The Waveney Economic Partnership (WEP) is a delivery group of
the Waveney Local Strategic
Partnership concerned with the economic prosperity and
development of Waveney.
Established in July 2001, the WEP was established to raise the
profile of the Waveney economy and ensure a strategic dialogue
about the Waveney economy takes place between the public, private
and voluntary sector resulting in agreed issues and needs being
dealt with.
Richard Perkins is the current Chairman. He is also principal of
Richard Perkins and Associates, a director of Suffolk Chamber of
Commerce and Board Member of both 1st East and the Suffolk
Development Agency.
In 2007, the WEP, along with Waveney District Council and East
of England Development Agency commissioned a firm of consultants to
produce the Waveney
Prospectus which would serve as a framework for the
regeneration of the District over the next 5-10
years. This focuses particularly on Lowestoft (outside
the 1st East area), Kessingland and the four market
towns of Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and Southwold. The WEP is now
the key driver in delivering the Waveney Prospectus.
The Waveney Prospectus is organised around 6 key themes each
containing a delivery action plan to address the key economic
investment and community regeneration gaps within Waveney. These
action plans require the leadership and collaboration of all the
key players within WEP, therefore a member of the WEP has been
nominated to act as a ‘Champion’ for each theme. The Champions will
then bring together the relevant partners within a
Sector Action Team (SAT) to coordinate the delivery of their
respective action plans.
Membership of the WEP
The WEP brings together
the principle organisations concerned with the district's
economic development including representatives from the public and
private sector, education providers and other relevant
organisations.
Meetings
The WEP board hold their quarterly
meetings around the District endeavouring to highlight its
significance in delivering economic prosperity across the whole of
the District.
Contact the WEP
Debra Smith
WEP Facilitator
c/o Waveney District Council
Town Hall
High Street
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR32 1HS
Telephone:01502 523306
Email:wep@waveney.gov.uk