Q: Measuring success on our terms – How will we measure success in the future – the ‘GVA gap or productivity gap’ is useful – but it doesn’t tell me about the quality of life I can expect for myself, my community, or my children. One of the other headline indicators for the Economic Strategy is the Index for Sustainable Economic Welfare – what does this tell us about how we are doing?
A: To measure success in the future, a balanced set of indicators will be required in order to capture changes in our economy, communities and environment to more accurately reflect a range of factors that affect Quality of Life.
The Index for Sustainable Economic Welfare is one such measure, although is still in its early stages as there are complex methodological issues involved.
Therefore it may be better to develop an indicator which can accurately reflect broader well being, but also the specific objectives of the strategy.
The production of a Single Integrated Regional Strategy (SIRS) provides the basis for a more holistic strategy and comprehensive set of indicators.
For more information please contact Glynn Jones, Head of economic Strategy T: 0121 503 3572
Q: Improving our approach to low carbon opportunities – Our approach to capturing the economic value from the low carbon economy opportunities appears to be lots of great activity, but little coordination, unlike some regions that have a dedicated and staffed multi-agency unit, or other city regions that are developing climate change agencies. In the West Midlands we have a ‘virtual’ climate change office with no resources. If this economic agenda is so important to the region how do we improve our coordination of activity, pool resources and realise the opportunities set out in the WMES?
A: There is considerable ongoing activity in the West Midlands aimed at capturing the low carbon economic opportunities now and in the future and we welcome the announcement by the Regional Minister of the intention to establish a Low Carbon Task Group for the region.
Given the breadth of the Low Carbon agenda, there is a range of specialist regional partnerships focussed at co-ordinating each key strand of activity at present. For example, Government Office for the West Midlands lead the climate change panel made up of senior members of key regional bodies, this panel is supported by a climate change office (with dedicated supporting team across a number of organisations).
In addition Advantage West Midlands has funded the development of Sustainability West Midlands (SWM) whose director level board from across public and private sector meets regularly to coordinate and deliver an agreed action plan, including a focus on Low Carbon.
The Innovation Technology Council, Environmental Technologies and Automotive Cluster Opportunity Group is also leading their respective areas of the low carbon development. The Low Carbon Task Group will provide a means to better align regional priorities across these areas.
For more information, please contact Tim Baldwin, Sustainable Development Team Leader T: 0121 503 3245.
