Condemned agency continues its work

THE Department for Business yesterday tried to provide some constancy in a rapidly changing political and economic landscape by announcing continued terms of appointment to the board of Yorkshire Forward.

The regional development agency and its counterparts are facing abolition. The coalition Government has accused them of lacking accountability and said they failed to narrow the North-South divide.

But three non-executive directors will continue to serve on the board until the RDA closes, helping to oversee a multi-million pound programme.

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They are Mark Lovell, the executive chairman of welfare to work firm A4e, Councillor Mark Kirk, the leader of North Lincolnshire Council, and Linda Pollard, deputy chairwoman of Yorkshire Forward and regional manager for Coutts, the private banking arm of Royal Bank of Scotland.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said in a statement: "As we move toward a new framework for our regional economies, it is important that the development agencies are equipped with the leadership to ensure the transition period is a smooth one.

"The skills and experience of these board members will be a valuable asset during this time and I hope they will continue to work with us to ensure an efficient evolutionary process."

Terry Hodgkinson, chairman of Yorkshire Forward, added: "Our board members understand the Yorkshire and Humber picture, aren't afraid of making tough decisions that will support Yorkshire and Humber's continued economic growth and can provide much needed support to our staff during this very difficult time of closure.

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"Their organisational knowledge, industry expertise and leadership will be invaluable in what is an incredibly challenging time for the organisation and the wider region."

Yorkshire Forward, which has spent more than 2bn since it was founded in 1999, will be wound up by mid 2012 and replaced by local enterprise partnerships, which will be formed by local authority and business leaders.

Last week the regional development agency confirmed that all 450 staff had been invited to apply for voluntary redundancy.

It has also been ordered to find 40m of cuts under the Government's austerity programme.