Inclusive Growth Strategy Consultation

The Inclusive Growth Strategy is a guiding document that sets out how the borough will ensure that the quality of life, health and happiness of our people is improved by good employment, greater security and better pay. It also states how will support improved productivity which will benefit local businesses, and how it will effect proactive public service reform in a thriving, varied, inclusive economy. This is structured against a number of themes – Aims, Strengths and Challenges.

This document was being reviewed and anyone who lives, works or who spends time in Tameside was invited to comment on the draft document. Respondents were invited to comment on three different aspects of the Strategy, including its aims, strengths and challenges faced by Tameside. The consultation was available on surveymonkey, as well as a number of workshops engaging a number of different groups.

Overall the consultation found a high level of support for the Strategy’s aims, strengths and challenges. Some of the issues raised in the consultation include:

• The strategy needs to more clearly communicate its vision, with a shorter version produced
• Raising aspirations and ensuring high levels of good quality youth employment should be clearer in the strategy
• How the various proposed projects contribute to the goal of the vision needs to be more clearly communicated in the document.
• Security and safety needs to be acknowledged as important for businesses and for town centres.

A number of changes were made to the Strategy as a consequence of the comments received. They were as follows:

• Some changes were made to the document to make some aspects of the Strategy clearer, for example the ‘Visions’. A summary version will also be produced
• Aim 2 has been amended to include raising aspirations and health across the whole borough
• The opportunities section of the document has been enhanced with new graphics providing clear links to strengths and challenges
• A 25th priority has been added: Make our town centres and employment zones safe and secure places for all, helping to retain and attract businesses and skilled jobs. (p.65). This supports stronger integration with the Community Safety Strategy.

The responses to the consultation were compiled into a report and was presented to the Council’s Cabinet where it was agreed.

More information on the Inclusive Growth Strategy can be found here.