Service Objectives

The Economic and Tourism Development Service works in partnership with other public bodies and the private sector to promote the diversification and development of the local economy.  This can only be achieved through the creation of an environment that motivates businesses to succeed so that a wide variety of employment opportunities are created for the residents of North Norfolk.  At present this is a discretionary service within Local Government, which will become a statutory duty for all Councils, as proposed by Government in the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration.

The Economic and Tourism Development service undertakes a wide range of activity in support of the development of the local economy.  Expenditure is broadly made on projects and initiatives designed to improve the competitiveness of businesses. 

The Economic Development function is further underpinned by maximising external funding opportunities to support District led investment programmes.

The Service undertakes a wide range of activity in line with the Councils’ Corporate Plan ‘Changing Gear’ which sets out what we intend to do between 2008 and 2010.  This Plan highlights four areas, which above all will influence how the Economic Development Unit will operate.

They are:

• Housing - We aim to provide decent affordable housing for all who live in our district.
• Economy - We aim to develop the competitiveness of the local economy through employment measures, training and business support.
• Leisure & Culture - We will encourage healthier lifestyles and the enjoyment of cultural and recreational activities by everyone in our community.
• Safer Communities - We will work to make communities that are safe, confident and evolved.
• Natural environment & Built Heritage - We will protect and sustain our natural environment and build heritage.

Foreword

There is no single set of economic measures or a common formula that can bring about successful regeneration. Evidence suggests that to achieve sustainable growth a many-sided and versatile response is required – one that ups the energies of local communities, the local authority and the private sector, as well as involving action and securing match-funding resources at county and regional levels.

The key objective for the Council’s Economic Development Unit is increasingly becoming one of ensuring the best use of current and future resources and recognising the growing importance of the contribution that needs to be made by the whole community - particular, the private sector. This can only be achieved through a framework for action that embraces the following five key principles.

• Ownership - The principle of the whole community buying into the regeneration of its local area.
• Participation - The active involvement of people in local decisions including Communities of Place, Communities of Interest and hard-to-reach groups.
• Co-operation - The need for co-operation at a number of different levels within market and resort towns, between different communiities of interest, between such towns and their surrounding rural communities and between towns in the same locality.
• Integration - The need for integration of service provision and policy-making access sectors and levels inculding County Coucnil, District Council, Town Council and Stakeholders.
• Investment - The need to secure access to public investment at local, regional, national and European levels. However, the real success is levering private sector resources which will ensure the long-term economic future of each rurla service centre.

Service Objectives Summary