Agenda item

To present and seek feedback on the Economic Development Strategy 2026-29 which replaces the previous Economic Development Strategy 2024-28

The Leader of the Council presented the report.

The Council’s previous Economic Development Strategy 2024-28 was adopted by Cabinet in October 2024. Since the previous Economic Development Strategy there have been several key changes in circumstance and context following its adoption. These include significant changes in the structure of local government, the publication of “The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy” by the Department of Business and Trade (June 2025) and the establishment of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA) with a Mayor being elected in May 2025.

The three economic development focus areas for the GLCCA are transport, employment and skills and business and infrastructure.

To deliver against these focus areas, the GLCCA has established an Economic Advisory Panel; Employment and Skills Board; Business and Infrastructure Board and a Transport Board. The GLCCA is currently preparing strategies covering housing growth, transport, growth and infrastructure as well as a Local Skills Improvement Plan; all are expected to be published in 2026.

It will be important to ensure the South Kesteven Economic Development Strategy aligns with the GLCCA growth strategies to maximise impact and to attract funding and other resources into the District.

The purpose of the document was for the Council and businesses within the community to measure progress in line with actions within the document.

Upon debate, the following comments were made:

·       When the final edition would be published?

·       Whether Local Government Reorganisation would make the document partly redundant?

The Leader of the Council confirmed the latest edition of the document would be updated once feedback had been received. It would then be considered by Cabinet in September 2026.

Local Government would still continue to promote economic development within the area once the new shadow authority was in place.

A suggestion was made around markets and whether this could be included within supporting tourism and viability of town centres to continue to promote the good work.

It was clarified this strategy was the overarching policy document and several other pieces of work were ongoing for tourism and town centres.

Some figures were included within the document that related to South Kesteven alone, it was suggested that other figures nationally and more locally be provided to establish whether South Kesteven was above or below average.

Members discussed how the Local Plan and the Economic Development Strategy would link together following LGR. It was hoped these documents would be an integrated approach to coincide the documents with one another.

The Leader of the Council confirmed Cabinet were due to consider how the Council can develop a new Local Plan to coincide with other plans and strategies. There was currently no direct between the two documents at present.

The Economic Development Strategy function was to provide an explanation to local businesses on how the Council can support them and to encourage inward investors to work collaboratively with the Council.  

The Local Plan focused more on land uses; how existing employment sites were retained and ways to facilitate growth. It was confirmed the two teams would work together on certain projects.

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED to:

1. Consider and provide feedback on the Economic Development Strategy 2026-29

2. Recommend to Cabinet that the Economic Development Strategy 2026-29 is adopted