Local Enterprise Partnerships: Your input please!
Strengthening UK private sector business is a top priority for the coalition government, and their announcement to scrap Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and introduce Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) hands councils and business leaders significant responsibilities in delivering this growth.
LEPs are intended to drive local economic growth across England. The future of our local economies in North Hampshire hinges on the growth of the wealth-generating private sector. To be effective, business and public sector leaders will need to work together and be equally represented, with prominent business leaders chairing the boards.
The government has said that LEPs should reflect functional economic areas and travel to work areas, so North Hampshire Enterprise is supporting Basingstoke & Deane’s proposal to establish an LEP across North Hampshire reflecting the current M3 Economic Board. In our view, our members and the wider business community see far more synergy with the Thames Valley and Surrey Heath than they do with Southampton and Portsmouth. As the business voice for the county, it is vital that we influence this debate with our guidance on how the business environment should be established to encourage sustainable economic growth over the coming decades.
David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, met recently and underlined their shared commitment to LEPs. On the role of chambers in the development of LEPs, David Frost said:
“Chambers will work together with local councils to set a clear vision for growth, prosperity, and jobs – and will help deliver the business backing that these partnerships will need to succeed.” His sentiments were echoed by Eric Pickles, who added that LEPs will be positioned to “make the economy responsive to the needs of local business and local people.”
Outline proposals from partnerships of local authorities and businesses are to be submitted to Government by the 6th September. The legislation to abolish RDAs and enable LEPs is due to be introduced to Parliament in the autumn.
We have put forward a draft paper to the council highlighting our vision for the region for the next 15 to 20 years. Key to this in our view is developing the number of exporting businesses to grow the economy, whilst developing local supply chains to ensure sustainability. We would be very grateful to hear from any businesses on their views on this paper. To comment, please email gill.edinburgh@northhampshireenterprise.co.uk.
