Business seen as key for region’s LEP applications

A total of 56 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) bids – including five in this region -have been made across the country and are now in with central government. 

Sheffield city region’s new local enterprise partnership would have a chairman from the private sector to ensure business is at the heart of its agenda, the key figures behind it have pledged.

Business and civic Leaders have put forward their submission to form an LEP for the Sheffield city region which they believe will give the city region more control over the local economy and economic priorities in the area.

Its 15 strong board would include seven public sector representatives, seven from the private sector and one University Vice-Chancellor with the chair coming from the private sector.

As well as Sheffield, bids have been made for LEPs in the Leeds city region by 10 local authorities; North Yorkshire County Council has teamed up with City of York Council; Hull City Council has submitted a bid in partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Scarborough Borough Council without their North Lincolnshire counterparts; and North Lincolnshire Council has submitted a bid that would comprise a Humber-wide partnership.

Coun Paul Scriven, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “The Local Enterprise Partnership would herald a new era in moving the city area forward.

“The private sector chair is a key ingredient to the LEP proposals. Local business is at the heart of the local enterprise partnership.

“This will not be about inviting business into existing public sector structures, as has been the case in the past. It will be a true partnership, a new agenda for action that is designed with business and led by business.

“It is vital that we redress the balance of public versus private, we need more private sector jobs and growth for the future. We can only do this by working with the private sector, steering the city region’s priorities together.”

Those behind the bid said the Sheffield city region LEP will be able to “work across a geographical area that reflects the economic reality”, and, rather than having a focus on Yorkshire regional boundaries, the LEP will incorporate North Derbyshire and surrounding areas that “are important to the Sheffield City Region’s economy”.

Commenting on the proposals, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: “The bureaucracy of regional development agencies gave local authorities little reason to engage creatively with economic issues. Local enterprise partnerships are a way of tying council and business interests together, and creating the conditions for business to thrive and prosper.”

Business secretary Vince Cable said: “Business leadership in local enterprise partnerships is critical. It is clear that there must be genuine partnership between business and local government and that local enterprise partnerships should be practical bodies for promoting enterprise, not talking shops.

“Trade and investment promotion, sector leadership, innovation, business support and access to finance will in future be led nationally, though with devolved local management in many cases.

“This still leaves huge scope for local initiatives to promote enterprise. The outcome will vary just as local economic priorities differ across the country. In some areas, there might be a focus on skills. In others, local enterprise partnerships may help set priorities for planning and infrastructure decisions.”

The closing date for the consultation on the £1bn Regional Growth Fund also passed on Monday. Announced in the Budget, the fund will provide support for projects that offer significant potential for sustainable economic growth and can create new private sector jobs.