| The Chairman’s View
South East England Councils (SEEC) is delighted to have partnered with leading UK polling agency Savanta ComRes and the prominent international economist Vicky Pryce to produce the new ‘South East 1,000’ which will be a unique monitor of public, business and civic cohorts from the UK’s most populated region. As a cross-party, cross-tier membership association, SEEC works to influence policymakers and decision-takers on matters of interest and concern to local authorities and their residents across our region. The new South East 1,000, to be published twice a year, will provide a firm evidence base to underpin those efforts. The UK’s gateway to the world and positioned on the doorstep of the EU, the South East region, with its significant clusters of commerce & industry, has long championed trade – and has been England’s highest exporting region. As a result, the South East has been one of only three UK regions to contribute more to the Treasury than it takes. Looking ahead, we need to ensure the South East has a secure economic foundation to meet challenges that will be presented by the continued impacts of Covid, the end of the Brexit transition and a growing population which is set to reach 10million by 2030. Government Ministers have been talking much about plans to drive a national recovery from Coronavirus as well as flagging proposals for further English Devolution and considering a new approach to the Planning system. In the coming months SEEC will be looking for sound strategies that provide a framework which enables the South East to remain a premier global trading hub and gives the region’s elected representatives greater ability to address growing regional infrastructure needs, be that in transport, housing, utilities or digital technology. Cllr Roy Perry, Chairman, South East England Councils To download the full ‘South East 1,000’ report click: South East 1,000 |
March 15, 2024
