7/9/2010 - Plans laid out to make Cumbria's economy among the fastest growing in UK

Cumbria has presented bold new plans to the Government to create a Cumbria-wide engine of growth to drive forward, enhance and energise the county’s economy.

The proposal to create a new Local Economic Partnership (LEP) for Cumbria was presented to the Government yesterday (Monday September 6) with a unified voice from the public and private sectors.

The public and private sector in the county have been working together to forge a new partnership which replaces the North West Regional Development Agency that will close in April 2012.

In the public sector all the Cumbrian local authorities support a single LEP for Cumbria while on the private sector front Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and the county’s key business representative organisations are overwhelmingly behind the move with the Federation of Small Businesses and others all actively involved.

If approved, Cumbria’s LEP will provide a strategic lead in all activities contributing to the growth and vibrancy of the county’s economy and where appropriate take positive action, using the skills, capability and networks of the LEP partners.

These areas of activity will include:

* Championing the economic interests of Cumbria.

* Driving enterprise, innovation and growth in the Cumbrian economy, delivering real long-term growth in the most efficient and effective ways possible.

* Determining the areas of activity and opportunity that will deliver a real return on investment as well as understanding the key long standing barriers to development.

* Stimulating job growth within the private, community and third sectors to compensate for job losses currently being experienced in the public sector and rebalancing the economy.

* Developing a prospectus of opportunity as a living document setting out and promoting current and future opportunities.

* Setting out priorities for the Regional Growth Fund and other funding opportunities and actively seeking to address those, commissioning innovative programmes where appropriate.

* Providing a single voice for Cumbria in influencing the development of EU policies which directly impact on the county and in championing opportunities for Cumbria to maximise the benefits of Europe, including access to international markets and to funding.

Cumbria has the arrangements in place to begin immediate mobilisation towards the establishment of the county’s LEP by April 2011.

The Cumbria Leaders’ board, which was formed to provide a strong coherent voice along with the leadership and direction needed to attract investment and enterprise in Cumbria, and private and voluntary sector partners have agreed to the early formation of a transitional Cumbria LEP board to oversee the process.

This will comprise a representative from each of Cumbria County Council, the district councils, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses.

Cllr Eddie Martin, chairman of the Cumbria Leaders’ Board and leader of Cumbria County Council, said: "A significant strength of our submission has been the comprehensive unanimity which all Cumbrian sectors have demonstrated.

"There has been tremendous widespread support from the many branches of commerce and industry as well as from the public authorities."

Rob Johnston, chief executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: "We feel our submission offers a compelling case. Partners have worked hard to bring this together. It’s heartening to see that when challenged, Cumbria can pull together."

The Federation of Small Businesses said: "The Federation of Small Businesses will be working closely with the other LEP partners to make sure that we create a Local Enterprise Partnership that meets the needs of the county and is enterprise driven."

Partners have agreed to form a transitional LEP board which will begin the process of setting up the LEP should it receive the go ahead. It is expected the LEP would be in place by April 2011.

To view the full LEP submission document visit the following link:

www.cumbria.gov.uk/eLibrary/Content/Internet/536/642/1750/4042894148.pdf

ENDS

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