Leeds City Region: Time for a clear vision
THE Leeds City Region needs to develop a clear vision and focus on deliverable goals, according to Roger Marsh.
The senior partner in PwC’s Leeds office was speaking at a round table discussion to discuss the future of the Leeds City Region.
Mr Marsh said: “Manchester has a hymn sheet and is singing from it. We need to do the same to bring together the powers of this region. If you can set realistic objectives and a small number you can achieve them. The Leeds City Region has 143 initiatives and that is not very prioritised.
“For example we could say let’s put LCR on the BRIC map. That’s pretty powerful and better than saying let’s build something in Heckmondwike.
“We should be saying to people in London come up and see the LCR. And when they do, let’s have the script we have been talking about. The RDAs tried to do everything but did nothing and spent a lot of money doing it.”
A full report of the discussion can be read in the Leeds City Region: A Force for Growth supplement, in association with DLA Piper and Santander.
Neil Williams, Yorkshire regional director for Santander Corporate Banking, called for “output targets” and “priority sectors” to be set in the City Region.
“Let’s take an aggressive agenda to government and tell them about the toolset we need.
“Everyone is on the same page about what we need to do. The LEP is the co-ordinator to bring things together. We’ve got a real opportunity. Be it the public or private sector side everyone wants to pull in the right direction.
“Customers at present are saying what’s needed of me, can I contribute and what are the benefits of the LEP? It’s in everyone’s interests to get the City Region going.”
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