Councils ‘must back business’ – Wright
THE executive director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has urged local politicians to focus on growth after next month’s elections.
Richard Wright set out the Chamber’s manifesto of what business is looking for from councils in the area which includes a demand that councillors take a longer term view of initiatives to stimulate growth.
It also calls for councils to ensure that the city region’s new local enterprise partnership delivers for business.
He said: “Most of all we need them to show leadership that manifests itself in partnership working, in a longer term approach to growth, and early and real consultation as we seek ever more efficient ways of achieving more but with reduced budgets.
“Business needs to be part of the solution, not the victim, but for probably the first time there is recognition that a public/private sector partnership is probably the only way of competing in a truly international world.
“We challenge the next administration to work in partnership with other administrations in the LEP and with the private sector. It is outcomes that are important – not process and outputs.”
The Chamber is pressing councils to continue the collective working that saw the Government approve £18m in funding for a new link road to Robin Hood Airport and to be united in their backing for the planned new high speed rail line.
