Humber Economic Partnership Board to close

THE HUMBER ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP Board, has made the decision that the company will cease operations by 31st March 2011.

The organisation which was launched in 2001 and strived to bring together local councils, public and private sector organisations to encourage sustainable economic growth in the Hull and Humber Ports area. The Partnership claims an impressive record having invested over £8.75m into the Humber area over the last nine years.

However, following the announcement by four local authorities that they will no longer fund the organisation due to the public sector spending cuts, the Partnership Board has announced its decision to cease operations on 31st March 2011.

This is the latest closure of an economic initiative in the area, and follows the announced closures of Hull Forward and Yorkshire Forward. These redundant bodies will eventually be replaced by new council-led Local Enterprise Partnerships.  

It would be interesting to hear from local Holderness business people on their views on these closures. What have been the local benefits of such quangos? And will the proposed Local Enterprise Partnerships make any real difference to economic prosperity?