LEEDS, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is supporting Leeds City Region Partnership in its bid to become the model for the region’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

LEPs have been chosen by the Government as the preferred model to replace Regional Development Agencies like Yorkshire Forward. It is carrying out consultation with businesses and local authorities until September 9 on which powers should be handled at a local and national level.

In a letter to members, the chamber said it would listen to all local authority ideas from within the footprint of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire but believes that the partnership working of politicians and senior officers over the last 12 months of the Leeds City Region pilot, coupled with the excellent strategy documents drawn up in this period, make a strong case for a Leeds city region LEP bid.

“Whilst the Chamber is involved in various discussions we have made it clear to our local authority colleagues that they have the expertise and knowledge to pull together a bid but none of us should forget that it is a competitive bidding process that will require evidence of efficiency and effectiveness in delivery and visioning for success,” it said.

Gary Williamson, chief executive of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce said local authority leaders of the Leeds City Region agreed it was the right body to establish an LEP.

“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,” he said.