Two of Stoke-on-Trent’s most senior politicians went head-to-head at a hustings event, ahead of the May 4 local election, to explain what they will do to support business.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council Leader Abi Brown (Conservative) and Opposition Leader Jane Ashworth (Labour) debated a wide range of topics, including transport, levelling up, the living wage and procurement.
The Business Matters hustings event was hosted by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce at their Festival Park-based headquarters, Commerce House.
Both candidates made a three-minute pitch before answering questions from an audience consisting of senior businesspeople and other local leaders.
Abi Brown, whose party has been in power for the last eight years, said: “We have come a huge way since 2015. We’ve seen an improving economy with 8,000 jobs created in the city since 2015 and the city consistently named as one of the fastest-growing local economies in the country.
“We’ve seen the highest-ever level of people in employment in the city and increasing levels of investment.
“There’s been a huge amount of work that has taken place across the six towns of the city in recent years to create conditions to continue to grow the economy. Whether that’s remediating land for commercial or residential purposes or stimulating the market – through projects such as the Enterprise Zone.
“We’ve supported business rates and established Fortior Homes in order to bring forward new housing models in the market. And we’ve promoted the city in raising its profile.”
Abi said that her party had been working closely with businesses to take forward investment and emphasised the partnership approach.
She added: “My manifesto builds on work done to date and also the opportunities moving forward. It’s time to take the next step forward and bring forward a City Plan and build on the work around the Enterprise Zone, the deal we have struck with Homes England, the work with Historic England and the work we have done around levelling up.
“For me, we’ve done lots in the last four to eight years, but I have an appetite to do more.”
Jane said: “I know what it’s like to be running a company. I set up from start-up a company that ended up with a £11 million turnover.
“I know what it is like to wake up in the morning absolutely terrified – whether it’s going to be alright today: whether your business will flourish or not.
“If Labour form the new administration next week I want to be able to look back on the four year term and say what happened was transformative for the relationship between us and business in our city.
“I want it to be known as the time when Labour worked tightly and closely with business in the city to improve the local economy.
“I want to see us with a high wage, highly-skilled workforce. I want to see a time when we are leading the country, particularly in various forms of digi-tech. I think we can do that but I think it is going to require a change of pace from the local authority.
“One of the things we need do immediately is create a proper business support network that can help businesses that are likely to be in trouble because of the cost of living crisis.”
Jane also called for a review of the council procurement strategy and said she would work closely with other significant agencies and employees in the city to make it easier for local businesses to win contracts from the city.
She added: “About a third of contracts stay within the city but it should be vastly more than that.”
“Last year the distribution value of contracts was £1 million inside the city, £19 million outside the city. That’s not ok. It means we are haemorrhaging money.”
For a full list of parties and candidates standing visit the City Council’s website www.stoke.gov.uk and click on the elections section.
