Liz Clark Head of marketing
/company/stone- create-ltd @StoneCreate
@stonecreate Liverpool is reaping the benefits of devolution
The agreement needs to be ratified by each of the councils represented and will be “subject to local democratic processes”.
There was also an acknowledgement that the delivery of local government functions may need to be simplified in the combined authority area.
To that end there is also agreement to explore models of devolution and “improved governance arrangements”. However, that delicate subject of local government re-organisation and the possibility of fewer councils in the county is still likely to prove a contentious one.
Supporters of devolution believe that Lancashire is now closer than it has ever been to a deal.
However, they stress that there is a lot of work still to be done, with any election for a Lancashire mayor not likely until May 2022 at the very earliest. As one insider says: “Now is not the time to take our foot off the gas.”
So, what has prompted this unforeseen move towards devo? Lancashire County Council leader Geoff Driver says it follows a lot of lengthy work behind the scenes.
He adds: “There has been a lot of cajoling and pointing out of the realities of the situation. Most people have now realised that it is going to happen in some shape or form.
“The government has made it perfectly plain they are going to level up the economy and in conversations I’ve had with ministers, and in what they have said publicly, they see that being done through combined authorities.”
He also believes that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy has helped focus people’s minds.
Alyson Barnes
While welcoming the leaders’ statements, Coun Driver points out that there are provisos that will have to be worked on.
It is all is subject to ratification by the individual councils, and then there is that matter of what the future local authority map of Lancashire will look like. There may still be people who will need to be persuaded.
However, the direction Lancashire is heading seems clear. Coun Driver says: “The noises I’m getting from Whitehall and again from ministers is that they see a need for a simplification of the structure of local government. In simple terms that means they want to see fewer councils.”
He is now urging everyone involved to look at the bigger economic picture. He adds: “You only need to see what’s happened in Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
“We’ve got an economy that is bigger than Liverpool’s but we are going to fall behind if we are not careful. We need to make sure we keep the impetus going.”
DIVERSIFYING WITH DIGITAL
There’s no doubt that the pandemic has changed the way we work beyond recognition over the past few months. Zoom’s share price has grown three-fold as they host what has become the new norm in business meetings, and we’ve all altered how we purchase goods and services as both businesses and consumers.
One can’t help wondering what impact the pandemic would have had on businesses in a time before laptops and the internet. There is no doubt that, as is often the case with global events of this magnitude, necessity would have rapidly sped up the development process.
The next question is, how can we diversify to make effective use of the wide range of digital platforms available to adapt and evolve and find new ways of working to the benefit of our customers?
Our team at Stone Create have been working closely with our clients during these unprecedented times to ensure that, wherever possible, we take advantage of every opportunity to adapt business operations to this expanded digital landscape. From helping our clients in the educational sector to implement home learning, virtual events and digital pupil admin processes; to supporting Lancashire-based soft furnishing business, Plumbs, implement an eCommerce solution that keeps their product offering relevant.
Now is the time for us all to think outside of the box and understand the growth prospects that digital channels can bring in our marketing activity, but also in our day to day activities too, from events, to processes and selling and promoting our products and services online.
If you’d like to challenge the norm and see how your business could benefit from diversifying with digital, the Stone Create team would be happy to look at your options with you.
For more information please visit
www.stonecreate.com
or call 01772 642 4760
Geoff Driver
Michael Green
LANCASHIREBUSINESSVIEW.CO.UK
7
IN VIEW
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
