Forums hear why we mean business
- Friday, 24 February 2012 09:14
Local residents heard at first hand in March why Derbyshire Dales District Council means business.
The current round of Area Community Forums started at Parwich Memorial Hall on Monday 5 March and the roadshow moved on to Bakewell on Tuesday 20 March and finally to Tansley Village Hall on Monday 26 March.
These were the two main presentations:
- Supporting Business in the Derbyshire Dales [PDF 1.31MB]
- Health & Wellbeing Priorities for Derbyshire [PDF 351KB]
Once again people who couldn't attend in person could follow our live Twitter feed from the event and ask questions online.
Talking points included the way the District Council supports the local economy, including a new free independent advice service that provides face-to-face advice for companies in the Dales wanting to grow.
Derbyshire Dales Business Advice, which is being funded by the District Council initially for six months, is being run by professional business adviser Heather Bradford. Heather spoke at all three Forums and presented information on the services she can provide.
Also attending each Forum was a local businessman supported by local schemes to set up or expand their enterprise. By telling their own success stories, these entrepreneurs demonstrated to local people how they could grow a business in the Derbyshire Dales.
Ahead of the Forums, Derbyshire Dales District Council Leader Councillor Lewis Rose OBE said:
"I am delighted to be showcasing Derbyshire Dales Business Advice to local people. I am very keen that residents have this opportunity to come along to a Forum and see what the District Council and its partners is doing to help local firms grow and create more jobs.
"We appreciate people lead busy lives and although we want to see as many as possible in the audience at each of our forums, we're offering the Twitter feed as an alternative. The panel fielded some interesting questions via Twitter at the last round of forums in November and we look forward to more of the same."
Derbyshire County Council used the March forums to consult on draft priorities for its Derbyshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
The forums provide an opportunity for residents to informally meet representatives of the District Council and other organisations.
The customary Question Time session enabled audience members and Twitter followers to ask questions and make comments and suggestions to the various representatives from participating authorities, which, in addition to the District Council, included Derbyshire Constabulary, Derbyshire County Council and the Peak District National Park Authority and Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service.
- Derbyshire Dales Business Advice is free of charge, and available two days a week. It is designed to complement useful online information at businesslink.gov.uk and events organised by the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce. Businesses must be based in the Derbyshire Dales to benefit from the free advice service and priority will be given to those with growth potential. Businesses can use the online enquiry form or call 01629 810903.
