Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

How do we get there?
Leadership, governance
and delivery
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Throughout these changes it is important that economic development
strategy and delivery arrangements are based upon:
• a concerted focus on improved economic performance
• the political leadership and democratic mandate of local authority
members
• a strong partnership ethos, harnessing the different ideas, skills and
resources of a wide range of public, private and third-sector players
• the opportunities and challenges of globalisation and supporting the
region’s comparative advantages in international markets
• greater opportunities for the business community to shape local and
regional economic policy and action
• a recognition of real economic geographies and the need to address
the significant differences in economic, social and environmental
circumstances across the region
• robust evidence, with a clear understanding of market opportunities,
failures and the potential impacts of different investment choices
• effectiveness and efficiency in using public sector expenditure and
leveraging private sector finance
• the premise that predictability and certainty are vital for business
competitiveness – to this end implementation of the RES must be
based on a clear framework that avoids proliferation of initiatives – for
instance, through an agreed Business Support Simplification
Programme framework in the East of England and avoiding significant
variations in local business rates or tariffs
• greater local and regional freedoms and flexibilities, to address the
specific economic drivers and issues in the East of England – with
delegation of resources to the most appropriate level for delivery.
East of England Implementation Plan
The draft RES sought partners’ views on an initial delivery framework and
proposed actions. Subsequently, the Regional Partnership Group, the East
of England Regional Assembly (EERA), EEDA Board and Strategy
Committee have approved a proposal to take forward a joint implementation
plan for the regional economic and spatial strategies. The RSS and RES
have now been adopted and set the spatial and economic context for
sustainable development over the next 15 to 20 years. Given that the
spatial strategy and the economic strategy are interdependent, there are
clear benefits in preparing a joint RES-RSS implementation plan.
The East of England Implementation Plan will be developed with partners
and stakeholders. It will define a prioritised, phased and resourced
programme to deliver the two leading regional strategies and aligned
local objectives.
The plan will set out an important framework for how the region can best
use investment and strategic programmes to support the changes facing
localities and communities in the region, and to ensure they continue to
thrive, are vibrant and sustainable. Existing prioritisation processes will
provide inputs to the plan, as will the strategies and evidence of local
authorities and sub-regional partners. Preparation of the plan will require
engagement with the private sector and local communities to reflect local
and stakeholder needs.