New Economic Duty

Delivering economic development and the implications of the new duty

Synopsis:

This module will use the proposed new duty on local authorities to “assess local economic conditions” as the hook for a broader discussion on how to deliver economic development through the new local government performance framework.

It will look at the background to the emerging focus on economic development; what successful local economic development means in practice; what impact the duty could have, on different types of authority (the act will apply primarily to upper-tire authorities); and some of the challenges and practical levers for local partners, including elected members, to driving the economic development agenda.

Objectives:

By the end of the event, members will have:

• Been brought up to speed on the latest government proposals and consultation on the new “duty to assess” and how that fits into the broader post-SNR agenda
• Identified what economic development means in the local context of the South East;
• Explored some of the practical challenges around local economic development, drawing on previous experience of the LAA “fourth block” on economic development e.g. getting the governance arrangements right, and attracting private sector interest; and
• Strengthened their understanding of how they, in their community leadership role, can help strengthen local economic development.