Eight separate bids for the creation of Local Enterprise Partnerships have been submitted in the North West and the coalition Government will publish a list of all those applying later today. The applications generally cover established county boundaries but there may be exceptions, such as Lancashire, where there is said to be more than one application.
LEP’s are expected to be up and running by September 2011 and applications will be selected that “demonstrate the strongest commitment to enterprise and to working in partnership” (Statement by Eric Pickles and Vince Cable)
North West applicants are:
Cumbria – Cumbria County Council and its six districts; Blackpool & Fylde Coast – Blackpool BC, Fylde BC and Wyre BC; Pennine Lancashire – Blackburn with Darwen BC, Pendle BC, Ribble Valley BC, Burnley BC, Hyndburn BC, Rossendale BC. Central Lancashire – Lancashire CC, Preston City Council, Lancaster City Council, South Ribble BC, Chorley BC, West Lancashire DC. Merseyside - Liverpool City Council, Sefton MBC, Knowsley MBC, St Helens MBC, Halton BC, Wirral MBC.
Greater Manchester – the 10 Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA); Cheshire – Warrington BC, Cheshire West & Chester Council, and Cheshire East Council; Peel Holdings, a property group, covering the area of the company’s Atlantic gateway development across Merseyside and Greater Manchester.
This information was extracted from an article by James Graham, Business correspondent TheBusinessDesk.com