Business support head due to be named

The regional development agency sent two names to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills for consideration. Ministers are expected to announce their decision soon.

The two candidates are Councillor Kath Pinnock, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader of Kirklees council, and Julie Kenny, managing director of Pyronix, a Rotherham-based security systems firm, and a board member of the regional development agency.

The coalition Government is scrapping RDAs and replacing them with local enterprise partnerships, although the chairman's job is expected to be full time.

Yorkshire Forward still exists as a legal entity and as such requires a chairman under law. In reality, the role will likely involve closing down the business and winding down operations before March 2012.

The organisation has around 300 employees – down from 430 after a round of voluntary redundancies – and a slashed budget of 230m, down from 330m per annum before the financial crisis took hold.

Coun Pinnock could not be reached for comment, Ms Kenny did not respond to calls for comment and a spokeswoman for Yorkshire Forward declined to comment.