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In depth Q&A: Economic power-brokers on Aylesbury's future
The Bucks Herald has quizzed the Vale's economic power-brokers on what the future holds in the wake of the huge redundancies at HBOS.
Here are their responses in full:
What are the authorities doing to mitigate against the job losses?
Cllr Michael Edmonds, Deputy Leader of AVDC and Cabinet Member for Economic Development added:
"There are a number of initiatives already in place that can help to mitigate against any job losses in the short term, included the recently opened Enterprise and Innovation Centre in Aylesbury (AE & IC), which is there to encourage and support new start up businesses and provides flexible and affordable location for people thinking of starting out on their own for the first time.
"We are sure there will be some people affected by the recent redundancy announcements that will want to take the opportunity to start up their own venture, and the AE & IC together with the AVDC Business grants available to support start up businesses are there to help encourage this activity."
Are the 'one job one house' targets in the core strategy achievable?
Richard Harrington, Managing Director of Aylesbury Vale Advantage, said: "Nationally both employment and housing targets have come under considerable pressure in the past twelve months as a result of the economic slowdown.
"However, in Aylesbury Vale we are seeing the overall performance of businesses improve, especially when you compare this against other growth areas across the UK.
"By 2016, we are confident that we will see new infrastructure around Aylesbury that has been designed to open up employment opportunities in tandem with housing growth.
"A good example is the Eastern Growth Arc, where we are working to ensure that jobs and houses are brought forward at the same time."
Warren Ralls SEEDA Area Director and Chair of the Taskforce, said:
"In addition to seeking inward investment to help create jobs, we support the area's entrepreneurs.
"Aylesbury and Bucks generate a significant number of jobs through high levels of entrepreneurialism.
"Help and advice is already available to those interested in starting up their own businesses through Business Link.
"A new Innovation and Growth Team has also been set up to support companies of all sizes from start-ups to established businesses with the potential to grow and add value to the local economy."
How are big businesses going to be attracted to the town?
Alex Pratt, Chairman of the Bucks Economic & Learning Partnership, said: "Buckinghamshire is already home to a range of world class international employers such as satellite technology suppliers like Com Dev from Canada, ESRI and household names like Johnson & Johnson and GE Healthcare, and the centre for excellence in medical research at Stoke Mandeville.
"They locate in Bucks because they recognise we have a highly skilled, flexible and talented pool of employees, this being the top educated county in the country.
"Buckinghamshire also has beautiful countryside which attracts entrepreneurs and their families. We are determined to fight for good road, rail and airport links, which all businesses need.
"These strengths are catalysts attracting new employers to look closely at our County as a location. 'The proof is in the pudding'. We are dealing with four live inward investment enquires right now.
"The Bucks Economic & Learning Partnership, SEEDA and AVDC are helping businesses through dedicated Inward Investment specialists, so employers' needs can be identified and supported.
"In addition to this, we are seeking to build on our strengths in the new media technology, specialist manufacturing, and security sectors.
"We have not become a prosperous area by mistake and we have every reason to believe that we will remain so, providing we are not complacent and make sure businesses are able to grow and compete on a global playing field from a Bucks base."
What schemes are already in place? How successful have they been?
Cllr Michael Edmonds, Deputy Leader of AVDC and Cabinet Member for Economic Development said:
"Aylesbury has continued to experience investment in new premises and properties, including those being built around Brunel Gate and Fairford Leys. We have recently launched our 'Golden Welcome' scheme, aimed at providing financial incentives to help larger businesses move to the area.
"This was only launched in October and already we have a range of interests registered for this and hope to have some applications approved early next year, which should bring more new jobs to the area."
Is there any interest in the space that will be vacated by HBOS?
A question that Lloyds Banking Group is best placed to answer.
However, all parties (Buckinghamshire County Council, the Bucks Economic & Learning Partnership, South East England Development Agency, Aylesbury Vale Advantage and the Aylesbury Vale District Council) recognise that the HBOS building sits in a prominent location in Aylesbury and is close to road, bus, cycle and rail links.
If the Lloyds Banking Group make a decision to move away from Aylesbury, all parties would work to maximise the future business opportunities for this location. Options available might include relocation or inwards investment.
How confident are you that big business will be attracted to the town when there are large buildings that are unoccupied and have been for some time?
Cllr Michael Edmonds said: "Vacant buildings, whether in Aylesbury or any other part of the region, are part of the renewal and rejuvenation process of any area.
"Business will be attracted to the town for a combination of factors that demonstrate the strengths of trading in Aylesbury, in particular the skilled workforce.
"The circumstances for individual buildings change over time and when the new investments in the town centre are complete, many of these properties will have an improved potential and offer."
Infrastructure is a major problem for the town. What effect has Aylesbury Vale Parkway had on people coming to the town?
Cllr Martin Tett, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, said:
"Good infrastructure is essential for all growth areas.
"Quite simply, if you wanted to move to an area whether it is for a new home or to set-up a business, you want decent roads, schools, public amenities or office spaces.
"If you did not find that in one location, you would look elsewhere. That's why we have fought hard for new infrastructure such as the central town 'Transport hub' and Aylesbury Vale Parkway station which will offer good links to and from London for new developments such as Berryfields.
"East- West Rail, linking Aylesbury to Milton Keynes and Oxford is another key requirement we are fighting for at the moment."
The date for east west rail is constantly being put back and it doesn't look likely to happen any time soon, what other plans are there for infrastructure?
Richard Harrington, Managing Director of Aylesbury Vale Advantage, said: "There has been significant progress on the East West Rail project. The proposal will bring substantial benefits to the Vale by increasing north/south access.
"In addition, link road development in conjunction with existing Major Development Areas, new Strategic Development Areas and continued improvements in changing the ways in which people travel to become more sustainable, are designed to increase movement and opportunities, while at the same time reducing congestion."
Congestion is a major deterrent, how much lobbying is being done with regards to a major road from MK to Aylesbury and Aylesbury to Wycombe or an Aylesbury bypass?
Richard Harrington, Managing Director of Aylesbury Vale Advantage, said: "North South connectivity is a main feature of the current Local Transport Plan. Proposals have recently been put to the South East England Planning Board to seek advance funding for the Eastern Link Road."
Cllr Martin Tett, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, said:
"Recent studies have confirmed the importance of the north –south links from Aylesbury and we are fighting hard for the funding.
"We want residents and businesses to be able to move quickly, easily and effectively across the county. We also aim to improve public transport to provide an alternative to car use. The North-South Rail link is a great example of this.
"All authorities face a tough financial climate, that's why we are working with our district councils and SEEDA to ensure Central Government recognise, understand and support schemes here in Buckinghamshire."
There will be a group of highly skilled workers out of their jobs, what can be done with them and their skills?
Alex Pratt, Chairman of the Bucks Economic and Learning Partnership said: "All the local authorities and public bodies are working together to support people affected by redundancy wherever this occurs. We have a taskforce team of specialists led by SEEDA, who meet with the company and its staff affected by redundancy to assess their immediate needs.
"These can often include emotional support, as the threat of loosing a job is often a bitter blow and difficult to overcome. We can arrange for career and financial advice on career changes and training opportunities.
"Quite often people made redundant have valuable skills such as IT and can find new work relatively quickly. In other cases we will aim to help with retraining or reskilling"
"In the medium term our priority is to focus on job creation. We need to incentivise companies of all sizes to set themselves up locally. By creating jobs locally, we hope to reduce people leaving Buckinghamshire and looking for work in London or elsewhere.
"We're also committed to attracting Inward Investment.
"These new businesses can either utilise vacant high-quality office space, or in the longer-term move into purpose built commercial areas, that have been carefully sited in the most suitable and sustainable locations."
With the 500 jobs that are due to go at Bucks County Council as a result of transformation by 2012 are local authorities going to be struggling for cash even further?
Cllr Martin Tett, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, said: "Whoever wins the next election the financial situation for local authorities is going to be very tough.
"We have to plan for improving efficiency whilst maintaining key services to our residents. We cannot keep increasing Council Tax. If we don't take steps now, our residents could suffer both high tax increases and cuts in the services they rely on."
What support is there going to be in place for the 'cottage industries' that will be affected that rely on business from workers?
Alex Pratt, Chairman of the Bucks Economic and Learning Partnership, said: "Buckinghamshire is the Entrepreneurial Heart of Britain with more new businesses starting here than any other place in the UK today and the Vale has one of the highest start up and success rates in the region.
"This proves that we're well placed to attract and develop new and successful businesses employing staff in the months and years to come.
"If each business in Buckinghamshire, whether existing or new, employed one extra person, then we would be in a very strong position, where employment levels growing rapidly.
"This is not beyond the bounds of reality. I own my own business and I'm already seeing growth and inevitably I will need to take on more staff."
What is going to happen to the area if there is no job growth?
Cllr Michael Edmonds of AVDC said: "With the level of investment in all forms of development currently underway in Aylesbury, and the housing growth now under construction this simply won't be the case.
"We have a major redevelopment and rejuvenation of the town centre underway with the state of the art theatre coming to completion, which will employ a significant number of people, as will the new retail development that will start shortly.
"The current global recession is having an impact locally, with the very sad announcement regarding the loss of employment at HBOS and Equitable, but the skills and experience they have can be put to very good use in the many smaller enterprises that are starting up every day here in the Vale.
With regard to the 'one house one job' policy in the core strategy for Aylesbury Vale, there is the effect of Aston Clinton business park falling through - what progress is there on this and will it ever happen?
Richard Harrington, Managing Director of Aylesbury Vale Advantage, said: "Aston Clinton remains an important strategic employment allocation.
"The Draft Core Strategy allocation for the Eastern Growth Arc promotes development around the Aston Clinton site and in this respect, brings this development site into the centre of the new growth proposals."
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Weather for Aylesbury
Thursday 09 February 2012
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Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 5 mph
Wind direction: South west
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