Southampton Local Economic Assessment - your chance to comment

4 January 2011

All Councils in England have a new responsibility to prepare an assessment of the economic conditions of their area by the end of March 2011. This will be used to help achieve Southampton City Council's ambition for sustained economic growth.

This is now your chance to review and comment on the Draft Southampton Local Economic Assessment. The Council is keen to hear the views of local businesses, organisations and its partners on whether the Assessment provides a thorough picture of Southampton’s economy and to provide you with the opportunity to input knowledge and market intelligence from your area of expertise.

The Southampton Local Economic Assessment has been produced on behalf of the Council by SQW and fits with their work on the Hampshire Local Economic Assessment. It draws information from a range of sources and research documents including national data sets, local strategies and importantly the recent work DTZ undertook for the PUSH (Partnership for Urban South Hampshire) Economic Development Strategy evidence base.

The Assessment comes in two parts:

- Draft Local Economic Assessment: a high level overview of the nature of Southampton’s economy and the opportunities and challenges it faces;
- Technical Annex: setting out in detail the profile of the economy based on key indicators.

To provide comments, please use this feedback form, which provides key questions to assist you.

Please return completed forms to Southampton City Council by 5 p.m. Friday 11 February 2011; forms can be returned by:

Email:economic.development@southampton.gov.uk

Or

Post:

Economic Development
Corporate Policy and Economic Development
Southampton City Council
3rd Floor Marland House
Civic Centre Road
Southampton
SO14 7LT

All comments will be reviewed and the Assessment revised; a final approved version will be available end of March 2011.

Thank you for your comments.

If you have any queries about the Assessment or this consultation:

Contact: Susan Robbins, Economic Development, Southampton City Council
Tel: 023 8083 2959
Email:susan.robbins@southampton.gov.uk

Image shows: Aerial View of Southampton
Image copyright: Southampton City Council