By Gary Williams, chief executive of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

This summer has been a positive summer for future of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire. In York a brand new Waitrose store is opening, creating 180 new jobs. There has been the opening of the amphitheatre in Scarborough. And in Leeds, work has begun on the Leeds Arena and Trinity Leeds, while planning progress has been made on Eastgate Quarter and Wellington Place.   These developments are a testament to the vision in our region – a vision which needs to be matched by our Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Leeds City Region Partnership has confirmed that it will be submitting a LEP bid and the first draft of the proposal is under consultation with the local business community. The bid lists a number of priorities, such as, achieving growth in a number of key sectors, developing sustainable green infrastructure and improving the skills of our workforce. However, a number of our members have asked “what is the ambition of the Leeds City Region? – What will it have achieved in 5, 10 or 20 years time and what will be different as a result of the LEP?” Deciding where we are going as a city region, will determine how we get there and I am pleased to report that the business community and local authorities are currently working together to bring a clarity and vision to the LEP bid. Ensuring that achievable long-term objectives create confidence and optimism in the Leeds City Region and reinforce its role as an economic powerhouse and as a destination for business to succeed and prosper.

So what should be the long-term vision for the Leeds City Region LEP? Some of our members have suggested that it should be to achieve economic growth at the same rate of London and the South East; others have said that the Leeds City Region should be a capital of enterprise and a first choice for inward investment. Some believe that focusing on young people and instilling an entrepreneurial spirit will distinguish the Leeds City Region in the future.

Others have questioned whether some functions should be delivered on a Yorkshire-wide basis? The Government has announced that inward investment, innovation and access to finance will be led nationally. I personally think that these are better delivered on a regional level – working closely with Government in London and supporting the LEPs in our region. Our members do not want a direct replacement for Yorkshire Forward, but a lean and mean regional body is needed to promote and protect ‘brand Yorkshire’. Businesses and local authorities in Yorkshire have already opened up a dialogue on this; the outcome of which will play a significant role in shaping LEP bids and the business environment of our county for decades to come.

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By Mark Goldstone, head of corporate relations at Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

 Local Authorities have until September 6^th to submit their Local Enterprise Partenrships bids – a date which is drawing closer and closer. We have been told by Eric Pickles and Vince Cable that LEPs should be business led, and that areas and their business communities need to seize this opportunity as the focus must remain on the E in LEP – Enterprise. From listening to feedback from some members, it is clear that you don’t want our LEP to end up as a public-sector talking shop and that you have a passion to see the Leeds City Region as a strong economic powerhouse in the UK.

The remit, priorities and objectives of the LEP needs to be driven by business, which is why I would like your views on what you would like to see the LEP achieve. The Chamber will submit your views to the city region leadership board, with the recommendation that your feedback should shape our city region’s bid.

Following previous consultations and initial feedback, it is clear that some members believe that there are too many priorities in the first draft of the city-region’s LEP bid. Currently there are eight priorities, set out as: Integrated Strategic Planning; Housing and Regeneration; Transport; Skills and Worklessness; Innovation and Enterprise Support; Economic Development; Climate Change; and Flexibilities in Financing Mechanisms (including Accelerated Development Zones). Whilst the Chamber does not question the need for ambition, we believe that eight priorities is too many. The view from members is that the LEP needs to have clear focus, with a concise remit and objectives which are both relevant and achievable. Furthermore, it would be helpful if there was a clear objective vision in mind, i.e. what will be different in five and 10 years time. Business is being asked to play a vital role in determining this aspiration.

Whilst the LEP is required to have entrepreneurial leadership, it also needs to have strong public sector team who can deliver for the city region. There needs to be a compelling argument for businesses and investors to stay in or relocate to the city region and the vision and activities of the bid should create an environment in which business can thrive – thanks to a positive and innovative approach taken by our local authorities within the city region partnership.

To help our colleagues and ensure that they have real input from business, I would appreciate it if you could provide information on your expectations and vision for the Leeds City Region LEP. In particular, I am interested in hearing:

• What would you like to see the LEP achieve for the City Region?
• What do you think should be the priorities for the Leeds City Region LEP?
• How should LEPs tackle inward investment, tourism and other pan-Yorkshire issues?
• What do you believe should be the Chamber’s role within LEPs when representing your views?

Please email your responses by Thursday 5^th August to myself at mark.goldstone@yourchamber.org.uk

I look forward to hearing from you

Thank You

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By Ian Williams, director of policy at Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

You may have read in the news last week that the Government has announced proposals to abolish the default retirement age, which currently stands at 65 years. The proposals are currently under consultation and the Chamber is seeking the views of business on this issue, which we will put forward to the Coalition Government.

I would appreciate it if you could kindly complete our snap shot poll on whether you are in favour or not of the DRA being scrapped by clicking on the link below.

http://www.yourchamber.org.uk/index.php/representation/member-survey.html

If you have any further comments or would like to discuss this issue, please email me at ian.williams@yourchamber.org.uk

For further information on the Government consultation please click on the link below

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=414745&NewsAreaID=2&HUserID=895,776,889,853,779,868,710,705,765,674,677,767,684,762,718,674,708,683,706,718,674&ClientID=-1

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The Chamber Business Forum’s were launched in 2009 to provide a channel for all of our members to get involved in the Chamber’s representational activity and help shape the local business environment. The events take place on a quarterly basis across Leeds, York, Harrogate and Scarborough.

These events belong to you, our members, and we want to give you the opportunity to define what topics we cover at future forums. Please let us know the issues that are important to you, what topics you would like to see discussed at upcoming forums and if there are any particular speakers you would like to hear from.

Past forums have explored issues such as procurement, city strategy, congestion, spending cuts and the East Coast Mainline. But what would you like to see discussed in the future?

Please leave feedback in the comment section below or respond privately please email me at ian.williams@yourchamber.org.uk

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By Mark Goldstone, head of corporate relations at Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Leeds City Council has prepared the draft Building for Tomorrow: Sustainable Design and Construction Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) relating to Sustainable Design and Construction in the Leeds district. 

The SPD document aims to provide practical guidance to developers in Leeds wanting to build high levels of sustainable design and construction. In addition it wants to advise on how development in Leeds can result in; 

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, • Better adaptation to climate change, • Reduced impact on the environment overall, • Inclusive development for all users 

The information contained in the SPD provides guidance for any applicant wanting to pursue a major development and will be a material consideration in the assessment of development proposals. The adoption of the guidance means that sustainable design and construction are material considerations to be given weight in considering development proposals and can be the subject of planning conditions and/or obligations in respect of appropriate development. 

Applicants for planning permission will be expected to have demonstrated that they have considered this SPD and in doing so have focused on its aim and objectives. The Council’s proposed SPD and supporting documents are available for inspections at the Development Enquiry Centre, Development Department, Leonardo Building, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds, LS2 8HD (Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm, Wednesday 10 am – 5 pm) and at Libraries and one-stop centres within the Leeds District. 

The documents are also published on the Council’s website. (http://www.leeds.gov.uk/housing/Planning/Planning_consultations/Building_for_tomorrow_today__sustainable_design_and_construction__SPD_(LDF).aspx) You can also telephone 0113 2478144 to obtain a copy of the documents or e-mail ldf@leeds.gov.uk 

A form for representations is available with the documents. The period during which representations can be made is between 28th June 2010 and Wednesday 1st September 2010 The Property Forum is looking to respond to this consultation and is looking to assemble a small task and finish group, if you would like to be involved then please let me know by Friday 30th July.

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By Gary Williamson, chief executive at Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

The local authority leaders of the Leeds City Region have agreed to establish a Local Enterprise Partnership for the city region.

At their annual general meeting yesterday, the eleven leaders voted in favour of submitting a statement of intent to Government in response its invitation to local authorities to form partnerships that will take on certain roles and responsibilities currently undertaken by regional development agencies.
The proposed Local Enterprise Partnership will draw on the existing Leeds City Region partnership arrangements but will provide for greater collaboration with business. Leaders agreed that further detailed work would be undertaken to develop the proposal, which will identify opportunities for taking on greater powers and further responsibilities.

The Chamber welcomes the news that the local authority leaders of the Leeds City Region have agreed to establish a Local Enterprise Partnership. After consulting with Chamber members the view is that there are a number of logical reasons why the Leeds City Region is a natural fit for a LEP, including the geography and the fact that the LCR Partnership has already made some progress in developing a strong relationship with the private sector.

Many strategies for economic development have already been introduced as part of the LCR partnership, but above all it is a functional economic area, which for business is most important. Businesses very rarely limit their sales and aspirations to the tightly drawn Local Authority boundaries. It is a good day for sensible decision making and the Chamber will play a full role in what should be a business led partnership.

See our comments on the Leeds City Region LEP in the following news publications:

The Business Desk http://bit.ly/b84Huv

The Yorkshire Post http://bit.ly/98qe7p

York  Press http://bit.ly/cLaWEu

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By Gary Williamson, chief executive at Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce  

The Conservative general election campaign was dominated by David Cameron’s notion of ‘Big Society’. Like marmite, people either loved or hated the idea, but now, less than ten weeks into Cameron-Clegg Administration it is clear that ‘Big Society’ is the direction our country is heading in. For better or worse, the era of Big Government is over.

Yorkshire Forward and the other eight regional development agencies were one of the first casualties of the new Government’s plans and we are now talking about Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs), which both Eric Pickles and Vince Cable believe will be less bureaucratic and more business friendly.

In keeping with Cameron’s ‘big society’, the Government issued a letter to business leaders and local authorities asking them put together proposals on their vision for Local Economic Partnerships. The Chamber is now working with other leading business groups such as the CBI, FSB and IOD to ensure that the Yorkshire business view is heard on this issue. Our aim is to make sure that LEPs are transparent, accountable and have a clear economic and business remit.

 Building strong relationships between local government and business is crucial to the future success of LEPs. Some progress on this was made by the Leeds City Region (LCR) Partnership, which is a collaboration of local authorities across a functional economic area. LCR already has a number of strategies and work groups in place designed to promote innovation, enterprise and economic growth in our area. It would be foolish to waste these resources and break the strong ties between the local authorities and business community, which have been formed through the partnership.

The exact geography of the LEPs remains unclear and local authorities across Yorkshire are currently putting together a number of bids to form economic partnerships with their neighbouring councils. It is very early days and in local government a lot of undirected activity is happening. I know of one local authority that is currently in three separate bids to form three different geographical partnerships. But are local authorities getting too caught up in the geographical element of LEPs and forgetting about their purpose, efficiency and effectiveness? Postcodes should come after strategy and vision, function and deliverable benefits

In the letter from the Government it stated that some of RDA’s functions such as attracting and managing inward investment and business support will be led nationally. I would question whether managing inward investment nationally is what is best for Yorkshire. I believe local knowledge and expertise are vital to successfully promote Yorkshire. UKTI plays a vital role in attracting inward investment nationally, but has no accountability to Yorkshire. If a foreign investor is debating between opening up a business in Yorkshire or the North West, who will be there to push the case for our region?

Together with other business groups, the Chamber is working on exciting proposals to promote and protect ‘brand Yorkshire’. Our county needs to be heard in the corridors of power – we cannot afford to lose our voice. I will provide updates on our progress in the coming weeks. Watch this space as they say….

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By Ian Williams, director of policy at Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

The Coalition Government is currently undergoing a huge drive to identify and cut unnecessary red tape that impacts on business.

In the past, lobby groups have been criticised for complaining about the burden of red tape, without providing specific examples of where this burden could be reduced. The Chamber needs these specific examples in order to push for a better trading environment for all Chamber members.

As a guide, the following are the most prominent areas that affect business:

The Built Environment – planning and building regulations

Business Law – issues relating to setting up and operating a company, including auditing, insolvency regimes etc.

Employment – all issues relating to employing somebody (e.g. permanent workers, interns etc.)

Environmental and local regulation – the full range of environmental regulation (e.g. air quality, local environmental quality, waste) and issues relating to enforcement at a local level

Transport – regulations covering transport operations and transport service providers, (e.g. shipping, ports and provision of freight and rail services)

Workplace Health and Safety – regulations that primarily deal with the protection of workers

If you have any examples of where specific regulations in the above areas (or any other areas) could be cut, please contact me on Ian.Williams@yourchamber.org.uk

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