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| BATH STREET, ILKESTON |
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| STATION ROAD, SANDIACRE |
The new Erewash economic development strategy is now stuck in limbo. The old one is out of date and the Tories can't agree on a new one. As usual dithering is their most developed attribute. According to their published plans the new strategy was due to be put before the Council Executive this month following a period of consultation. So far nothing has materialised. With Erewash suffering high levels of unemployment and with acres of derelict land crying out to be brought back into use, Tory Erewash just haven't a clue.
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| IDLE STANTON LAND |
So far Erewash Partnership have acted as an economic development fig leaf for Erewash Council to cover up the lack of commitment, staff and financial resources provided directly by the Borough for economic development. However the Partnership has put it's own staff on short time just when local businesses most need support. They are running out of cash and their own survival is at risk if more finance isn't found soon. Meanwhile Erewash are dithering over how to shape the updated economic development strategy. The stumbling blocks are both ideas and resources. Firstly they haven't got a clue and secondly they want someone else to fund everything. Which in this economic climate is just not going to happen. The Borough needs to put substantial funds into the process of positively driving local economic growth, if it really wants to make a difference. The dithering needs to stop and strong action is called for sooner rather than later.
The Canadian have what they call Community Economic development ( CED )
ReplyDelete…. and I quote :-
“ CED is the process by which local people build organizations and partnerships that interconnect profitable business with other interests and values - for example, skills and education, health, housing, and the environment. In CED a lot more people get involved, describing how the community should change. A lot more organizations look for ways to make their actions and investments reinforce the wishes and intentions of the whole community. Business becomes a means to accumulate wealth and to make the local way of life more creative, inclusive, and sustainable - now and 20 or 30 years from now.
At its most effective, CED is characterized by :-
+ a multi-functional, comprehensive strategy of on-going activities, in contrast to individual economic development projects or other isolated attempts at community betterment.
+ an integration or merging of economic and social goals to bring about more far-reaching community revitalization.
+ a base of operating principles that enable a broad range of residents to assume responsibility in the governance of development organizations and in the community as a whole.
+ a process guided by strategic planning and analysis, in contrast to opportunistic and unsystematic tactics.
+ a businesslike financial management approach that builds both ownership of assets and a diverse range of financial and other partners and supporters.
+ an organizational format that is non-profit, independent, and non-governmental, even though for-profit or governmental entities are closely linked to its work. “
The Tory problem of inactivity and indecision I fear it the 'blame mentality' that is so rife in today's business world. “ Who can we blame as long as it's not my company, my department or at the very least not ME ! “
From many of your past blogs Howard it is clear the people of Erewash have all but given up in a sense of pride for the area in which they live & work. Trust in politician's, especially at the national level, has fallen considerably and even at the local level many, I fear, think councillors are 'in it for their own good'.
Continued inactivity and indecision, when the problems & sometimes the solutions are in clear sight ( for those who care to look ), only fuel the idea that those in charge at the Town Hall just don't care !