The local economy has also suffered significantly during COVID-19.
In addition to support for the business community, our economic recovery will be stimulated by the Ayrshire Growth Deal, which will see over £250m in new funding for the Ayrshire economy over the next 15 years. The Deal is designed to drive economic regeneration across area, boost jobs, create new training opportunities and encourage inward investment, with many of the projects based in East Ayrshire.
Our commitment to Community Wealth Building also presents us with new opportunities to regenerate our economy by redirecting wealth and the benefits of wealth creation back into our communities. There will be an important role for community cooperatives and social enterprises that can support our economic and wellbeing recovery and create new jobs. Working with our partners, we will also need to look further at ways to provide our young people will the skills and experience for work, through for example, training and apprenticeships.
In our community conversations, we have heard about the positive impact of lockdown on the environment including improved air quality, reduced emissions and less carbon-intensive lifestyles. A green, community-based recovery needs to focus on the policies, practical solutions and investment that will allow our economy to grow and safeguard the environment, now and into the future.
How to comment
Budget conversations are now closed. If you have any queries, please get in touch by emailing vibrantvoices@east-ayrshire.gov.uk.
Thank you to everyone who commented on the Budget Conversations. Your Vibrant Voices will help Elected Members to find the right balance when they set the budget at Special Council on 4 March 2021.