Mixed business reaction to proposals for LEPs

There are five proposals led by Leeds, Sheffield, Hull, York and North Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire councils.

While bids from Sheffield, Leeds, York and North Lincolnshire have generally received positive feedback, Hull is finding it difficult to gain local support for a north Humber organisation after the council refused to join forces with North Lincolnshire to create a Humber-wide partnership.

The deadline for bids to be sent to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills passed on Monday night.

Leeds City Council joined forces with 10 other councils in West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Barnsley, making it one of the biggest LEPs in the country and was put together with the help of over 300 businesses.

It is expecting to appoint an independent chairman from the business community by Christmas.

The Sheffield City Region LEP bid includes a 15-strong board split between the public and private sectors. It also includes one university vice chancellor.

The organisation will cover the whole of South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire.

James Newman, Sheffield's Master Cutler, said: "The private sector is ready to work with local authorities across the city region, to lead and coordinate action and investment, strengthen economic growth and rebalance the economy to increase private sector investment and local jobs for local people."

Hull Council submitted an LEP bid in partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Scarborough Borough Council.

Leader Carl Minns rejected calls for a Humber-wide LEP because he said the economic areas of the north and south Humber did not match.

He added: "It's no secret that Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce supports a Humber-wide approach but the Federation of Small Businesses has been relatively supportive of our bid."

Meanwhile, North Lincolnshire Council bid for an organisation to cover the whole of the Humber with responsibility for ports, logistics, renewables and petro-chemicals.

York and North Yorkshire councils, which are part of the Leeds City Region proposal, also submitted a separate bid, which set out an aspiration to work closely with the East Riding.

Yorkshire proposals also recognise calls for a separate region-wide body to work alongside the LEPs, which is being championed by business leaders.