COUNTY chiefs will look to help small businesses and support debt advisors as part of a bid to help people in Suffolk weather the economic downturn.

COUNTY chiefs will look to help small businesses and support debt advisors as part of a bid to help people in Suffolk weather the economic downturn.

It has emerged that Suffolk County Council will outline a series of steps to help people and businesses at a summit conference being held next week.

Councils from across the county are preparing to pull together and unite in adopting strategies to help businesses and establish the best route forward.

Jeremy Pembroke said the focus of the summit was for the partners involved to come up with immediate initiatives to help a broad spectrum of people.

He said: “One of the messages I will be giving is to say that we are actually trying to work together to see what we can do to lessen the burden on individuals.

“As a council we are substantial purchasers of goods and services and although we have a 30-day credit we are very keen to pay earlier because funding for local businesses is not good at the moment.

“It will be a cost to us but at the moment it is absolutely vital to help small businesses.

“I also want to think about what we can do to help the Citizens Advice Bureau.

“I don't want anyone to feel they are on their own.”

The summit, being held in Ipswich on Thursday December 4, will be chaired by Neil Watts, headteacher at Northgate High School.

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