JAMES BREAM
DURING the course of the last week I have had several meetings where people have said to me, “you guys at the Chamber need to be above all that stuff” - that “stuff” being politics and personal agendas.
The Chamber is apolitical and our mission states we are here to create the conditions that will make businesses and their employees in our region more successful and prosperous.
So maybe it is appropriate that the burden of this ‘honest-broker’ status lies with the Chamber team and, if anything, events of the last week have shown me that we need to live up to that expectation.
I think we can look with hindsight and say that we did what we needed to do as part of the recent local council elections. Although it is fair to say that the announcement of a General Election did deflect attention from regional to national issues.
Prior to May 4, we asked our 1,250 members to give their thoughts on the crucial issues and actions needed by our elected officials to ensure the North-east’s vision for the future becomes a reality.
In the run- up to the elections we briefed all parties in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire on several occasions with the feedback we received in the form our manifesto for regional renaissance. We asked that they all buy into this vision and pleasingly, candidates and parties across the board felt able to sign up to the asks we were making. They all want a successful and prosperous region too.
We already have a strong platform from which to move forward There are currently £5.3bn of infrastructure projects underway and in the pipeline for the North-east with more to come.
We have an economic diversification plan that is gathering pace, our strength in innovation is being further developed through city region deal investment and there is real progress with the city centre masterplan. Most of all, we are beginning to demonstrate confidence and ambition, sending out the message that we are open for business.
It is vital that this momentum is maintained and the pace increased. We need our politicians to see the big picture, take a long-term view, demonstrate leadership and make the brave decisions that will help write the next chapter in the Aberdeen success story.
Our non-partisan approach has proven to be appropriate given the outcome of the local elections. Much of what has transpired over the last few days is about politics and we are happy to stay well out of that!
We know that the people we briefed are the same people now in administration and in opposition. We don’t care if they are yellow, blue, red, green, amber, rainbow or have changed colour on the way.
We do care about their leadership and delivery of actions required to maintain a prosperous economy for the people of the North-east. We also care about our reputation and therefore our elected councillors can be safe in the knowledge that no matter their persuasion, they should expect an even hand whether that be to praise or challenge their actions.
James Bream is research and policy director at Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
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