Crawley Borough Council’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Taskforce Executive group met for the first time last week, to great success.
The Executive brings together the council, senior business representatives from across the borough, the local MP, a government representative, the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and West Sussex County Council, to evaluate the true impact of the crisis on the local economy and to drive the development of a coherent Economic Recovery Plan for the town.
Crawley’s economy has been impacted significantly by the pandemic, with a recent Centre for Cities report estimating that up to 57 per cent of employment in the town is at risk.
Last Friday (15 May), the Executive group met for the first time to discuss the role of the taskforce, plan further engagement with government, and start the process of building recovery on the ground.
The Executive will provide strategic direction to the development of Crawley’s Economic Recovery Plan, working to unlock and harness public and private investment to the maximum benefit of Crawley’s community.
Further work endorsed by the Taskforce Executive will be undertaken to assess the full impact of Crawley’s economic crisis to gain maximum understanding of its real time impact on Crawley’s economy, community and businesses.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Peter Lamb, said: “The lockdown has hit our economy harder than any other part of the UK, but all local businesses and public sector organisations are committed to getting things back on track.”
Jonathan Sharrock, Chief Executive at Coast to Capital, said: “We are taking a leading role in economic recovery for the Coast to Capital area and Crawley has been disproportionately affected due to its unique relationship with and proximity to the airport. We must take urgent action in partnership with local and regional partners to provide targeted economic relief.”
The council is currently consulting with local businesses on the impact of the pandemic on their business prospects. If you’re a local business, you can fill out the survey at https://crawley.gov.uk/council-information/how-council-works/consultation This afternoon I was pleased to chair the first meeting of the #Crawley Economic Recovery Taskforce Executive. The lockdown has hit our economy harder than any other in the UK but all local businesses and public sector organisations are committed to getting things back on track.This afternoon I was pleased to chair the first meeting of the #Crawley Economic Recovery Taskforce Executive. The lockdown has hit our economy harder than any other in the UK but all local businesses and public sector organisations are committed to getting things back on track.
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