Local Enterprise Partnerships
Local industrial strategies go to the very heart of what LEPs are judged by
The West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy - one of the first of its kind - is published today. Warren Ralls says the key to the success of the strategies is partnership, driving up productivity and exploiting unique local strengths
Third of LEPs 'require improvement'
Almost one in three Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) ‘require improvement’ in their attempts to deliver projects by the Government.
NAO: Government must do more to ensure LEP value for money
The Government has been reprimanded for not doing enough to ensure billions of pounds given to local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) are delivering value for money.
Powering ahead on sustainability
Geoff Raw explains how Brighton & Hove City Council is working across councils and other partners to tackle climate change
EXCLUSIVE: LEPs challenge Government performance review
Frustrated local enterprise partnerships (LEP) have demanded changes to the Government’s annual performance review (APR) process.
Shoring up the seaside economy
Seaside towns offer more than just nostalgia, but if we don’t act soon, communities may be forever disadvantaged. Lord Bassam explains why the Lords’ Seaside Regeneration Select Committee went on tour and what it found.
EXCLUSIVE: Fresh deadline for overlapping LEPs
Minister Jake Berry has laid down a fresh deadline for local enterprise partnerships (LEP) to remove overlapping boundaries in a desperate attempt to break the deadlock.
Row over devolution delay
Councils and the Government are at loggerheads over who is to blame for a 17-month delay for a decision on a devolution growth deal.
Local government partnerships key to seaside town reinvention
Councils have been urged to work with central government and LEPs to revitalise Britain’s rundown coastal communities.
It's time for coherent joined up policies
Lawrence Conway has one thing to ask following the Brexit outcome - and that's for a look at how national policy is put together and joined up.
Extracting quality from the Future High Streets Fund
Retail expert Bill Grimsey says the £675m Future High Streets Fund is welcome, but the Government is forcing the pace on bids and leaving councils without the time to put together quality schemes.
Certainty in the middle of so much uncertainty
Selby DC is going into its election period in the context of an unprecedented level and variety of uncertainties, says Janet Waggott. But she believes this creates certainty about what local government needs to do despite the challenges.
LEP stand-off continues
Councils continue to resist a Whitehall-driven boundary review of local enterprise partnerships (LEP) despite the threat of financial penalties.
We are making the case to Honda to keep investment in Swindon
Council leader David Renard is part of a taskforce set up after Honda's announcement that it plans to shut the local plant. He says the key priority must be to make the case that investment in vehicles of the future is best done in Swindon.
Fraction of new fund available to councils
Councils will only be able to get their hands on part of the Government’s £1.6bn funding boost to deprived communities.
Manchester commission will promote putting people before profit
Greater Manchester already has a thriving co-operative sector. The launch of the Greater Manchester Co-operative Commission will explore the real opportunities to tackle the issues that affect residents and businesses, says MP Jo Platt.
Give councils without a HRA the chance to build new homes
As the District Councils' Network gets ready for its annual conference, its Stronger Economies spokesman Cllr Mark Crane calls on Government to give councils without a HRA the flexibility to begin a housebuilding programme
Keeping up standards
As councils become increasingly commercial, auditors are asking how high standards of governance and accountability can be maintained in a more risky financial climate. Michael Burton reports on a National Audit Office/The MJ round table debate
I'm proud to have been a local government chief executive
In her last column for districtview, Sandra Dinneen says she believes that as a sector we underplay the number of truly talented people we have working day in day out to improve outcomes for people and places.
LEPs face Government action if they ignore framework
The Government has threatened to withhold or withdraw funding and responsibilities from local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) that fail to comply with a new framework.