Economy & Local Prosperity
GoalConditions that help people earn a living and local businesses succeed.
How I see the local economy
A place to live, work and do business
I want Somerset to be a place where people can earn a living and businesses can open, grow and stay. City decisions affect whether that is possible. The people running those businesses need to be heard while a decision can still change, and their experience considered alongside everyone else it affects.
Working through a decision
Hear from businesses before deciding
What businesses experience
What would this mean for people trying to open, run or grow a business? I want to hear from businesses of different sizes and situations.
Who else is affected
What do other people need from this street, service or public investment? Where do those needs agree or conflict?
What we are trying to do
What is the City trying to achieve? Could another approach get us there with fewer problems?
My judgment at Council
I would weigh the options, costs and public benefit, explain what I support and why, then check the effects with the people affected.
How I would apply that
One place to start at City Hall
A business owner should not need to understand the City’s organization chart to get an answer. I would explore a one-window service at City Hall: one point of contact to explain requirements, coordinate answers and follow an issue through. I would start by asking businesses where they get stuck and what existing services could do better.