Twist in the tale of the East Midlands LEPs
Confusion reigns over the fate of the East Midlands' LEP proposals, amid talk of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire County Councils preparing to submit a late joint proposal. George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, said his organisation has “heard a rumour” about Leicestershire proposing to join the bid led by Derby and Nottingham City Councils and Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire County Councils.
Cowcher added that the whisperings were so far “unsubstantiated”.
Leicestershire County Council also told Insider that it was not aware of any plans to join the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire partnership.
According to one report yesterday, officials from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire were trying to persuade their city councils to launch a late bid together.
However, there has been no confirmation from senior officials from either council.
Cowcher said: “Businesses in both counties are extremely supportive of the proposal to create a Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire LEP, so it comes as no surprise that our neighbouring areas find joining it an attractive proposition.
“We have heard a rumour about Leicestershire making overtures towards the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire LEP, but as far as the chamber is aware, this is unsubstantiated at this stage.
“The key thing to remember is that LEPs are designed to be business-led, so local authorities trying to do last minute deals will be wasting their time if their proposals are not acceptable to the business sector.”
Earlier this month, a speculative "success" list of LEP proposals was allegedly leaked from Whitehall which included both the joint Derbyshire, Derby, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire bid and the Leicester and Leicestershire proposal.
Submissions from Northamptonshire, South East Midlands and Greater Lincolnshire appeared to have been omitted, although the government was quick to distance itself from the supposed "success" list.
The LEPs will replace regional development agencies such as Emda when they become obsolete in 2012.
