A NEW ‘Stronger Together’ strategy published by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (GMLEP) has unveiled a number of ambitious targets for the region to have achieved by the year 2020.
It’s about delivering real improvements for Greater Manchester residents which improve their prospects in life, and that means tackling some deep-rooted issues
These include:
- Creating an additional 44,000 jobs by increasing Manchester’s share of total UK jobs.
- Surpassing the national average for the city’s economic growth rate.
- Reducing those reliant on benefits by 12%
- Increase the number of children achieving a good level of development to meet the national average.
- Doubling the rate of reduction of carbon emissions so that levels are nearly half as low as in 1990.
Lord Peter Smith and some lady (courtesy of photographic-leigh)
One of the strategy’s key targets is to slash the current £5 billion gap between tax revenues and public spending in the region.
This GM strategy, first published in 2009, has been updated following a public consultation this summer and to account for evolving difficulties - particularly the economic downturn and the squeeze on funding for the public sector.
Lord Peter Smith, Chair of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), said: “This strategy is vitally important for Greater Manchester’s future success.
“Ensuring that public sector agencies co-ordinate more innovatively and effectively together across Greater Manchester is not just about adapting to cuts in our budgets. It’s about delivering real improvements for Greater Manchester residents which improve their prospects in life, and that means tackling some deep-rooted issues such as worklessness and poor health.
Mike Blackburn, Chair of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (GMLEP), said: “We need to create the right conditions for growth. This means fully exploiting our science and research strengths and building on our growing international links with emerging new economies. It also means providing the excellent skills provision and good transport links which can connect residents with the opportunities and skills that employers need.”
The GMCA has now begun work on its Growth and Reform Plan, which will set out in more detail how the Greater Manchester Strategy’s goals will be achieved.
The strategy, including a 34-page plain English summary, is available here.
