The Chamber will wish to monitor and review the implementation of the action plans in partnership with the District Council. To this end it seems appropriate to suggest a timetable of activity to ensure the Chamber is involved in identifying the issues on which consultation of future economic strategies is based. I repeat the suggestion we made last year for some joint activity in reviewing this work. Commentary The following comments are based on each of the seven objectives in the current plan. There is a need to ensure that the base information about the economic structure of the district is available and accessible by existing and potential businesses.
Work needs to be completed on the inward investment portfolio.
Each ward in the district has problems and opportunities that are unique to that ward. Council members, local business people and residents need to meet together at least once a year to discuss what needs to be done to improve the attractiveness and economic prosperity of their area. There is a significant shortage of labour and appropriate skills in the area. The membership of the Area Partnership Group needs to be reviewed and include more business people. Much of the solution for labour shortage rests with the problems associated with the development of a sound transport policy for the area.