A DRAFT plan outlining the proposed contribution of the East of England Development Agency to ensuring the continued economic success of the region over the next three years and beyond has been published for consultation.

Duncan Brodie

A DRAFT plan outlining the proposed contribution of the East of England Development Agency to ensuring the continued economic success of the region over the next three years and beyond has been published for consultation.

EEDA's draft corporate plan sets out a series of investment programmes covering areas such as business support, strengthening the region's science base, enabling more people to access skills and employment opportunities, infrastructure and low carbon growth.

It also provides a framework against which the agency can be measured and assessed openly and transparently.

EEDA is asking for views on its draft corporate plan for 2008-11 from businesses, the public, voluntary and community sectors and people with a knowledge and interest in the economic future of the East of England, with a closing date for comments of March 5.

Richard Ellis, chairman of EEDA, said: “With the economy of the East of the England stalling at the same time as we face increasing global competition, as well as key challenges such as reducing our carbon footprint, we need to plan ahead to ensure economic success for the region.

“EEDA has now published its own proposals for consultation that outlines how we will help put the region's growth on a sure footing.

“The draft corporate plan shows how we will contribute to raising skills, boosting employment rates and making businesses more innovative to help them seize the rich rewards offered by the low carbon economy over the next three years.”

Mr Ellis added: “We now want to ensure EEDA is suitably structured to lead the region's sustainable economic development as we prepare, in this key period, to take on more responsibilities for planning, transport and housing, as well as other changes announced by the government last year.

“So we welcome comments on our draft corporate plan until March 5 to our proposals to make EEDA a more strategic and higher impact organisation delivering even more value for the taxpayer.”

EEDA's corporate plan, the last of which was produced in December 2004, has to reviewed and updated every three years. The final corporate plan for 2008-11 will be approved by the Government and published in June.

For details of EEDA's proposals and how to comment, visit www.eeda.org.uk