Bradford Council's Executive will be asked to approve a plan that brings together actions to deliver an economic strategy for the district at its next meeting on June 23.
Click here to download the Economic Strategy Delivery Plan
In July 2007 Bradford Council launched an economic strategy based on three main themes: people, business and places as part of the district's Big Plan. This delivery plan identifies major successes in delivery to date.
These include the allocation of £5 million of Working Neighbourhoods Funding (WNF) to raise skill levels to make people more employable, work on the £50 million Southgate scheme which started in Spring 2009, and the redevelopment of Eastbrook Hall, officially re-opened by HRH The Prince of Wales in November 2008.
The delivery plan also brings together a forward programme of activity that reflects the current difficult economic climate through a series of short-term rapid response actions to address the downturn, offering support to people for the upturn, helping businesses survive and maintaining a construction programme for the district.
Importantly the delivery plan also sets out medium and long term priorities to create a strong and resilient district economy, including the further development of the Canal Road Corridor and Leeds Bradford Corridor projects as areas of regional significance with regeneration and development potential.
Bradford Council's Executive Member for Regeneration and Economy, Coun Adrian Naylor, said: "Growing a strong economy requires clear prioritisation of actions and real joint working across the whole district.
“It is vitally important the delivery plan is flexible to support people and businesses depending on the state of the economy at any given time. We reacted quickly to make sure residents and businesses were given a high level of support when the recession started and it is crucial we continue to adapt so people are in the best position to secure jobs when the economy picks up.”
“In the meantime we are working hard with partners to move forward regeneration projects that can have an impact now, in terms of jobs and confidence, and in the future, creating a basis for further investment.”
The report to the Executive recommends Bradford Council's Strategic Director for Regeneration, Barra Mac Ruairi, refreshes the delivery plan on a bi-annual basis.
