KEY movers and shakers in York were meeting this afternoon for the first time to discuss the city's economic problems and what to do about them.

The Future York meeting comes in the wake of a succession of job losses in both the manufacturing and finance sectors, more recently with the axing of 645 jobs at Nestle Rowntree This comes on top of 300 jobs lost when Terry's quit the city and with more to come as British Sugar announced that its York factory is to shut by the end of 2007 with the loss of 100 permanent jobs plus the knock-on effect from the rural supply chain.

Ironically, the meeting this afternoon is being hosted by Norwich Union Life at its Ouse-side HQ, which in September announced 450 job losses.

Top people at the meeting include Paul Grimwood, managing director of Nestle Rowntree, David Atkinson, chief executive of the City of York Council, Len Cruddas, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Barry Dodd, of Yorkshire Forward, and Mike Galloway, of York College.

It will be chaired by Christopher Garnett, former chief executive of GNER.

He said: "This first meeting will set out to investigate the facts - the scale of the problem York faces.

"The city has lost and created jobs every year and we need to know what is the net position. Then we can formulate ways of tackling any problems we may pinpoint.

"I hope that by February or March we can produce a report, hopefully with some constructive suggestions."

Tony Blair has already agreed to examine the new economic strategy which Mr Garnett's group may draw up.

The Prime Minister made this pledge at a meeting last month with York MP Hugh Bayley. Mr Blair also urged Yorkshire Forward to encourage fresh inward investment into York.