy.
“Not only is the existing economic strategy out of date but new threats and opportunities have presented themselves.
“This summit will take into account the global recession and the massive public spending cuts we face as we look forward to the economic recovery and to safeguard our long term success.
Cllr Randall intends to broker a city-wide consensus to kick-start the council’s priorities which include making Brighton and Hove the UK ’s greenest city through sustainable economic development.
The strategy will create jobs by attracting new businesses as well as retaining and growing those already in the city. This will help forge economic recovery and help the city to make the transition to a thriving low carbon economy, attracting investment and enabling business to compete in the burgeoning climate change sector.
Cllr Randall's comments follow the State of the City report, which found the city had a strong economy that is buoyed by a healthy entrepreneurial spirit and a high number of businesses per person.
The report revealed that significant numbers of private sector jobs are being created and there is also a thriving local and organic food sector. The economy is also boosted by eight million visitors each year.
An HSBC report recently described Brighton & Hove as the 'capital of the UK 's rebellious alternative economy' and one of the seven ‘super cities that’ will lead the UK out of the recession.
The success of the city's creative industries and digital sector has contributed to the city taking this title and the role of the two universities has meant a constant supply of well-educated residents.
Cllr Randall said: “We want to galvanise the city to showcase what we have to offer, working towards development certainty and creating investment confidence.
“We aim to promote the theme of a green & low carbon city as part of the drive to make the city the UK ’s greenest.”
Cllr Randall became leader of the council when Greens became the largest group in the council after local elections in May this year.
Business Pofile
The council is committed to supporting the city’s 13,400 small businesses, of which 86 per cent employ fewer than 10 people, while responding to concerns about the impact of multinationals
Two major developments in the city include American Express’ European Headquarters and the Brighton & Hove Community Stadium – both of which will provide huge boosts to the city’s economy
The council’s Local Employment Scheme aims to increase employment and training opportunities for local people who want to work in the construction industry. It also provides support to local building firms in order to secure contracts on large developments, and to assist developers and contractors with their workforce needs.
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