1. To continue to fight for super-fast broadband in the Highlands. As we have long been campaigning, the remoteness of our region means we need faster broadband speeds more than any other part of the UK. We will continue to highlight the need for increased speeds here and hope for further, more positive announcements during 2012.
2. To work alongside local businesses to lobby The Highland Council and The Scottish Government for a simplified planning process that enables, rather than gets in the way of investment. The construction sector and those supported by it remain in a grim state; yet a number of major planning applications seem to be stalled for months, even years, due to bureaucracy, confusion and a fear of controversy.
3. To encourage business people and members of the local community to get involved in this spring’s local elections. Many people have a latent interest in local council elections, but they can be quick to complain when they don’t agree with decisions. Local Government is hugely important to our day-to-day life, and to the future economic development of Inverness and the Highlands and Islands. Our councillors are responsible for decisions concerning planning; spending of the Common Good Fund and city centre regeneration, all of which has the potential to be of huge benefit to the business community.
4. To ensure momentum builds for progress of the A9/A96 upgrade. During 2011 transport has been a major personal focus and I’m delighted the year brought such progress, with December’s announcement that our lifeline roads will be upgraded to huge economic gain and the new air-link to Amsterdam. We also saw rail services increased to both Inverness and the central belt, although Inverness Chamber remains far from satisfied with the journey times and lack of early morning service to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
These four issues, along with many others that will arise as we progress into 2012, will keep all of us busy at Inverness Chamber of Commerce. We will also remain focused on increasing the number of businesses in membership and, in turn, enhance our member services to include more and different events and increased opportunities for collaboration between members.
This year will continue to be challenging for most of us. But the climate here in the Highlands is more encouraging than in many other regions and we must work together to lobby against restrictions to growth and to grasp opportunities where they arise. At the start of a new year, on behalf of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, I am delighted to take this opportunity to wish you, your staff and customers all the very best and a prosperous and successful 2012.