Last Monday (22nd February), Martin Dean, Deputy Director, Leeds Initiative joined IoD Members over lunch to discuss The Vision for Leeds 2030.
Leeds Initiative is ‘the city’s local strategic partnership. Founded in 1990, we bring together the public, private, community, voluntary and faith sectors to work together to achieve success, encourage improvement, and tackle and overcome problems for the benefit for all citizens now and in the future. In 2004 we published the Vision for Leeds 2004 to 2020, a long-term plan for the ongoing economic, cultural and environmental development of the city.’
The Leeds Arena was one project that came out of the Vision for Leeds 2020 and much much more.
They are now looking ahead to 2030 and the Vision for Leeds. The consultation for this vision already started in June 2009 with the Leeds Initiative Assembly at the Leeds City Museum. Over 120 people participated in the initial discussion. The top 12 issues are now being worked on as the main themes for 2030.
Martin posed 2 questions to the IoD members and guests to discuss over lunch:
- Sustainability – what are the main issues for business leaders on this
- Ambition – as leaders in Leeds are we setting the goals high enough, are we ambitious enough, what should the goals be?
We all had an interested and lively debate over lunch, which certainly got the conversation going!
Main feedback:
- More joined up thinking within Leeds City Region on transport
- More joined up thinking on highways maintenance (currently roadworks on main roads in Leeds and commuter routes
- More green spaces in Leeds city centre (think about New York)
- Improve transport to Leeds Bradford airport
- Sustainability from a business perspective -> need to ensure new generation employees have the right skills
- Need to encourage the next generation entrepreneurs and business leaders to drive the vision for Leeds
The IoD has recently joined the Economy and Skills Partnership and will continue to work with Leeds Initiative to ensure the views and concerns of our members are represented in the Vision for Leeds.
What do you think about The Vision For Leeds 2030 – are there any points you want to raise?