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Walsall Economic Framework 2025 Delivery Mechanisms

Our Approach

This Economic Framework is designed to provide a structure which sets out the full range of actions being undertaken locally in pursuit of strategic economic growth. A significant amount of activity is underway, and more is in the pipeline. This framework should allow partners involved in delivering economic growth to understand the progress Walsall is making and identify gaps in the suite of actions underway. An Action Plan has been created to accompany this framework which partners should use to track delivery progress and inform case-making for future investments. The Action Plan will also help demonstrate to local residents and businesses the range of commitments in place, the progress being made and help the Council articulate the impact it is having on economic trends. 

How Walsall Council Drives Growth

The Action Plan acknowledges the different type of roles that the Council can and should play in delivering the actions. Some of these roles are shared jointly with the Combined Authority and other regional partners to influence productivity, investment and inclusion (Local Government Association – A Force for Growth (2025). The economic development objectives in the framework should be embedded across council functions, encompassing the following types of roles:

  • Facilitating the conditions for growth, including the Council’s ability to shape development through planning policy, master planning, and regulatory decisions to directly influence over the quality, character, and inclusivity of growth.
  • Provider of vital public services that control the social infrastructure that shape opportunities, reduce barriers to participation, and help people into and remain in work.
  • Convening partners to set and achieve shared goals and recognising where the council can add value and where others are best placed to lead.
  • As a key anchor with an economic footprint beyond direct services as a key employer and holder of valuable assets.

To achieve the goals in the Economic Framework, the Council will commit to:

1) Creating governance for the framework and action plan

Although Walsall Council sits at the centre of local economic development activity and has primary ownership of the strategic framework, the Vision for growth should be broadly owned by partner agencies with a stake in Walsall’s economic fortunes. A partnership approach is required to build and maintain oversight over the many initiatives underway in the borough that support the frameworks’ strategic goals. The Council will put in place appropriate governance arrangements that will help to maintain an overview of progress of the framework actions and to support momentum on Walsall’s long-term progress towards its economic Vision. Governance will also be key to ensuring insight and intelligence is shared to help Walsall have a stronger shared understanding of the issues and progress, and that there is strategic pipeline planning and agreement for future investments. The governance arrangements will ensure representation from key partners, organisations and stakeholders, including officers of the Council, West Midlands Combined Authority, the West Midlands Economic Development Vehicle/Business Growth West Midlands, Walsall College, University of Wolverhampton, together with existing forums/boards including the Walsall Employment & Skills Board and the Walsall Economic Forum (which represents local businesses), plus major housing providers and major local investors/developers. 

We will ensure that the strategy is well resourced by staff at the Council, working closely with the new Economic Development Vehicle. We will also explore different avenues to fund the strategy, including external funding or revenue streams which can support long-term economic growth.

2) Maintain a live action plan

The Action Plan that has been assembled in the course of developing this framework needs to be maintained as a live log of all investments being made into the growth of Walsall’s economy. This requires regular attention to ensure partners have an up to date understanding of the progress being made and to help identify blockages that may require attention. The schedule of progress should also help plan ahead for the follow-on investments needed to build momentum towards tackling some of the deeply entrenched challenges and build on the assets being created. The Action Plan is currently an initial position statement which needs to be added to with intelligence on the scale and timings of each of the identified action areas and be the basis for progress reports for Council officers and partners to inform their planning and where required co-ordinate delivery.

3) Produce regular intelligence and progress reports

The Economic Framework is based on the latest data for Walsall. The global trends impacting on Walsall and the investments being made into the borough should see those indicators shift over time. Our goal is to positively improve the headline indicators, but we also recognise that unexpected factors may arrive to disrupt our progress and create new challenges or opportunities for our economy. The two dashboards that have been produced for the Business Growth and Learning, Skills & Employment Strategy (below) set out the data that has underpinned this framework. Going forward, they should be maintained as new data is released. Regular reports on change in the borough should also be produced to help inform the work of Council officers and partners.