Partnership is key to future, says city’s Chief Executive
Partnership between the city council and the private sector is key to the future prosperity of Exeter, the authority’s Chief Executive believes.
Karime Hassan, who is also the city council’s Growth Director, is to be a keynote speaker at the ATASS Respect Think Partnership conference being held at Woodbury Park in October (Thursday 17th).
With council budgets already under pressure and Exeter expecting direct funding from central government to fall in the coming years, he says that partnerships between councils, businesses and residents are the best way to ensure the city thrives in the years ahead.
“As funding from central government falls, the amount of money we have available to spend in a number of non-essential areas shrinks,” he said.
“So many areas which have traditionally been supported by councils, are under pressure like never before, and we will have to forge new and innovative partnerships in the private sector and elsewhere if they are to survive and have meaningful outcomes in the future.
“There are already good examples of public-private partnerships in action in Exeter. The work of the Exeter City FC Football in the Community Trust is an excellent example of collaborative partnerships delivering structural programmes. Increasingly, local authorities will need to develop social capital within communities and the private sector can play a vital role in supporting communities and nurturing individuals to produce a stronger Exeter.
“That’s why I’m really pleased to have been given the opportunity to spell out my beliefs at the Think Partnership conference.”
Vanessa Cobb, managing director of ATASS Respect, which is organising the conference, said: “Mr Hassan’s views on the importance of partnership working in the future underline how important it is for businesses to consider how they can best play their part in the community.
“The Think Partnership event has been devised as a way of demonstrating that growing profits and giving something back don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Doing business responsibly, in a sustainable manner, is good for all involved: business owners, employees, the environment and the community.
“I’m really looking forward to hearing Mr Hassan expand on his opinions.”
For more details on the conference please see www.think-partnership.com, and follow @ThinkP2013 on Twitter.
