Chamber anger at mixed policy messages

The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Shipping said it is yet to hear unified messages from ministers Vince Cable and Eric Pickles on local enterprise partnerships. And it warned that reforms to training provision threaten to wipe out small providers in favour of large corporates.

“The political environment we operate in remains unusually complicated,” said the chamber’s annual report. “The current confusion and mixed messages between different ministers in different parties on local regeneration and on training and education in particular has been unhelpful,” it added. “If they are confused, how are we supposed to provide clarity in response?”

Ian Kelly, chamber chief executive, welcomed the coalition’s invitation to the private sector to lead applications for money from the £1.4bn regional growth fund and the decision to scrap plans to backdate port rates.

He added that talks have resumed between four local authorities in the area about the possibility of forming a pan-Humber local enterprise partnership.

The report said chamber members are reporting a “slow and somewhat fragile” economic recovery, with VAT increases and rises in fuel and raw material costs causing extra problems.

It said Hull’s economy showed more resilience than expected last year and now has considerable cause for optimism following the announcement by Siemens to build a wind turbine factory at the port.

It also reported increased footfall and consumer spend at the city’s key retail offerings.

Last year, the chamber, which has 1,400 members and dates back to 1837, made a modest pre-tax profit of £46,000 on a turnover of £2.9m.