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focus on the big issues in 2010

As we move ever closer to the anticipated May general election, your Chamber has started to prepare a manifesto for business in the North-east. During the campaigning period, we will want to impress on all candidates, the importance that commerce attaches to the big issues: transport infrastructure, planning modernisation, the containment of red tape, skills & training, a master-plan for the city centre, the need to attract and deliver flagship investment projects, delivering the ACSEF agenda, and getting our fair share of the funding available.

Going places

Most of the members of AGCC will have been pleased with the announcement just before Christmas, which gave the go-ahead for the much-delayed AWPR. Transport infrastructure has been one of the key concerns for business in the North-east for longer than most of us care to remember, and the AWPR is a key part of the improvements needed.

Your Chamber will be developing a transport campaign during 2010, to keep the issue at the top of the agenda. The transport problems that we know are important to you are clearly identified: the AWPR; a runway extension at the airport; improvement to the bottlenecks at the rivers Don and Dee, the Haudagain roundabout and the airport approach, dualling of the A90 between Balmedie and Tipperty, and improvements to the A96 at Inverurie and to access from the south; improved train travel times to the central belt; crossrail; the condition of the region’s roads and the backlog of maintenance from funding pressures; investment in usable public transport. Further afield, the Forth Crossing and High Speed Rail to Scotland are on the radar.

Have we missed anything? It is important that you let us know what matters to you and your business.

Planning to succeed

Members tell us that they want to see a clear plan for the city centre, which builds on the urban heritage, and maintains a vibrant place for work rest and play. The Planning Modernisation Group (PMG), chaired by AGCC, has recently refreshed its structure to ensure that you can all have a say on this important issue. A wider consultative PMG Forum will meet three times a year to make sure that every organisation that wants a say on changing the culture of the planning system has a say. Contact us if you would like to attend these Forum meetings.

Business drives the economy

By now it should be clear to all political parties that it is the private sector which creates jobs and wealth. They should be planning to do everything they can to create the right conditions for enterprise to flourish. We will continue to work closely with the British and Scottish Chambers of Commerce to keep the lid on unnecessary red tape and to persuade government at Brussels, Westminster and Holyrood that the best approach for government to take is to keep things simple, keep costs to a minimum, provide a well educated and well-trained workforce, ensure fairness in the system, make sure the necessary checks and balances work in the real world, and free responsible businesses to create jobs and wealth. This will be the best way out of the current downturn (both socially and in economic terms), and the quickest way out of the squeeze on public sector finances. Politicians should be enabling growth rather than cutting essential services. What chance a cross-party consensus on long-term infrastructure investment?

Businesses in the region need to maintain their commitment to the ACSEF agenda for change, make sure that the investments planned for the Denburn Valley (use the opportunity you’ve got during the current consultation period), the offshore wind deployment centre, Energetica and the Trump resort (to name but four) are delivered

Looking after your ‘ain

Bur charity begins at home, and all organisations in the region need to make a better fist of attracting external resources to secure investment. This means a higher profile at the key events and meetings that take place in the central belt and in London – we don’t want to be marginalised in any decision-making. This means better quality and more frequent bids being made to the sources of funding available at UK and Scottish level – to provide the essential pump-priming funds. This means getting fairer funding for the North-east –so that the region can continue to deliver jobs and prosperity. This means MPs who understand that they’re expected to fight for the region – and help us to deliver the opportunities. This means you keeping us well-informed about your views – and working with the Chamber to lobby at this point of maximum opportunity just before the election.