When James Carville, Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign strategist, put up a sign in the election office reading ‘(it’s) the economy, stupid’, he coined a term that has become a mantra for people of all persuasions in public life to explain how efforts are really judged, especially by voters.

At the local scale, the economy matters because it’s a tangible way we all see progress where we live.

The short term furore of a debate around nuclear disarmament by Salisbury City Council is no longer the hot topic of conversation it once was but commentary around empty shops remains.

It’s been six months since I was elected as a City Councillor and what has become clear is that growing Salisbury’s economy needs to be viewed as the most pressing task for those in positions of responsibility locally.

Whether it’s how we provide increased opportunity for our young people, drive up footfall, or support start-ups, this must be a mission that everyone recognises here in Salisbury, while our MP continues to advocate for us in Parliament.

So what needs to be done? As a start, the City Council should seek further sponsorship of its civic events to release investment for the presentation of the charter market and street scene.

In the same way they give funding to community projects, the City Council should create a small grant for local independent businesses to bid for money to help with the upkeep of their shopfront, from attractive planters to new signage.

We need to see enhanced dialogue between local authorities, businesses and organisations, across the city, while external investment from larger companies, providing more employment, is key.

New educational opportunities need to support those residents with a great idea that could become a profitable business too.

More widely, we need an economic strategy that threads together the different component parts in Salisbury while identifying opportunities for growth. The investment in life sciences as part of Salisbury District Hospital’s HEAT project is an excellent place to start.

To be clear, this isn’t a political piece. At its different tiers of local government, Salisbury is ruled by just about every party but the Greens, with many independent organisations all with a stake as well.

This is more the start of a debate, the prompting of a conversation.

We are very lucky to live in Salisbury; our city, with its riverside location, medieval market, and stunning Cathedral, is also the gateway to beautiful South West England, and is a place where everyone knows each other.

It’s incumbent on leaders across Salisbury to make sure that the economy delivers for us all in order for the city to keep growing from strength to strength. Now how stupid does that sound?