Heseltine to outline how Birmingham will implement his economic review
A BLUEPRINT for the future economic development of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull area is set to be unveiled today.
The blueprint is based on the findings of Lord Heseltine’s No Stone Unturned review, which was launched in Birmingham in the autumn.
The review recommends the decentralisation of powers to the regions with Local Enterprise Partnerships together with other key stakeholders taking on added responsibilities for determining policy.
Birmingham has been selected to spearhead a pilot project to determine how the recommendations might work in practice. Should the three-month long project be a success – and it already has the blessing of Prime Minister David Cameron – then it could eventually lead to millions of pounds worth of regeneration cash being pumped into the city and surrounding areas.
Lord Heseltine, together with Cities Minister Greg Clark and Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP chairman Andy Street are appearing at today’s launch to outline to business leaders how the approach could work and how an enhanced strategy could be rolled out nationwide.
A statement from the LEP said: “This event marks the launch of a three month review to identify the economic dividend which could be available to the City Region if we were to seize the opportunities presented. The expectation is that the review will provide a model which could also be applied in other LEPs, and as such it is supported by Government.”
Mr Street added: “We must present a compelling case to Government to show the economic dividend that Greater Birmingham could derive if the Heseltine recommendations were implemented.
“The onus is now on us, over the next three months, to demonstrate further that we can maximise the potential of this important opportunity.
“It is an opportunity we are determined to seize.”
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group, one of the stakeholders taking part in the project, said it too was looking forward to participating and was up for “radical action” in order to make the strategy work.
