Issue - meetings

The Chairman led a discussion updating partners on key updates in national and regional changes in relation to the work of the Economic Partnership.

The forthcoming Decentralisation and Localism Bill was due to be published in November 2010 and would provide details on how power would be returned to local authorities and communities through a number of measures including control of housing and planning decisions.  It had also been announced that England’s Regional Development Agencies would be abolished, signalling the end of the regional tier of government and the emergence of a renewed local approach, although London would retain a form of development agency. 

In June 2010, the Government wrote to all English local authorities inviting them to submit proposals around the development of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).  These would be grouped around functional economic areas and would be private-sector led.  It was likely that a pan-London LEP would be developed, however South London Partnership had also submitted an Expression of Interest proposal for an LEP covering the South London region and comprising of LB Bromley, Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth. 

Other new developments included the requirement for unitary authorities, including London Boroughs, to undertake a Local Economic Assessment, and the publication of the Mayor of London’s Economic Development Strategy.  The Comprehensive Spending Review would have a significant impact on the resources available at a local level in the future.  Regional Growth Funding would be made available to areas of very high unemployment but it was unlikely that London boroughs would be allocated any of this funding.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.