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Proposals allowing North East Lincolnshire to be a member of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP have been approved. The rubber-stamping enables the local authority to be associated with both the Humber and Greater Lincolnshire partnerships.

The news comes as the Humber local enterprise partnership was given the green light from the government. The organisation is now set to meet with ministers to discuss its enterprise zone bid.

John Clugston, chairman of the Humber LEP, said: "We are grateful to the ministers for giving us their backing. The LEP has a big job ahead of it and we want to start making a difference as quickly as possible. Our interim board is now in place and will meet for the first time on 23 June.

"We have also begun work on the enterprise zone bid and will be meeting some of the ministers’ officials next week to discuss our case. With the continued support of all partners I am sure we can make this LEP a success."

Decentralisation minister Greg Clark visited the region last month to hear about plans for a pan-Humber partnership for growth. The LEP will focus on opportunities for growth around ports and logistics, chemicals, international trade, strategic transport, infrastructure and innovation.

In particular, the proposal outlines a vision for the Humber area to become a national and international centre for renewable energy and aims to create upwards of 20,000 jobs in this sector.

Clark said: "I have taken a close interest in this local enterprise partnership and the potential it has to positively shape the future of the Humber local economy.

"Local business and civic leaders in the Humber area are now poised to realise major opportunities for economic development in renewable energy, ports, logistics and chemicals.

"They should now move swiftly to appoint their business led board and make their plans for a growth a reality."