I am writing in response to last week’s front page story in The Voice in order to correct opinions that were expressed by Phil Scarlett, president of Spalding and District Area Chamber of Commerce.
To be fair to Phil, his comments may have been made without knowledge of the full picture but I do need to correct the impression that his incorrect comments may have given.
I can categorically state that economic development is a key part of the council’s strategy going forward.
An underpinning element of our new Corporate Plan is “to encourage the local economy to be vibrant with continued growth”.
I am pleased that the restructure will be completed with no compulsory redundancies within economic development.
The new management structure which can be viewed on www.brecklandsholland.com reflects the council’s aims with a department focussed on commercialisation and an increased number of management posts with responsibility for economic development (for example Shared Executive Manager for income and prosperity and Inward Investment Managers at both South Holland and Breckland Councils).
Phil also presumed that current economic development projects would be “put on the backburner”.
Nothing could be further from the truth. In addition to our Grants4Growth programme, introductory reduced rent periods and work to establish the Spalding Town Centre Manager and Management Board we are committed to working with partners to increase access to technological infrastructure, increasing inward investment through partnerships and develop an “open for business” approach across all council services.
Our chief executive has created a new structure that will meet these aims and puts the challenges and opportunities of increasing local economic activity at the very heart of everything the council does.
Coun Nick Worth
South Holland District Council
