Further cracks emerge in Local Enterprise Partnership

AN INFLUENTIAL business group's relationship with Warwickshire County Council has been strained 'from day one', the Observer has learned.

Coventry and Warwickshire's Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been frustrated at what it sees as the county's disruptive behaviour.

It comes after we reported last week how a leaked email - sent by the county council's chief executive - sparked a political row with Coventry City Council.

In one email reacting to the dispute - itself leaked to us this week - the LEP slammed the county for not wanting to work as part of the team.

It reveals the pair's relationship has been strained ever since the LEP was created. The group, which sees top regional business figures and political leaders work together, has helped win government cash in a bid to grow the regional economy.

Members include Coventry Airport owner Sir Peter Rigby and city council leader Ann Lucas.

But the leaked email, sent after bosses had heard the story was set to break earlier this week, reveals: "One of the LEP's greatest challenges has been to foster and enable a united front across six local authorities and two universities under a strong private sector leadership and representation and to create a Strategic Economic Plan for the region.

"The LEP’s achievements underline that this common vision has, for the most part, been successful.

"However, from day one Warwickshire County Council’s disruptive behaviour has consistently demonstrated its intent to operate independently and not as part of the LEP team.

"In spite of constant efforts to keep them on board, the LEP can only conclude that the county’s true intentions are evidenced by their Chief Executive’s statement."

County council chief executive Jim Graham had claimed their Coventry counterparts were desperate and had tried to carry county-based projects off as their own.

The city council said the pair's relationship had been damaged by the 'denigrating' comments.

The LEP refused to comment on the second leaked email and the county council had not responded to our request for a comment as we went to press.

Group needs to be more open

THE Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) should be more accountable to the public, it has been claimed.

The organisation channels large amounts of government money in a bid to deliver economic growth - yet no minutes of board meetings are made available for scrutiny.

And now Rugby councillor Jerry Roodhouse has called on the group to open up.

The borough and county's Liberal Democrat leader said: "In this day and age it is unacceptable for a body such as the LEP to keep its doors shut to the public and be secretive about how decisions are made.

"Transparency is important especially where public money is being spent. My hope now it that they will change and open up."

An LEP spokesman told the Observer the group was looking into the issue.

He said: “We continually review our processes especially as LEPs develop in terms of role and responsibilities for major funding.

"We have a finance and governance committee and that is currently looking into the issue of transparency and information.”

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