LEP to move on without Mersey Partnership

TALKS to formalise the new Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership by incorporating The Mersey Partnership (TMP) have ended without an agreement.

Negotiations have been ongoing for around three months to incorporate The Mersey Partnership (TMP) into the new LEP structure, which has overall responsibility for guiding many of the functions currently undertaken by TMP such as promoting business and tourism in the city-region.

A proposed structure was approved by the LEP’s board which would have seen it incorporating some of TMP, but a disagreement over the structure and the number of staff meant that the two organisations have been unable to agree on a deal.

A spokesman for Liverpool City Region LEP (LCRLEP) said: “It is disappointing to report that a future framework, although approved by the LCRLEP board, has not been concluded between TMP and LCRLEP within the timescale anticipated.

“To that end, LCRLEP has agreed with TMP to withdraw from any further discussions on this matter, which has now been drawn to a close.

“A further announcement will be made shortly on the future direction for LCRLEP which remains clear and strong.”

The LEP’s decision to go it alone now leaves TMP facing an uncertain future. It had previously relied on funding from the North West Regional Development Agency for a significant portion of its funding, which the LEP has succeeded.

A TMP spokesman said: “TMP will not be engaging in speculation or public discussion via the media about the confidential discussions with the LEP.”