Suffolk business welcome Local Economic Partnerships

The business community in Suffolk has welcomed the new government’s initiative to establish Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to replace Regional Development Agencies.

The creation of LEPs was announced by the Secretaries of State for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG), in a letter to local authority and business leaders on 29^th June 2010. Since then the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce (SCoC) has led consultations with business leaders, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the Institute of Directors (IoD), Ipswich and Suffolk Small Business Association (ISSBA) and MENTA, Suffolk’s Enterprise Agency, to establish a clear business perspective on LEPs.

This view was published on 27^th August and will be incorporated in the final proposals submitted on behalf of Suffolk by Suffolk County Council on 6^th September.

Commenting on the consultations Dr Peter Funnell, President of Suffolk Chamber said:

“The business community welcomes the LEPs initiative. Our local consultation has been wide ranging and has been complemented and reinforced by discussions with Chamber colleagues in the East of England, discussions facilitated through our national body the British Chambers of Commerce, together with national office thinking of the IoD and FSB. And whilst there are inevitably different views a broad consensus has emerged through this process and this has informed our proposals.”

Dr Funnell went on:

“Suffolk business leaders see the creations of LEPs as an important new opportunity to shape and develop the economic future of the county; a time for innovatory ideas!

“Whilst there is little detailed information available about the government’s thinking on LEPs we have taken the initiative and consulted our members and now have enough appreciation of their views to be able to outline a number of working principles that we believe will strengthen any emerging partnership.”

These include:

• ­Business would like to see radical thinking not just about the geography of a LEP but also about the functions, powers and the resources available, however limited;
• ­The emphasis should be on improving productivity, promoting enterprise, creating jobs and diversifying the local economy;
• ­Business does not regard the formation of a LEP as the objective; it’s a means to an end and that end should be a strong local economy serving companies, working people and the wider community alike;
• ­LEPs should be strategic bodies that provide a long-term vision, access resources and commission delivery. What business does not want is a toothless talking shop. To do this and encourage enterprise a LEP needs a robust and transparent mandate and effective governance arrangements.

Following consultation two proposals have emerged which address these principles. An East Anglian LEP based on the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and North Essex, and an alternative East Coast LEP taking in the Norfolk, Suffolk and North Essex coastal strip and its rural hinterland.

Dr Funnell said:

“There are strong rationales for either an East Anglia LEP or an East Coast LEP. Whilst the former is the option most favoured by businesses and is our preferred option, the latter offers a viable and exciting alternative and a coherent locus of activity. However to take full advantage of the opportunities created by the LEP development it is essential that the consideration of geography and boundaries flow from initial consideration of role, function and funding.

“Whatever final structures emerge the business community is committed to making its contribution to this new agenda but recognises that to do so will necessitate a cultural change in the dialogue between the public and private sectors. From one where business often feel excluded to one where business is at the centre of innovative processes of change and development.

“We look forward to working with partners and stakeholders to further develop and refine our proposals in the light of the Government White Paper scheduled for later in the year.”

The full Local Enterprise Partnership consultation documents can be found below: