Government set to reveal first wave of LEPs

THE long-awaited announcement on the much-debated replacement for regional development agencies like the North West Development Agency is expected today.

Communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles and business secretary Vince Cable will unveil the Government’s white paper on the LEPs and reveal which of the 56 which submitted bids have been successful.

The decision to axe the RDA quangos was announced shortly after the Coalition Government came to power. The new LEPs will be run jointly by councils and the local business community.

The Government intends for them to be more accountable, with funding provided to them for projects from its new £1.4bn regional growth fund.

Details of how this will work are also expected to be outlined by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg today, who is visiting a plastics manufacturer in Oldham and then meeting council chiefs at Manchester Town Hall.

It is expected that the LEP bids for Greater Manchester and Merseyside, will be among the first wave of LEPs to be given the green light today.