Leeds City Region unveils plan to become local enterprise partnership

The Leeds City Region has become one of the first areas to announce its intention to form a Local Enterprise Partnership.

The move follows a vote in favour by the leaders of 11 councils in the region, which has close to 3m people and an economy worth £50bn a year.

The member authorities are Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York, along with North Yorkshire County Council.

The region will now submit a statement of intent to the Department for Communities and Local Government. The new LEP will draw on the existing city region partnership, but have greater involvement from business.

Cllr Stephen Houghton, leader of Barnsley MBC, will become chair of the existing partnership. He will also interim chair of the LEP until such time as an independent chair is appointed.

Houghton said: “City region leaders have taken the decision to develop a loal enterprise partnership for the city region on the basis that this is the level at which our businesses operate and communities live their day to day lives.

“We have a strong track record of working together across boundaries over the past six years and we look forward to working with business in the coming months to develop a joint approach to driving growth and rebalancing our economy.”

LEPs have been introduced as a replacement for regional development agencies, which are to be abolished.

The Leeds City Region has also agreed a £110m funding deal with the Homes and Communities Agency to support the delivery of major housing and regeneration schemes over the next 12 months. The funding will be allocated through a joint board.

See also: Goodbye RDAs, Hello LEPs.