Council leaders in Southampton have been encouraged to find the city’s ‘unique selling point’ in their pursuit of economic growth.

An external report presented to Southampton City Council’s cabinet recommended developing a clear delivery plan.

This advice was given by a Local Government Association corporate peer challenge team following a four-day visit to Southampton.

The city council’s cabinet member for economic development Cllr Sarah Bogle said the local authority was in the middle of trying to produce a single plan, alongside work to redesign structures to ensure there were sufficient resources.

“For me the big challenge is capacity and also possibly prioritisation,” Cllr Bogle said.

“Those are probably the two things that I am struggling with the most because there are too many things to do and not enough people.”

She asked the lead officer and member peers, who attended the cabinet meeting virtually on Tuesday, May 27, what they had seen work well for other councils.

Ian Davis, chief executive of Lambeth Council, said: “I think the most important thing is for you to decide what your USP (unique selling point) is and for me that has to be something that you are already reasonably good at or have embedded.

“The amount of authorities that I have seen that suddenly decide they want to be the next Silicon Valley and actually they have got very little investment already in their borough in that element. It’s impossible.”

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Mr Davis said businesses tend to “cluster”, explaining that the council needs to look at what its current cluster is and what the supply chains are around that cluster.

He added: “We all say we are, but are our processes really open to business?”

The lead officer peer gave planning as an example of a block often cited by businesses and developers.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, said during the team’s visit he heard that the ambition was there but unlocking some of the barriers was essential.

Council leader Cllr Lorna Fielker highlighted the city centre renaissance vision, which was launched in February, as an “ambitious blueprint” produced in partnership with key stakeholders.

“We know that we are the city of opportunity with a really proud story to tell and we are determined to tell it louder, better and with purpose, and growing and regenerating our city is absolutely key,” Cllr Fielker said.

“We don’t do this on our own. This is something that belongs to everybody.”