Finding prosperity from adversity

Two obscure-sounding items on the agendas of last week's Scrutiny Committee and this week's Full Council have got me thinking about our city's economic development.

On their own, 'Solent Local Enterprise Partnership Integration into the Solent Unitary Authorities' and 'Asset Development and Disposal Programme (ADDP)', don't sound particularly interesting, but beneath the surface they're very important.

The first relates to how we work in the region to support business and economic development. There is a clear risk of this becoming more fragmented. As a federalist I would like to see devolution from Westminster and more effective regional government so that joined up economic development can be pursued across the Solent.

The second is a result of the City Council's precarious financial position. It is looking to either sell or redevelop assets. This will have consequences both for the Council itself and for the city. The process contains both risks and opportunities and will need careful oversight, also because there are currently a number of high-profile stalled projects in Southampton.

And on a separate, but related note, I was pleased to see party leader Ed Davey in his recent speech at spring conference reiterating the importance of setting the country back on the path to the EU Single Market.

That would certainly help our economic renewal.