Political | Posted on May 2nd, 2025 | return to news
Conservatives councillors to declare economic emergency in Dorset
Conservative councillors are calling on Dorset Council to prioritise economic growth and support for local business.
Conservative members of Dorset Council are calling on the authority to prioritise economic growth and support for local business, and plan to put forward a motion calling for an ‘Economic Emergency’.
Councillor Simon Gibson, Dorset Council member for Verwood, will put a motion to the Full Council meeting on 15 May calling for an Economic Emergency to be declared, comparable to the Climate Emergency declared in 2019.
The motion will be seconded by Councillor James Vitali, member for Stalbridge and Marnhull, and has the backing of Conservative Councillors across North Dorset.
The motion will ask Dorset Council to commit to a 10-point plan which will put economic growth at the heart of decision making, recognising the crucial role the council can play in supporting local businesses.
Dorset Council will also be asked to speed up regeneration of the county’s market towns, to develop a strategy for business rates which will help grow the number of businesses in the area and set out how planning policy can support economic growth.
Cllr Gibson, who is the shadow portfolio holder for Economic Regeneration, said: “This motion calls for a declaration of intent by Dorset Council and sets out a clear ambition to support economic growth across the area.
“Dorset’s businesses face unprecedented challenges – low growth, low wages, skills shortages and the uncertain global backdrop. Supporting our local economy is not a party-political issue, so we are hoping for support from councillors from other parties.
“We must demonstrate that we understand how difficult things are for our business community and recognise that there is the moral as well as economic case for economic growth.”
The text of the full motion will be published with the agenda for the Full Council meeting on the Dorset Council website.
For more information, contact steve.murcer@ndca.org.uk from the North Dorset Conservative Association.
Please share post:
LATEST NEWS:
CHARITY OF THE YEAR 2025
Subscribe to the online magazine news letter
