Friday's Letters: Keep enterprise partnerships close to home

After speaking to the leader of Hull City Council, Carl Minns, I am reassured to hear the proposed LEP will not have a set budget, will not have additional staff, will not have new offices (existing space will be utilised) and, above all, will be fully accountable to both councils. He reminded me, as if I didn't need reminding, there was no money for all of these "extras", although it is good to have these assurances on the record.

Although the Taxpayers' Alliance is opposed to LEPs, the pragmatist in me knows they are here for at least the next few years. As we are stuck with them, it is welcome news that Hull and East Riding Councils are attempting to spend our money in the most prudent way possible. This is the good news, but unfortunately not all council leaders believe in prudence and accountability.

The following is from the official news feed of Leeds City Council, and you will see how the Leeds City Region LEP is going to take shape: "Leeds City Region Partnership brings together the 11 local authorities of Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield, York and North Yorkshire to work across administrative boundaries to promote economic growth and a better quality of life for our communities.

"With close to three million people, a resident workforce of 1.3 million, more than 100,000 businesses and an economy worth over 50bn each year, Leeds City Region is the largest city region outside London."

Isn't the point of LEPs in the title; local? Doesn't this rather sound like an RDA with a different source for funding it?

Two of the biggest criticisms I have heard about Yorkshire Forward is its bureaucracy and its failings in helping small businesses.

How is this going to change? It's not, and that is the problem. At least with the proposed LEP in East Yorkshire, there is a chance of bringing inward investment benefiting Hull and surrounding areas, with the minimum of red tape. On matters relating to the Humber ports, the various local authorities can get together and forge working agreements.

This is a model I had hoped other councils would take a lead from, rather than more grandiose schemes, which we thought were going to be a thing of the past.