Marches LEP ahead of the game at national summit
The partnership tasked with leading economic growth in the Marches is “ahead of the game” and well-placed to progress its work on revitalising the region. That was the view from the chairman of the Marches LEP, Dr Geoffrey Davies OBE, following a national summit of LEPs held in London.
Dr Davies joined representatives of 24 other local enterprise partnerships at the inaugural LEP conference which was also attended by Business Secretary Vince Cable MP and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles MP.
He said: “It was interesting to hear the Government's view on the progress of the LEPs across the country and valuable to discover how other partnerships are structured and how they are dealing with challenges.
“But what struck me was how, once again, the Marches was ahead of the game. One of the first partnerships to set up a shadow board, we were also in the first tranche of 24 LEPs to be approved by the Government, joining some of the country’s urban powerhouses at the cutting edge of economic development.
“And from my discussions it was clear that we are the only board set up with close working relationships with three very active business boards, those of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Telford & Wrekin. We also seemed to be ahead of the game by setting up a subsidiary board for the management of the Enterprise Zone in Herefordshire.”
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told the summit that LEPs had an 'unprecedented opportunity' to take choice and make decisions.
“This is one of those points in history where individuals really do have a chance to make their mark. The next year has to be about turning ambition into results. Government is ready to listen. There is no limit to what partnerships might want to propose but their own imagination and ambition, nothing is off the table."
The event also heard from Phillip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Transport, who announced a proposal to fully devolve decisions and funding for local capital transport improvements to a number of ‘Local Transport Consortia’. These would be made up of a number of LEPs and their constituent local authorities.
Dr Davies added: “I agree with Mr Hammond's view that many of the most important transport issues are local in nature and that local transport problems are best solved by local people. LEPs are uniquely placed to contribute to strategic decisions which best align transport investment with growth.
“The summit was a good idea and a worthwhile exercise. I was encouraged by what I learned and feel we are well placed to make real progress with the work of the Marches LEP.”
A larger conference for LEPs is to be held in February next year.
