COUNCIL BUSINESS

I’d be the last person to offer gratuitous advice about work/life balance, but as that is the theme of this issue of Business Matters, I’ll have to offer up some insight into how I cope with its absence instead!

Being effective as an elected representative means keeping the heartfelt embers of passion and positivism stoked. It means remaining sensitive to the needs of other people even when the long days mean there is little left to give. It means embracing respect for all people and their differences at all times.

Protecting these attributes in the blood sport of politics can’t be achieved by developing crusty defence mechanisms. That would be self-defeating.

If I was to offer one piece of advice it would be to regularly articulate the values that you live by so they remain the touchstones of your life. Repeat them often, out loud and without apology. Make them into banners that fly above the negatives. This is the thread that holds you together no matter where you are in life.

One-stop shop for business support

Many business advocates in our region have been calling for a more accessible, single point of entry for businesses and investors seeking information and accessing services from council.

In response, council’s business reform initiative will consolidate the programs and services previously offered through Sunshine Coast Enterprises (SCE) with those provided through council’s own Economic Development Branch.  In addition, council is revising its suite of business support services (clinics, workshops and so forth) to provide a better service offering to small business.

These measures will consolidate council’s expertise and resources. By providing a single point of access for business support services and removing the potential for duplication, overhead costs will be reduced and funding will be targeted at the delivery of economic development initiatives.

The services and staff of SCE have transferred to council’s Economic Development Branch. Funding previously provided to SCE will continue to be available for economic development initiatives.

The result will be a consolidated service for existing businesses and potential business investors and a concentrated energy around regional economic development.

Jobs for the Coast campaign

As part of its commitment to the Jobs for the Coast campaign, council recently announced the establishment of a new Economic Development Advisory Board.

The new Economic Development Advisory Board will provide an independent source of advice from respected business leaders in the region. This will ensure that council’s economic development strategy, programs and services are better tailored to creating and supporting sustainable business and employment opportunities.

The former SCE board members have been appointed to the Economic Development Advisory Board. These members have a strong mix of business skills, expertise and connections with the commercial sector.

The focus of the Economic Development Advisory Board is on partnerships with business and industry to promote the region as an ideal business investment location – and that means jobs for our communities.

The Coast’s unemployment rate for the 12-month period ending February 2011 was 6.4 percent – down from 7.1 percent for the 12 months ending in March last year.

While this is good news – and a sign that the worst of the GFC may be behind us – the unemployment rate is still higher than the state average of 5.7 percent for the same period.

Nobody denies that these are tough times.  Small businesses – which make up more than 95 percent of all businesses in the region – are the backbone of our economy and many are struggling with higher operating costs, uncertain markets and the flow on impacts of recent extreme weather events in Queensland.

The Economic Development Advisory Board members will be communicating extensively with the business community – including Chambers of Commerce, the Sunshine Coast Business Council and local business owners – so that their ideas and aspirations feed into council’s economic development agenda.

Cr Debbie Blumel, Division 8, Major Projects Portfolio

Customer Service
Tel: 5475 7272
Debbie.Blumel@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

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