Theme Partnerships Update—Economic Forum

I was elected to the Economic Forum in 2007.  The Forum meets once every two months.  Its membership is drawn from the private, public and voluntary sector.  The Community Network has four Representatives who are myself, Marjorie James, Dave Wise and Substitute Jason Anderson.  There is currently a vacancy for a Representative which will be advertised for the 26 February 2009 Community Network meeting.  The business of the Forum is nothing less than achieving the economic success of Hartlepool.  This involves seeking major funding for initiatives such as the Queens Meadow Business Park, Brougham Enterprise Centre, the development of Victoria Harbour (extension of the Marina), Tourism and Events, Longhill and Sandgate industrial estates.  The Forum oversees much of the Working Neighbourhood Fund (WNF) monies in Hartlepool in terms of where it focuses on tackling worklessness and enterprise (formally Neighbourhood Renewal Fund).  The Economic Forum has an important role in monitoring the progress of WNF projects.  The Forum recently oversaw a funding bid around child poverty with a number of voluntary organisations involved in the process. 

Keith Bayley, Economic Forum Representative