The Shaping Buckinghamshire event, held earlier this month in Wycombe by the Bucks Strategic Partnership, was attended by around 100 delegates, consisting mainly of local authority staff and councillors.

Key speakers, such as Linda Walton, of the Federation of Small Businesses, and Richard Harrington, managing director of Aylesbury Vale Advantage, outlined their visions for the county.

Afterwards, delegates were asked to consider four scenarios outling the political and social climate, which resulted in different economic, social and environmental trends.

Arguably the most pessamistic of the scenarios was called 'National Enterprise,' and assumed constrained economic growth due to protectionist and isolationist government policies hampering international competition, an underinvestment in public services and cuts to social security funding, and low environmental sustainability.

This, it was said, would lead to higher unemployment and inequality.

'Global responsibility' was the name given to what seemed the most optimistic scenario, which would lead to low unemployment, medium to high income and an improvement in equity.

It assumed more community-orientated and internationalist political values, with healthy economic growth driven by socially valuable high-tech sectors and knowledge driven services.

Greater investment in education and infrastructure would help Bucks, although housing affordability would remain a problem for much of the population.

Thoughts arising from the forum's workshops are currently being collated, but included concerns over the lack of affordable housing and infrastructure, the loss of major firms in the area, poor vocational training and a north-south divide in Bucks.

The results will go towards the production of a new community strategy due in April next year, which will detail the priorities of the council from a planning perspective.

Opinion

Prior to the conference, Chris Kenneford, Bucks Strategic Planning Manager, said he was 'particularly interested in attracting those who might not usually attend an event like this,' and he included local businesses as an example, writes business reporter Adam King.

Unfortunately, despite Mr Kenneford's words, very few businesspeople were present at the meeting.

Instead, Wycombe's large town hall was populated almost entirely by councillors and council officers.

And eight hours and a tasty buffet lunch later, it seemed to me that perhaps greater input from the business community would have been beneficial.

Yes, of course Bucks needs to get more affordable housing, of course big firms are moving out, of course improved road and rail links are needed. But surely we knew that already?

Business people have a real day-to-day knowledge of the economy, rather than just sterile fiscal theory.

Even some councillors felt what being asked of them (to consider detailed economic issues) was not really appropriate for them, and one sat near to me threatened to walk out after the first hour- eager to go shopping at the new Eden Centre instead.

The scenarios themselves also seem to suspiciously fit into council politik. Is it surpising that the most optimistic future scenario involves higher taxes and a large role for the state?

A greater input from business leaders would have given everybody present a greater insight into the real, everyday, opportunities and challenges in the county.

Come on Buckinghamshire, lead from the front.