Green experts hired to reshape Brighton and Hove economy (From The Argus)

Green experts hired to reshape Brighton and Hove economy

9:00am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Business News By John Keenan, business editor

Green experts are being brought in to try to reshape the Brighton and Hove economy.

The current administration is concerned that the city’s current economic strategy is no longer fit for purpose. In 2008 Brighton and Hove City Council identified six business sectors which could most contribute to the economic and employment growth of the city – digital media, creative industries, environmental technologies, financial services and manufacturing, including food and drink and health technologies.

But now politicians want to look again at the strategy in light of the changed economic climate. BioRegional is supporting economic consultants Roger Tym Associates in preparing a new economic strategy for the council and Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership.

The Roger Tym and BioRegional team won the bid in a competitive process to demonstrate how the city could plan for economic development whilst also moving towards One Planet Living where local economies can thrive using a fair share of the world’s resources.

The purpose of the new-look strategy is to identify actions the council and partners can take to realise the city’s potential as an economic powerhouse for the wider area. Roger Tym and BioRegional are developing the new strategy in consultation with partners in the city and surrounding region and in parallel with the ongoing ‘City Deal’ bid being led by Brighton and Hove City Council.

The budget for the work is £30,000 including expenses but excluding VAT. The current economic strategy was due to run until 2016.

The council says that a new strategy is needed in the wake of the 2008 financial crash. A spokesman for the council said: “The strategy will cover the period 2013-2018 and will bring together a range of policies, strategic documents and initiatives. It will be accompanied by a five-year action plan of transformative projects and investment initiatives to enhance the economy of Brighton and Hove. The action plan will provide a clear link to the strategy and demonstrate how the actions proposed will move the city towards its stated aspirations.

“The strategy will focus on how the city can adopt measures that lead to a sustainable economy, taking into account the wider social and environmental impacts of economic development.”

Geoffrey Bowden, chairman of the council’s economic development and culture committee, said: “The old strategy was drawn up in the halcyon days before the crash and it would be foolish to persist with a strategy that did not take account that something pretty catastrophic occurred in 2008. That’s certainly the view shared by the leading lights in the Economic Partnership.

“We felt we now need a new strategy adapted to reflect those changes, address the new challenges and maximise opportunities for the city. Generally we’ll be refocusing on sustainable growth – improving the city’s environment, the economy and people’s lives generally.”

Tony Mernagh, executive director at Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said: “We are delighted that Roger Tym is working in collaboration with BioRegional on the review. “It is an excellent combination of economic and environmental expertise.”