How do our tactics help us meet the strategy, for the greater good?
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2010-04-16 07:20:39 - Graham Ellis
At what point does one say "look - I'll do this for the great good, not for my own gain"? And how does one turn fine words and strategy into the shorter term tactics within existing rules and philosophies?
Questions that I came away asking from last night's launch of the Mid Wiltshire Economic Partnership. "The Mid Wiltshire Economic Partnership (MWEP) is a new partnership of private and public sector organizations committed to the development of a strong, vibrant, socially and environmentally sustainable economy in Mid Wiltshire. The Partnership’s vision is for a region within Wiltshire whose infrastructure and services support business development, growth, innovation and productivity, attract inward investment, customers and visitors, whilst encouraging skills development and high quality employment for Wiltshire people."
The launch was held at the Wiltshire Music Centre - the first time I have been there and it's a lovely facility. Personally, the only practical way I could get there was to drive, and indeed comment was raised / asked by one member of the suited audience (most of who seemed to be "Councilor" this or public servant that) as to how more input could be raised from business and the voluntary sector. For the voluntary sector, the suggestion was helping them get to the meeting more easily if they didn't have cars, and for the business sector I'm going to suggest answering my "linkage" question so they can see how it will effect them, and running such events so they don't overlap the working day - 4 p.m. o 6 p.m. mya be conveniently at the end of the day for the publci servant types, but it's the worst of both worlds (business day AND after work extenstion) for the typical business.
So what area does the partnership cover? The first three speakers talked of Trowbridge, of Devizes. They made good mention of the Vale of Pewsey. Bradford-on-Avon got a mention, and then Trowbridge again, and we must not forget the Vale. And one speaker pulled in Warminster and Westbury. Other places came into the conversation too - of Frome which in many ways should be part of the grouping, and of Bath, Chippenham and Salisbury, and Swindon. And the last of the three speakers reitereated "Trowbridge, Salisbury and Chippenham".
All very curious - considering the second town of the seven (population wise) is actually Melksham.
Now - I know Melksham far better than any of the other places, so it may be that there are good reasons to prioritise / mention / look after them in precedence. They may have bigger problems - but I found myself concerned at the lack of even a mention from any of the public sector speakers at all. Even the launch invite says "The Partnership includes the towns / community areas of Bradford on Avon, Pewsey, Devizes, Pewsey, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury." - which we were told is a "typo" and which was corrected in some places after we pointed int out. Hmmm - it looks a bit more than a typo - it looks like an institutionalized overlooking of what is - arguably - one of the most successful and largest towns in the group and I hope we're not all dumbed down to the level of the rest. Thus my first question:
How far should we go for the greater good of the area as a whole, and how much should we stand up and selfishly fight Melksham's case?
The fourth speaker was Paul Johnson of Knorr-Bremse. Knorr-Bremse relocated to Melksham about five years ago - to a new, purpose built facility, and they manufacture in Melksham with a workforce of 360, and they supply to the world. Naturally, Paul mentioned Melksham a few times - and talked about how the proportion of their workforce from our very local area had risen from 10% to 29% since they moved, how much they injected into the local economy, and how the Bowerhill area on which they're located hosts other really good, "Queen's Award" businesses too. He was also very positive in saying just how helpful the (previous) council had been in facilitating their move here and to a modern, appropriate facility suitable for the 21st Century.
But ... then Paul went on to talk about "the missing link". How their visitors and deliveries have to come in through Bowerhill as the short and promised link road out to the A350 hasn't been built. And how there's a major corridor - [Trowbridge - Melksham - Chippenham] - which has an railway line but no service to speak of. When you think of it, these are rather curious shortfalls, considering how much talk there had been earlier about funding for environmental projects, and cutting CO2 emissions. There was also much talk about listening to what the people say they want, and providing it.
In the questions, the manager of the Melksham Tourist Information Centre backed up Paul's comments about the public transport provision to and from Melksham - not the first time I have heard her raise the question, and one with which I concur - the current service is at times an embarrassment.
But, alas, this is where the short term tactics seem to differ from the long term strategy. The link road, etc, are "on the list", but "money is scarce for capital projects, so it may not happen soon". And a complete failure to even answer (from the platform) the rail issue that Paul and Terri raised, which does not require any capital investment - just the operation of a train on the line. So - my second question:
How does one turn fine words and strategy into the shorter term tactics within existing rules and philosophies?
Actually - on the latter, I'm slightly encouraged - there's one cheer of hope. At least we have the fine words and the statement of intent, and even they seemed a vain hope two years ago. Perhaps we are making progress and I hope that from it's first, spluttering start the MidWiltshire Economic Partnership will be something of a catalyst for development for the 21st Century.