To respond to the Community Services Scrutiny Committee review of the Economic Development Strategy.

The Director of Regeneration advised Cabinet that the original Economic Development Strategy had been produced in 2004, refreshed in 2006 and had been aligned to the regional strategy, however, due to the downturn in the economy it was in need of a further review taking into consideration the new duty to provide a local economic assessment based on need.

Cabinet accepted the majority of the recommendations put before them in the review and agreed in principle the remaining recommendations, with the acceptance that some further work needed to be undertaken on the remaining recommendations.

RESOLVED That: the responses to the recommendations as set out at Appendix 1 to the report be agreed in principle.