Views sought on new enterprise partnerships

An inquiry into new Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) was launched by a committee of MPs in July.
The LEPs, which will replace the Regional Development Agencies, will play an important role in bringing together bids for the Regional Growth Fund, working with key partners such as universities. The RDAs are due to be abolished in 2012.
The inquiry will examine how the proposed new structure will work, alongside issues such as distribution of funding, value for money, accountability, timing, transitional arrangements and required legislation.
The Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee will consider issues such as:
• the functions of the new LEPs and ensuring value for money;
• the Regional Growth Fund, and funding arrangements under the LEP system;
• Government proposals for ensuring co-ordination of roles between different LEPs;
• arrangements for co-ordinating regional economic strategy;
• structure and accountability of LEPs;
• the legislative framework and timetable for converting RDAs to LEPs, the transitional arrangements, and the arrangements for residual spending and liability of RDAs;
• means of procuring funding from outside bodies (including EU funding) under the new arrangements.