Joint forces will fight our corner for public funding
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will be served by two Local Enterprise Partnerships under plans being worked up by local authorities.
Councils in Torbay, Devon, Plymouth, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are working together on a bid to form a peninsula-based LEP.
And Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are also working with businesses on a submission for a separate LEP.
The idea is that the smaller LEP would focus on day-to-day economic development, tapping into existing structures such as the Cornwall Development Company, its unitary authority and the Convergence Partnership to drive the Duchy's economy forward. Ideas on the table for a Cornish LEP include the creation of a Cornwall Investment Fund to develop key projects as well as positioning the county as a possible host for a national centre for renewable energy.
It would work closely with an LEP comprised of businesses, Torbay and Plymouth unitary authorities and Devon County Council on strategic issues such as transport and lobbying.
This critical mass is seen by many in the business community as crucial to give the Westcountry a loud enough voice to successfully lobby for scarce public funding.
"Our aim is to try to co-ordinate everything with our peninsula partners. We don't want to make a big, complicated structure, it's got to be simple," said Sandra Rothwell, head of economic development at Cornwall Council.
Vivien Pengelly, leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "I look forward to being able to present some fresh and efficient ideas to ministers in early September."
Torbay Council's Mayor, Nick Bye, said: "We have a common identity in the far South West and it makes sense for Torbay to work with our friends in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Plymouth and the rest of Devon."
Councillor John Hart, leader of Devon County Council, said: "Devon supports the idea of a partnership for the South West peninsula."
A final decision on which submissions have proved successful will be taken by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.
LEPs will take over some of the functions of the regional development agencies as part of the Government's drive towards localism.
RDAs will be abolished by March 31, 2012 at the latest, but, in practice, LEPs are likely to be up-and-running well before then.
Businesses are being invited to give their views at either www.cornwall.gov/lep or www.devon.gov.uk/lep.
2 Comments
by Roo Dan, south west
Saturday, August 21 2010, 9:31AM
“Cassandra clearly dislikes the public economy I say well done local Authority. Business will benefit from the public economy and tax payers will still be able to have some control over what happens to their cash, keep control of public money out of the hands of private business.... Private Business cost the Tax payer a lot more than you would think, driving up the cost of public services”
by Cassandra, Well Lane
Thursday, August 12 2010, 9:22PM
“Or in other words.......... five desparate Council 'Chief Executives' go on the search for yet more taxpayer's money to fuel the grant dependent communties they preside over. Here's an idea- go back to employing people on modest salaries to provide basic services to your communties and leave business to exactly that- business.”