CABINET/LEADER

PART II

REVIEW OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC STRATEGY

On 26 September 2005, the Cabinet considered a report detailing a major, region-wide exercise to assist the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) with its review of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES). The RES is a statutory plan of some significance as it sets out priorities for achieving sustainable economic development by way of specific actions by the Regional Development Agency under its various investment programmes and its involvement in the development of other strategies, such as the Regional Housing and Regional Transport Strategies.

The aim of the current RES, published in 2002, is that by 2012 the South East will be recognised as one of the world's top performing regional economies as measured against a broad range of economic, social and environment indicators. It promotes five priorities for action: competitive business, successful people, vibrant communities, effective infrastructure; and sustainable use of natural resources.


In considering how the RES should be developed the Cabinet stressed the importance of the review being incorporated into the work being undertaken in respect of the South East Plan, and were of the view that the success of both would be dependent on infrastructure needs being adequately addressed and the commitment of the stakeholders. Welcoming the opportunity to influence the outcome of the review the Cabinet made the following decisions in support of Aims 2, 4 and 5 of the Corporate Strategy (Stewardship of the environment; Building strong and safe communities; and Improving services) by helping to ensure that Hampshire's economic prosperity, and all the benefits that accrue from a healthy economy, are reflected in the new Strategy:

That the Cabinet informs the South East England Development Agency that, without prejudice to any detailed comments that Hampshire County Council might wish to make on the Review of the Regional Economic Strategy, which was published on 16 November 2005, it:

(i) notes the South East England Development Agency's extensive stakeholder approach to the review of the Regional Economic Strategy;

(ii) considers that the priorities in the current Regional Economic Strategy: competitive business; successful people; vibrant communities; effective infrastructure; and sustainable use of natural resources, remain pertinent to the sustainable development of the regional economy taking account of the environmental compatibility in relation to quality of life;

(iii) would support and welcome initiatives that recognise the increasing number and variety of business opportunities arising from the sustainable use of natural resources;

(iv) considers that the Regional Economic Strategy should fit within the development framework established in the South East Plan and therefore expects the Review to make it clear how the emerging Plan has influenced the strategy, particularly in relation to the link between sustainable economic growth and housing;

(v) suggests that the Review should clearly differentiate the roles of individual County Council's and sub-regions in contributing towards the overall achievement of sustainable development;

(vi) would like to see a review and rationalisation of the roles of the various stakeholders in the implementation of the strategy; and

(vii) suggests that the Review clearly differentiates between stakeholder and public aspirations.