Insider Media Limited

Leicestershire County Council has approached business leaders in a bid to join the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire LEP proposal, Insider can reveal. The confirmation follows days of speculation surrounding the council's late LEP move. However, business leaders spearheading the bid from Derbyshire and Nottingham County Councils and Nottingham and Derby City Councils have warned that any discussions between the organisations do not mean an automatic deal will be agreed.

George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, told Insider: “It is vitally important that we preserve the progress we have made so far and whilst we may be willing to talk about further developments with Leicester and Leicestershire, that doesn’t mean we would automatically enter into an agreement with them.

“What we don’t want to do is to jeopardise the proposals for a joint Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire LEP in any way. It was a massive achievement to get the upper-tier local authorities in both counties to agree to the joint LEP bid and this must be the starting point for any future talks or negotiations.

“Whatever happens must be in the best interests of the business sector and we will consult widely with businesses about any future proposals before any final decisions are taken.”

Derbyshire County Council remained tight-lipped on Leicestershire’s approach, only telling Insider: “Together with Derby city, Nottingham city and Nottinghamshire county councils we have submitted proposals for a very strong local enterprise partnership and we are awaiting the government’s decision.”

Leicestershire County Council could not respond to Insider’s requests for a comment before we went to press this morning.

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 separate 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 in 2012.