A Pan-Humber Local Enterprise Partnership

FOLLOWING MONTHS OF WRANGLING it appears that a solution has been found to the dilemma caused by different approaches and ideas to the formation of a new Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). While some business leaders had called for a LEP that covered the whole of the Humber, East Riding Council leaders had favoured an approach with Hull City Council and Scarborough Council

According to TheBusinesDesk.com today then a proposal to have one pan-Humber seems to have gained support, probably through the changed political priorities of Hull City Council following the election of a Labour majority in the local elections earlier this month.

The new proposal seems to favour a pan-Humber approach but with 'sub-boards' for the North and South Banks to deal with more local issues, such as tourism and housing.

One of the motivating forces behind setting up a LEP was the possibility of securing Enterprise Zone status which will mean simplified planning processes, business rates discounts and other benefits being made available to help the creation of new jobs and new businesses. Such benefits will obviously provide additional incentives to those wind farm manufacturers and renewable industries that have indicated that the Humber could be the base for their new developments.

Only LEPs can bid to become an Enterprise Zone. It is a competitive bidding process and it is not guaranteed that the Humber area - or parts of the Humber area - will be successful in any bids.