Council approves new ‘pro-business’ plan to drive Rushcliffe’s economy

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Rushcliffe Borough Council

By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

A Nottinghamshire borough council’s new economy-boosting plan will help residents work closer to home, its leader has said.

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet met last night (October 9) to discuss approval of its first economic growth strategy.

The plan wants to deliver “sustainable economic growth” by driving business, infrastructure and tourism into the borough’s towns through nine ambitions.

The strategy focuses on what it is like to live in, work and visit Rushcliffe, attracting new businesses, securing transport, providing support to existing businesses and understanding current needs.

It wants to work more closely with organisations like the new East Midlands combined authority, Homes England and universities to assess local need.

It also wants to access various funding pots to help with the area’s infrastructure and accelerate housing and employment plans.

One ambition focuses on working with partners on the “huge opportunities” in the redevelopment of Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, which closed last week.

Another ambition focuses on businesses attracting and retaining people, and trying to provide better access to good employment.

That includes also retaining graduates, and promoting flexible working and inclusive practices for early retirees and those with caring responsibilities.

Consultations between the borough council, Nottinghamshire County Council, businesses and residents helped to form the new strategy.

Papers discussed at the meeting say the area is undergoing rapid growth, with more than 13,000 new homes to be built in the borough before 2028.

Rushcliffe Borough Council Leader, Cllr Neil Clarke, has said the council, along with its plans, is “pro-business”.

Rushcliffe Borough Council Leader, Councillor Neil Clarke (Con), said: “We are very pro-business and I think this [strategy] does indicate this council is pro-business.

“[The council] wants lots of employment opportunities to succeed so people who are moving into all these new houses have the opportunities to have somewhere locally to work, rather than having to travel a long way, which also helps satisfy carbon reduction.”

There are 5,225 businesses in the borough, with 90.7 per cent classed as ‘micro businesses’ and only 0.4 per cent being ‘large’.

Councillor Jonathan Wheeler (Con) said the borough should take advantage of the sports business opportunities in the borough, such as Nottingham Forest and the cricket club hosting the Ashes test matches.

He added: “Look round our town centres, compared to other places in the borough and the country, there’s barely an empty unit in our town centre which shows the confidence people have here in Rushcliffe.

“This [strategy] gives the guarantee to businesses that we recognise the impact that they have on the borough and work with them to keep going further.”

The report discussed by the cabinet had no financial implications, with Councillor Davinder Virdi (Con) adding: “Of course, we will be working very closely with officers and ensuring that any plans and actions which we implement are considered very carefully in light of our budgets and financial position.”

Introducing the plan, Vice-Chair, Councillor Abby Brennan (Con), said: “I think we all recognise that economic growth shapes a place and we are keen to ensure that this strategy effectively protects and enhances what makes Rushcliffe an attractive place to live, work and visit.

“We intend for it to be a living document that will inform our work going forward and will continue to be reviewed by the Growth Board.”

The new strategy was approved with a unanimous vote.

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