Insider Media Limited

Birmingham’s ever-growing Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has recruited another member as East Staffordshire Borough Council voted to join the proposed authority. Councillor Richard Grosvenor, leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council, said that making the decision “had not been easy”.

The council rejected the idea of forming a Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP because it had been “unable to demonstrate commitment from the business community and the governance arrangements also gave us cause for concern".

However, he said the cabinet had come to the decision stating that Birmingham was “strategically large enough” to make an impact against other big city LEPs.

The cabinet discussed three potential LEPs, which will replace regional development agency Advantage West Midlands when it becomes obsolete in 2012.

As well as rejecting the idea of forming a LEP with Stoke-on Trent, the cabinet also ruled out proposals to join Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Derby and Nottingham councils to form a LEP.

Instead, it will join the Birmingham City Region LEP, which also includes Burton and District Chamber of Commerce, Lichfield and Tamworth and Solihull.

Grosvenor added: “It has not been an easy decision, with several pros and cons to consider for each of the options, but in the end the cabinet felt that the Birmingham option was the best way forward for the future development and promotion of East Staffordshire.

“Birmingham is geographically close, strategically large enough to make an impact against the other large city LEPs and is well supported by a large business community.”

He added that the cabinet did not agree to the proposed LEP with Derbyshire and Nottingham because it “did not make sufficient linkages with East Staffordshire”.

Andy O’Brien, chief executive of East Staffordshire Borough Council, said: “Our local businesses have been involved with the Birmingham LEP from the outset and this is the group that have the knowledge and experiences to decide what the area needs to grow and prosper.

“The council also has plans in the future to look at the development on the A38 corridor, which is obviously the main route into Birmingham, so there would be a good chance of securing funding to aid this development.”

The LEPs will replace the RDAs which are currently being phased out by the coalition government. The deadline for submitting proposals is 6 September.