Cable urged to reveal LEP powers
West Midlands business leaders have written a letter to Vince Cable demanding clarification on the powers which will be given to the region’s LEPs. Business leaders have told the business secretary that he urgently needs to spell out the role of the new bodies “in order to attract quality business involvement”.
Cable has been asked to give the LEP board decision-making powers and influence. The local enterprise partnerships will comprise equal representation from the business community and local councils.
Bridget Blow, interim chairman of the LEP Development Board for Birmingham and Solihull with East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Tamworth, Bromsgrove and Cannock, said: “In order to attract the very best business leaders to the LEP board, we need to demonstrate that the LEP has decision-making powers and influence. This makes securing relevant powers very important to us.
“In these early stages we are identifying short and long term priorities, and the best way of delivering them. What powers are needed will become clearer as these priorities are firmed up.
“But it is clear that LEPs will only attract the quality of business involvement that we are all seeking if the LEPs have substantial capacity to invest, or facilitate investment, in economic and business growth.”
Blow said that the board needed a “legal status” for the LEP that would enable the local authorities to delegate their powers and resources to the organisation– including pooling part of their capital budgets.
She said: “Business representatives on the LEP board must be given the power to vote on decisions involving spending public money. As I understand it, the current situation is that only local authority members of a LEP Board can vote on matters involving public funds.
“It is important for the government to establish a mechanism and procedures so that it can respond quickly when new issues emerge that may require further delegation of powers.”
