Council concern for recession-hit businesses

Cllr. Tommy Nicholl flagged up the potential benefits for the local economy of “an official meet” with Invest NI at last Monday night’s meeting in Ardeevin.

“I have been thinking for some time that we should meet with Invest NI, from a council perspective, about jobs in the borough,” Cllr. Nicholl said.

“We should be doing an official meet to see if there is anything we can bring to their attention or anything this Council can do to help them.

“We are not going to get anything by sitting on our backsides and doing nothing,” said Cllr. Nicholl.

The Mayor, Cllr. Maurice Mills replied that it was something which Council was already “looking at”.

The discussion was prompted in the chamber by Cllr. James Currie’s remark that he had been approached recently by a number of ratepayers who, he said, were “concerned due to the recession about the security of their jobs”.

Responding that “A lot of businesspeople really do need a hand up”, Cllr Neil Armstrong suggested that highly successful locally based companies including Wrightbus and Michelin be invited to “come on board” any council initiative.

Cllr. Paul Frew pointed out that increasing the size of small businesses, particularly through export, was “the key to getting out of recession”.

Cllr. Davy Tweed added that employees should also be helped.

“A lot of employees in small businesses are being asked to do more to keep their jobs,” he said.

“The point blank situation is that people are frightened to open their mouths because they are scared of losing their jobs and that’s a depression on those people,” said Cllr. Tweed.

It was pointed out by Cllr. PJ McAvoy that Council had an Economic Development Committee which, together with the Committee for Town Development, could take all such issues on board.