Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: September 9, 2025

Purpose: Seeking approval and endorsement of the Bucks Economic Growth Plan to deliver the Growth Board’s ambitions to increase economic growth and productivity to 2035

Content: The Cabinet received the Buckinghamshire Economic Growth Plan 2025-2035 which was a place-based plan for the Buckinghamshire Growth Board, building on the economic ambitions set out in the Bucks Strategic Vision for 2050 (adopted by the Growth Board in 2021). It had been shaped by the Bucks Growth Board which would oversee and help deliver our economic vision, priorities and actions to 2035.   This Economic Growth Plan refreshed and updated Buckinghamshire’s 2019 Local Industrial Strategy and aligned with the UK Industrial Strategy published in June 2025. It was focussed on addressing productivity challenges, articulating growth potential to 2035, and guiding development of investment propositions which contributed to economic growth and deliver high-quality job opportunities.   The Economic Growth Plan would be used to engage government, national agencies and local partners to highlight how Buckinghamshire, with further investment, could support Government in delivering its Industrial Strategy ambitions. It set out several key actions for economic growth across the five strategic priorities to be delivered through a national, regional and local partnership approach.   The Buckinghamshire Economic Growth Plan would be launched at the Buckinghamshire Economic Summit in September; a high-profile event which would promote Buckinghamshire as a place to invest. It would involve public and private sector partners, and it would be framed in the context of the new guidance from Government around Local Growth Plans as overarching regional plans.   Therefore, the adoption of the Bucks Economic Growth Plan was being sought.  Once approval and adoption had taken place, the investment propositions that would best address the challenges set out within the plan could be finalised. This would come in a shorter (two page) prioritised investment pipeline to sit alongside the growth plan. This would also sit alongside an employer focussed summary.   RESOLVED that, as a member of the Buckinghamshire Growth Board, the Buckinghamshire Economic Growth Plan 2025-2035 as the overarching plan to drive economic growth be adopted.