Partner Article

NECC sets out 2010 plan

Businesses in the North East have laid out their plans for a ‘North East test’ for any future government policies.

The North East Chamber of Commerce has said that any changes to the way businesses operate should be subject to ‘a simple economic recovery test’.

NECC’s proposed test aims to assess whether or not any policy changes will enhance infrastructure, improve business performance or remove barriers to business.

The test is part of NECC’s 2010 manifesto, called ‘Delivering the Recovery’, which stresses the importance of developing infrastructure via reforming the planning system, improving strategic transport connections, growing the North East energy sector, maximising the region’s water resources and putting in place high quality digital infrastructure.

Martyn Pellew, NECC president, said: “NECC has set out a blueprint for action that has, at its core, the key focus of how we stimulate and support the economic recovery in 2010.

“By setting an economic recovery test as the centrepiece of this manifesto, NECC has laid a gauntlet down at the door of regional and national policy makers to justify any decisions made that will not have a positive impact on our acceleration out of recession.

“Councils, politicians and civil servants have worked closely with NECC in the past to bring about positive changes for the business community and we anticipate they will focus closely on the common sense approach laid out in the Delivering the Recovery manifesto as this will bring job security and creation as well as economic prosperity to the region.”

NECC’s manifesto also includes a pledge from the business lobby group that it will heighten awareness about the barriers which prevent businesses from focusing on recovery. It plans to campaign for more focus on the quality of legislation while reducing the amount of regulation and an improved procurement system.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .