City Council vows to work with business on LEP plan
THE leader of Coventry City Council has said working with the private sector in a new Local Enterprise Partnership could be the key to helping ensure the area thrives in the recovering economy.
Cllr John Mutton said his authority would have no qualms about working with the private sector and underlined his plans for a successful LEP when he met with business leaders at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
He said: “Some may ask whether you should be trying to assist the private sector when you have social issues to resolve instead.
“But I don’t see it as one or the other – the two go hand-in-hand. If we can get businesses growing in the city and taking on more people, then that is for the good of everyone.”
He said the greater the wealth that could be created in Coventry and the sub-region of Warwickshire the better as this would provide a boost to local taxes and improve the standard of living for many people.
“It’s not about providing money to businesses – it will be about helping them to create the right conditions for growth,” he said.
The redevelopment of the city centre, transport links across Coventry and Warwickshire, the skills shortage, international trade and a host of other issues would also form a crucial part of how the LEP operated, he added.
More than 20 business people – including representatives from Jaguar, Peugeot, a range property companies, IKEA and Barclays Bank – all attended the meeting, which was chaired by Larry Coltman, a past president of the chamber.
He said firms had welcomed the opportunity to speak to the leader of the City Council.
“In this changing world, we all have to work and think differently. The chamber has always been in regular dialogue with politicians and civic leaders on a local, national and European level to ensure our needs are understood by decision makers,” he said.
“There is clearly some uncertainty with regards to the future and how a Local Enterprise Partnership will work practically and geographically.
“So, whatever happens, we will need to work very closely with the council to ensure that the conditions are right for the city and region to be best placed for the economic recovery.”
Cllr Mutton, left, is pictured with Louise Bennett, chief executive Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and Larry Coltman.
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