First Joint Economic Commission for the North West
Monday 3 November 2008
November’s first meeting of the Joint Economic Commission for the North West (JEC) agreed seven actions:
* To work together to deliver three existing strategic projects – the M62 corridor, the ‘energy west coast’ in Cumbria and the renewable sector;
* For the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the Government Office for the North West (GONW) to work together to identify strategic projects at risk of not being completed and to propose solutions;
* For GONW and the Homes and Community Agency to identify specific issues concerning housing for ongoing discussion;
* The Minister for the North West will write to all public sector organisations in the region to encourage prompt payments;
* A separate subgroup is being set up to look at supporting apprenticeships in the public and private sectors;
* NWDA is working with Business Link and Jobcentre Plus to clarify support available for debt counselling and financial support for small and medium sized businesses; and
* The JEC will consider the impact and opportunities from environmental schemes in the region in the longer term.
