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 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 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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