Council’s new leaders look to the economy

THE new leadership of Hull City Council wants to team up with authorities and businesses across the Humber to boost the economy in a move which will boost hopes of convincing the Government to set up a low-tax Enterprise Zone there.

Labour leader Stephen Brady has pledged to back a Humber-wide Local Enterprise Partnership after the party swept to power in last week’s local elections.

The announcement will please business leaders who were at odds with the previous Liberal Democrat administration’s reluctance to create a Humber-wide partnership, preferring instead to work with the East Riding and Scarborough and leave the south bank to form another partnership.

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If councillors and business leaders can now agree a new bid to Ministers to set up a partnership, they will also be able to apply to set up an Enterprise Zone.

Ministers want to set up 21 of the zones – with Leeds and Sheffield city regions among the first wave of 11 – where businesses will be offered rate discounts, superfast broadband and fast-track planning to set up there.

The Government has said zones will only be set up in areas with a Local Enterprise Partnership, and Ministers have been frustrated by the Humber’s inability to come to an agreement so far.

Coun Brady’s statement could open the way to a full-blown Humber-wide partnership, leading to job creation and a boost to the economy.

Coun Brady said: “I want to work closely with the leaders of the other Humber Authorities as well as local businesses to unlock the economic potential of Hull and the surrounding region.”

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