Councils click into the future of planning
In town halls across the country, planning officers are racing to update their Local Plans — but this time, the process looks very different.
Six club together for South Midlands devolution
27/08/2024 Steps are being taken towards forming a devolution proposal covering six councils in the South Midlands. |
Uncertainty hangs over funding for growth projects
31/10/2023 Councils have voiced fresh concerns as they remain in the dark over future funding for responsibilities inherited from Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). |
LEP functions to be transferred to upper-tier councils
04/08/2023 The Government has today confirmed it will transfer many Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) functions to upper-tier councils and combined authorities. |
‘Clear plan’ needed for transfer of LEP functions
14/07/2023 County council leaders have called on the Government to set out a ‘clear and decisive’ framework for the transition of LEP functions to local authorities. |
Budget 2023: LEPs to be scrapped
15/03/2023 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are to be effectively abolished within a year, chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in the Budget. |
Working in partnership to respond to the climate crisis
14/12/2021 Clare Hayward explains why local public and private sector partnerships are essential in responding to the climate crisis. |
LEP 'at risk' over funding uncertainty
08/11/2021 The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has warned it has reached 'crisis point' after only receiving half the funds promised from the Government so far this year. |
LEPs: A year like no other
15/06/2021 Alun Rogers, chair of Stoke and Staffordshire LEP, on the 2020-2021 annual review and his hopes for the future of the LEP. |
Prospect of local economic recovery 'weak' warn LEPs
15/07/2020 The majority of local leaders warn the prospect of economic recovery is poor over the next six months. |
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Landscape to deliver growth 'needs simplified'
26/11/2019 The head of the Institute of Economic Development has hit out at England’s ‘dazzling array of bodies and schemes’ to deliver growth that are ‘confusing even to seasoned commentators’. |
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Welsh growth deal worth £240m makes ‘progress’
05/11/2019 The UK and Welsh governments have signed a growth deal with local representatives that could see the creation of 4,000 jobs in the North of Wales. |
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LEPs ‘lack transparency’ despite receiving £12bn of Government funding
05/07/2019 The Government has ‘no real understanding’ of the impact which the Local Growth Fund has had on local economic growth despite investing £12bn of taxpayers’ money, MPs say. |
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Chesterfield Borough Council makes LEP membership decision
04/07/2019 Chesterfield Borough Council has decided which Local Enterprise Partnership it will stay a member of following the government's insistence all councils must not belong to more than one. |
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Cornwall secures Spaceport funding
05/06/2019 Cornwall is set to be home to Europe’s first 'horizontal launch' spaceport. |
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Whitehall accused of bribing MPs with £1.6bn Brexit fund
04/03/2019 MPs have accused the PM of trying to buy their support ahead of a key Brexit vote with the announcement of a £1.6bn fund for deprived areas of the country. |
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Two Yorkshire LEPs approve merger plans
23/11/2018 Two local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) in Yorkshire have approved plans to merge and create a new business-led body. |
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LEPs 'failing' rural communities, says campaign group
25/06/2018 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) have been accused of having a negative effect on the countryside. |
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A champion for LEPs
13/03/2018 Warren Ralls explains why his appointment to the Institute of Economic Development will help bring LEPs and local authorities even closer together. |
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Mayor warns about 'reputational damage' caused by LEP
29/09/2017 The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in Cambridgeshire is causing the area ‘reputational damage’ the combined authority’s mayor has warned. |
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Put LEPs in charge of devolution deals, argues report
21/08/2017 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) should be appointed as the government’s ‘deal making agent’ to speed up devolution, a new report has argued today. |
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New Enterprise Zones ‘go live’
05/04/2017 Twelve new Enterprise Zones have ‘gone live’, the Government has announced in a move designed to promote economic growth across the country. |
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Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP named top for economic growth
01/03/2017 Greater Birmingham & Solihull's local enterprise partnership top for economic growth, according to new figures. |
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East of England received £365m of EU funding in one decade, study reveals
22/02/2017 Hundreds of millions of pounds of EU grant funding has been received by Norfolk and Suffolk over a 10 year period, a new study reveals. |
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Whitehall announces multi-million pound investment to promote local growth
03/02/2017 The communities secretary yesterday announced a multi-million pound cash boost to create jobs and local growth across London, the South East and the East of England. |
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Businesses unhappy with support from local councils, survey shows
12/01/2017 Seven out of ten businesses have accused councils of failing to support business growth, in a new survey of a company leaders. |
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LEPs must be more transparent, says pressure group
20/12/2016 There should be more transparency in how taxpayers’ money is spent by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), pressure group urges. |
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Councils say infrastructure costs are greatest barrier to inward investment
29/11/2016 The cost of providing infrastructure is the biggest barrier to development, planning experts have warned. |
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Devon councils back enterprise zone
11/11/2016 Plans for a business-friendly enterprise zone in Exeter and East Devon have taken a step forward with two councils agreeing to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Government. |
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Birmingham bids for 2026 Commonwealth Games
30/09/2016 Birmingham has declared its intention to bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and has called on the entire region to support it. |
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How regions can keep their competitive edge
30/09/2016 Tim Smith MBE argues that connectivity and collaboration are key to keeping competitive edge post-Brexit. |
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8,000 new jobs created in the Northern Powerhouse, minister says
27/07/2016 Enterprise zones in the north have reported the creation of 8,000 new jobs over the last four years, the Government says. |
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Call for LEPs to be subject local government transparency code
08/07/2016 Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) must be covered by the Freedom of Information Act to prevent billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money being hidden from public scrutiny, the News Media Association (NMA) has said. |
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Securing a ‘Brexit Dividend’
07/07/2016 Glenn McCauley and Tim Padgett consider how city regions should reinvest any Brexit dividend to achieve long term sustainable growth. |
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Bucks to consider single unitary council
10/05/2016 Buckinghamshire will explore the possibility of creating a single unitary council in order to ‘streamline and simplify services for residents’. |
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Bids open for multi-billion local growth fund
23/03/2016 Local Enterprise Partnerships have been urged to bid for a share of £1.8bn funding, after the latest round of local growth funding was released. |
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LEPs not transparent enough warns auditors
23/03/2016 The National Audit Office (NAO) has issued a warning over the transparency of local enterprise partnerships (LEPs). |
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Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire unveil devolution deal
06/01/2016 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire have published the draft plans for their devolution bid and declared 'now is the time to do the deal'. |
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New plan for Midlands ‘engine’ could help create 300,000 jobs
04/12/2015 A new plan to make the Midlands an ‘engine of growth’ which could help create 300,000 jobs and boost the national economy by £34bn will be unveiled today at the University of Birmingham. |
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Councils and LEPs sign Northern Gateway Partnership
22/10/2015 A landmark partnership to connect the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands Engine has been agreed by seven local authorities and two Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). |
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Businesses call for greater influence over devolution
12/10/2015 Businesses should have a greater role to play in the devolution of power to local authorities to deliver ‘genuine localism’ according to a new paper published today. |
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Norwich road price hike ‘a pointless use of public funds’, say campaigners
26/08/2015 Campaigners have criticised plans to build an ‘unnecessary road’ in Norwich after it emerged an extra £30m would need to found to get the project off the ground. |
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West Midlands warned it has been ‘outmanoeuvred’ by Greater Manchester
13/08/2015 The West Midlands has been ‘outmanoeuvred’ on devolution by Greater Manchester in the national push for a Northern Powerhouse, according to Birmingham’s former council leader. |
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Devolution of powers to the Midlands underway
07/08/2015 Derbyshire and Nottingham met yesterday with the Government to discuss proposals to devolve more power and responsibilities to the Midlands. |
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LEPs to shape European funding decision
06/08/2015 Local projects are being urged to apply for a share of £5bn in European funding, which will be targeted at Local Enterprise Partnership areas for the first time. |
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Hampshire and Isle of Wight make devolution bid
05/08/2015 A ‘landmark’ devolution deal has been proposed for Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton, setting out new powers around housing, productivity, infrastructure and transformation. |
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Councils urged to develop Enterprise Zones plan
17/07/2015 Councils are being urged to put forward plans for new Enterprise Zones after the Government announced it was extending the scheme. |
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Cities urged to enter £10m Internet of Things competition
14/07/2015 Cities are being encouraged to bid for a £10m government fund to demonstrate how the Internet of Things (IoT) can benefit citizens in a city region. |
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LEPs need clearer planning role finds study
13/07/2015 The role Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) can play in devolution and promoting economic growth is being hindered by a lack of staff and a clear focus, a new study has found. |
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West Midlands Combined Authority reveals its plans
06/07/2015 The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has published its plans to tackle infrastructure, economic growth and public sector reform across the region. |
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No devolution without local business backing, says Greg Clark
26/06/2015 There will be no more devolution without the backing of business via Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), local government secretary Greg Clark has announced. |
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Rocky road for Combined Authorities?
15/06/2015 Max Lempriere identifies four main challenges and lessons for councils creating Combined Authorities. |
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A growth case for devolution
11/06/2015 There is ‘clear evidence’ that devolution can help deliver economic growth and rebalance the economy says the LGA in a new study. Michael Burton reports on the potential boost to local economies from devolution and news of The MJ’s forthcoming seminar on the growth agenda. |
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Ministers have 'no plans' to reduce the number of LEPs
11/06/2015 The Government has 'no plans' to reduce the number of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). |
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Researchers rank UK’s most innovative LEPs
29/05/2015 Oxfordshire, Cambridge and Peterborough have outperformed London, Manchester and Liverpool to be named the UK’s most innovative Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). |
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'One size does not fit all' for devolution plans
15/05/2015 The Government has been warned against adopting a ‘one size fits all’ devolution model, with the sector highlighting the needs of local areas in response to the Cities Devolution Bill. |
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Think tank calls for further devolution to LEPs
02/03/2015 Devolving greater power to Local Enterprise Partnerships could boost the economy by £144bn, a report from think tank Localis is arguing. |
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Pickles attacks ‘corrosive’ lobbying by local enterprise partnerships
23/02/2015 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) will soon be banned from hiring lobbyists to win government grants, after communities secretary Eric Pickles claimed the practice ‘undermines transparency’. |
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Growth Deals expanded with £1bn injection
29/01/2015 The Government has invested a further £1bn in local Growth Deals, in moves Nick Clegg claims mark ‘the death of the culture where Whitehall calls the shots’. |
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Funding package for Tees Valley Growth Deal agreed
21/11/2014 A £190m funding package to regenerate the Tees Valley economy has been signed off by the Government. |
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Report: Freedom, flexibility and long-term thinking key to closing north-south divide
17/11/2014 Councils would have a better chance of closing the north-south divide if Government gave growth initiatives enough time to prove themselves and allowed areas the freedom to adapt schemes to local circumstances. |
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The 39 LEPs?
14/11/2014 Having replaced the Regional Development Agencies in 2010, Dan Peters examines the likely role and future of LEPs. |
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Tees Valley unveils ambition to form combined authority
14/11/2014 Proposals have been launched to create a combined authority in Tees Valley designed to boost investment in the area and give it a ‘stronger voice’. |
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LEP goes live with Dot London
07/11/2014 The London Enterprise Panel (LEP) has become the first mayoral body to adopt a Dot London web domain. |
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London backs £70m local growth programme
31/10/2014 A £70m plan to use New Homes Bonus cash to boost economic growth and employment has been green lit by London leaders. |
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Digital engagement
17/09/2014 The economy is on the up but sustainable growth needs sustained local engagement: could digital engagement be the answer? |
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Calls for LEPs shake up amid ‘widespread confusion’ over purpose
03/09/2014 A major shake up of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) must take place to address ‘widespread confusion’ surrounding their role, groups have warned. |
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Core Cities and LEPs unite to boost business
31/07/2014 England’s largest cities have partnered with eight Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to boost national support for businesses. |
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Programme managing LEPs to success
17/07/2014 Why LEPS and their partner councils should ensure that a programme-based approach to delivery is implemented. |
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Government reveals billion pound local investment plan
07/07/2014 Ministers have revealed plans for £6bn of funding for regions to invest in housing, transport infrastructure, faster broadband and skills training. |
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Government bureaucracy 'holding back growth', councils claim
03/07/2014 Council efforts to boost growth are being 'hamstrung' by a 'complex maze of bureaucracy' surrounding applications for government growth funding, chiefs claim. |
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Not much detail in Adonis report
03/07/2014 It’s great to see the two major political parties fighting it out for the most localist title - both acknowledging that the English state has been far too centralised for far too long. |
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Heseltine dismisses LEPS concerns
01/07/2014 The coalition’s growth guru Lord Heseltine has dismissed concerns about local enterprise partnerships’ (LEP) lack of accountability. |
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Labour unveils devolution plan for major cities
01/07/2014 Labour has today outlined plans to devolve over £30bn of funding to local regions in a bid to tackle Britain’s ‘fractured economy’. |
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Cambridge tops business growth league table
27/06/2014 The city of Cambridge is the best place for business growth in the UK according to a new league table. |
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Spotlight turns on LEPs
25/06/2014 Local growth has recently been the focus of unprecedented attention, but what lies ahead for the local bodies charged with boosting the regional economy? Thomas Bridge reports. |
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Make it world class, not just best in class
19/06/2014 If Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) want to be the bodies behind growth at a local level, they need to think internationally |
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Strategic planning battleground between districts and LEPs
03/06/2014 District councils have called on the Government to ‘rein back the mission creep of unelected local enterprise partnerships (LEPs)’ over strategic planning. |
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LEPs should see radical overhaul, report says
09/05/2014 Labour’s former treasury and housing minister has called for a radical and accelerated devolution of power to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). |
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LEPs failing ‘resilience’ test warns think tank
08/05/2014 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are failing to plan for long-term success, instead choosing to pursue short-term growth, according to a new report from a think tank. |
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LEPs branded ‘unaccountable’ by council leaders
06/05/2014 County councils have expressed concern that Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPS) are impenetrable, under funded and lack transparency. |
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Report: LEPs too focused on ‘narrow idea of economic success’
16/04/2014 Local enterprise partnerships must broaden their focus if they are to deliver a lasting economic impact, according to a new report. |
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LEP row exposed by leaked emails
31/03/2014 Strained relationships between members of a local enterprise partnership (LEP) have been exposed by leaked emails. |
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Lords chosen to support Growth Deal talks
22/01/2014 Lord Heseltine and Lord Shipley have been appointed to support negotiations for Local Growth Deals with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). |
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Local growth funding plummeted in transition to LEPs, NAO reports
06/12/2013 Ministers have defended the Coalition’s progress at driving local economic growth programmes following a spending watchdog report which found the transition to Local Enterprise Partnerships was 'not orderly' and led to a massive drop in spending. |
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Give LEPs greater housing role, CIH urges Exchequer
22/11/2013 LEPs should be instructed to maximise the role of housing in boosting local economic growth, CIH advises. |
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Pickles hits out at counties over LEPs
18/11/2013 Eric Pickles told county leaders it was their own fault if LEPs were unaccountable and a mystery to the public. |
