Regional devolution ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’

LIVERPOOL City Region should seize the ‘unparalleled opportunity’ of regional devolution.

That was the message from Robert Hough, the chairman of the region’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), when he addressed a 100-strong audience of senior decision-makers last night.

Mr Hough, speaking at the LEP’s annual dinner for corporate members at the Martin Luther King building at the Albert Dock was joined at the event by guest speaker journalist and political correspondent, Michael Crick.

Hough said: “In recent months the Chancellor has restated his ambition for cities and city regions to take greater control of their own affairs.  There is now clarity of landscape and an unparalleled opportunity to control our own destiny.

“My own view is that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do things that will help transform the City Region.  Devolution must not be about process – it has to be about purpose, opportunity and ambition.  And if the prize is right, we should go for it – others will, and if we do not, we will be eclipsed.”

Hough continued to say how the City Region stands on the brink of its next major leap forward and that a devolution deal would be built on the foundations already established by the operations of the LEP.

He added: “Our symmetry is perfect, with the LEP area and the Combined Authority sharing the same geography.  We have shown through our Growth Deal that we have the structure; we have the plan and the projects to be given more powers, responsibilities and funding.”

Mr Hough also celebrated a great year for the LEP commenting that it is a nearly a year ago that the LEPs Local Growth Deal was announced by Government.

On the Growth Deal, he said: “This was an early form of Devolution in that it was through the Growth Deal Process that Government asked LEPs to create Plans and allocated Local Growth Funds. Our LEP responded exceptionally well to a difficult challenge to secure over £1billion of investment. The LEP, working with partners, won those funds for the City Region.

“But it doesn’t stop there, continued Hough, just take our hugely successful Business Growth Grant Programme which, with our Local Authority partners across the City Region, has so far created and safeguarded over 900 jobs with more to be confirmed over the next two years.

“We are also working with SMEs through our New Markets programme to support high growth business expansion and will be soon launching our Growth Hub which will simplify and strengthen the business landscape.

“But this isn’t the whole story; we are also operating relentlessly across boundaries with the private sector and partners on other topics to progress growth such as High Speed Rail, Atlantic Gateway, and our three Enterprise Zones. We are literally and metaphorically building bridges and planning strategically.”

Hough continued: “The LEP model is here to stay for this Parliamentary term at the very least and with evidence of our success stacking up, in terms of more jobs, better skilled people and more inward investment, the LEP occupies a unique place at the heart of the City Region’s future.”

He added: “Our LEP is unique because of its knowledge about economic growth, its interface with businesses within the key growth sectors and because our members represent all the component parts of a successful economy.

“The future economic landscape is brimming with opportunity. We have done great things together in the City Region in the last four years or so, but I feel the best is still to come.”

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