"A strong and clear direction" New plan aims to bring more jobs to Gosport

A council leader hopes a new plan for the future will help create jobs, improve health and deliver better housing within two years.

Cllr Zoe Huggins BEM, leader of Gosport Borough Council, said she wants to see “real impact” on employment figures as the authority begins work on its new council strategy.

The plan sets out six priorities for Gosport, including regenerating the town centre and waterfront, growing the economy, improving services, protecting the environment and heritage, and supporting healthier communities.

It also aims to attract investment and help businesses grow, while improving access to jobs, skills and services.

Cllr Huggins said she hoped the strategy would begin delivering change over the next 18 months, with discussions already taking place with major developers and smaller businesses.

She said: “If I were to talk about changes in statistics in two years’ time, I would really like our employment statistics to have improved, and our health benefits to have improved.

“These are also co-dependent on the wider Hampshire County Council work we are doing.

“If we’ve created jobs, they need to be sustainable jobs.”

Cllr Huggins said developing the waterfront and improving digital connectivity are key areas where the council wants to make progress.

She said conversations had already taken place with UK Docks and around the Daedalus waterfront development, alongside discussions with small and medium-sized businesses.

But she said the authority also had to consider its financial position when turning its ambitions into projects.

Cllr Huggins said: “We have to make sure there is confidence. We also have to make sure there is strong and clear direction too to ensure that there is investment and sustainability.”

The council also hopes to grow the visitor economy by better connecting attractions across the borough.

Cllr Huggins said: “We want to create places people want to experience, so that they come and visit and increase our visitor economy.

“Joining up our museums, our hospitality and entertainment places, that is really important.”

More details will be set out through delivery plans, while the council said progress will be monitored and reviewed each year.

Cllr Huggins added that an annual report and performance management frameworks would be used to measure progress.

She added: “To me, it is about saying that you can hold me to this.”