Exeter to host Bank of England Citizens’ Panel
Exeter is to host a new forum for the public to air their views directly to policy makers at the Bank of England.
The Citizens’ Panel will offer people a chance to tell the Bank what they think about issues such as jobs, pay, housing and the cost of living.
The panels are being established following the publication of a report by the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce which called on the Bank to create new panels across the UK to improve its understanding of the economy.
Alex Brazier, the Bank’s Executive Director for Financial Stability Strategy and Risk, will participate in the first meeting of the new panel for the South West. He urged people from across the region to get involved.
Alex said: “This is an important event for the Bank of England. I’m really looking forward to joining the panel in Exeter.
“We’re trying to deepen our understanding of the economic issues that are having the biggest effect on communities and people across the whole of the UK.
“And because we work for everyone in the UK, people rightly should have the chance to be able to hold us to account directly.”
The new panel will be chaired by Julie Hawker, chief executive of Devon IT company Cosmic, and a board member at the South West Business Council, Exeter Chamber of Commerce, and the Exeter & Heart of Devon Skills Partnership.
Julie said: “I’m really excited to be involved in what promises to be a ground breaking initiative for the Bank. I’m especially pleased that the South West is one of the first places in the UK to host one of these new panels.
“I hope that we can attract a wide range of applications to join the panel from people across the South West so that we can hear from as many diverse voices as possible.
“I’m particularly keen to stress that you don’t need to be an expert on the economy to come along – we want to talk about the things that matter to us all such as jobs and pay and the cost of living.”
Applications to join the panel are now open. The Bank hopes to attract a wide range of people from a variety of backgrounds across the region. Anyone over the age of 18 is able to apply.
The Bank is working with a range of local charities and community groups to assist with the recruitment of panel members.
The first meeting of the panel will take place in Exeter from 6-9pm on 10 April 2019.
Donna Kehoe, the Bank’s Agent for the South West, said: “I am delighted that Julie has agreed to chair our new Citizens’ Panel for the South West.
“I know she will ensure that the members of the panel get their chance to have their say on the economic issues that are important to them.”
If you would like to apply to join the panel or would like more information, visitwww.bankofengland.co.uk/outreach/citizens-panels or call the Bank’s South West Agency on 0117 920 0094.
The closing date for applications is 23 March 2019.
