Government has been reshaping the way it deals with economic development and regeneration. This has meant some structural changes, but also a planned new statutory duty for every upper tier local authority to carry out an Economic Assessment for its area. The CDEA will provide the evidence bedrock for future Economic Policy in County Durham; it's important to the County Durham Economic Partnership (CDEP) as it will be central to an early review of its County Durham Economic Strategy and Action Plan. Carrying these out will in turn result in revised service delivery arrangements. The CDEP partners include the major economic policy related bodies and they will be key agents of service delivery.
Government’s Economic Assessment guidance is expected at the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010.
County Durham's Approach
County Durham is pressing ahead in advance of the guidance, using the recent County Durham Economic Strategy (CDES) as a springboard; while the CDES is a good start more evidence is needed for a “complete” picture of the County’s economy. This detailed understanding of the County is important to support input to the City Region relationships, the Integrated Regional Strategy and the early review of the CDES.
A 
CDEA Scoping Paper.pdf (26 pages, 267kb) has been prepared setting out the background and task ahead and the key research question for data collection:
"How can County Durham be more economically competitive?"
Draft CDEA Topic Papers have been developed under the headings of People, Business and Place. They provide initial economic analysis based on available evidence and point up the need for further research and analysis. These initial papers are now ready for consultation for a 6 week period (until Thursday 24 December 2009). Please note that these documents are work in progress and have yet to be endorsed by cabinet. To submit comments on these documents please contact us.
CDEA Competitive People Topic Report (22 pages, 3596kb)
CDEA Competitive Business Topic paper - Draft.pdf (32 pages, 1556kb)
CDEA Competitive Places Topic Report - Draft (45 pages, 10810kb).
Looking further ahead, key activities are:
| July 2009 |
- Consult on CDEA Scoping Report
|
| August - September |
- Publish Scoping Report
- Draft, consult and publish a series of Topic Reports – Business, People, Place (i.e. gap analysis/ research priorities)
- Produce Major Centres profiles
- Develop an economic narrative
- Scope Economic Modelling approach
- Scope Scenario Planning approach
- Scope Monitoring Framework
- Develop initial picture of economic geography
|
| October - November |
- Draft, consult and publish Topic Papers Executive Report
- Commence detailed data analysis – Business, People, Place
- Commission detailed research project (e.g. sectors analysis)
- Commence Scenario Planning work
|
| December – January 2010 |
- Develop and agree a CDEA Monitoring Framework
- Undertake Scenario Planning work
|
| February - March |
- Review of economic evidence base in line with statutory guidance
- Testing and refinement
- Complete Scenario Planning work
- Complete Economic Modelling
|
| April - May |
- Consult on Interim Baseline Assessment (CDEA Vol 1)
|
| June - July |
- Publish Baseline Assessment (CDEA Vol 1)
- Commence CDEA Vol 2
|
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