Purpose

From April 2024 the functions of Local Enterprise Partnerships,
including responsibility for strategic economic planning,
transferred to Mayoral Combined Authorities and upper tier local
authorities, including West Sussex County Council. The County
Council is now accountable to government for the development of a
new West Sussex Economic Strategy.
The West Sussex Economic Strategy will be a strategic,
over-arching document for West Sussex for the period 2025 –
2035. The ten-year time frame is required by the Government. The
strategy will set out the national, county, and local context,
including economic insight and evidence. It will highlight the
economic assets and strengths of West Sussex that provide
significant opportunities. It will identify an overall vision to
2035 and five key ambitions with strategic priorities to drive them
forward. It also sets out how the strategy will be overseen and
led, and how it will be monitored and evaluated.
The strategy will be consistent with Our Council Plan and
supports the priorities of a sustainable and prosperous economy,
helping people and communities to fulfil their potential, and
making the best use of resources, underpinned by protecting the
environment. The West Sussex Economic Strategy will provide the
framework for the County Council’s economic development
interventions. The new strategy will also align with other
strategies such as the West Sussex Transport Plan, where
appropriate.
The Leader will be asked to
adopt the West Sussex Economic Strategy.

Decision

Following
consideration of the report the Cabinet agreed to adopt the West
Sussex Economic Strategy 2025-2035.
The call-in deadline is 20 March 2025.