We held our LLEP AGM and Board meeting this week at Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park one of our amazing Enterprise Zones.
It was a different AGM this year as we reflected on the delivery over the past year and thanked our stakeholders for ongoing support, but of course reflected on the devolution agenda and the government decision to end the funding for LEPs and our transfer into democratic institutions is dominating our future plans.
I said “As ever, what has been achieved could not have happened without the support of our Directors, Officers, and Stakeholders – past and present.
“I thank them all for their contribution to delivering the mission of the LLEP – not just in 2022-23 but ever since 2011. It has been a tough year for the team."
Government has indicated that central funding for local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) nationwide will be withdrawn at the end of March 2024.
The Chancellor described during the Spring Budget his intention for LEP services to be delivered by local government from as early as April 2024.
The LLEP Board has previously agreed to form a transition group, chaired by CEO Phoebe Dawson, to work with key partners on transferring LLEP functions while building on gains made over the years.
I hope to give a more specific update as soon as we can. We are still waiting for more detailed guidance from government, on further funding updates and what devolution in Leicestershire might look like. The Labour Party conference this week also committed to continued devolution so we need to prepare our work and priorities to be ready for further change.
As ever I will do everything I can in my last few months as Chair to create a lasting legacy from the work of my predecessors and create a structure for the County that works in the economic interests of all our businesses communities and people.
