There must be a degree of twitchiness amongst the 400 or so staff at the doomed North West Development Agency - most based in Warrington. Will the Coalition's proposed replacement - local enterprise partnerships - come up with jobs they can apply for ?
Originally the NWDA canvassed support for the idea of simply changing into the NWLEP. But the good burghers of the region have seen a better opportunity, and Eric Pickles will be peppered with applications to set up smaller groups. The ubiquitous Sir Howard Bernstein was first out of the traps with a Greater Manchester LEP proposal. Cheshire & Warrington is another applicant. Lancashire can't agree, and is proposing three LEPs - Pennine Lancashire, The Fylde Coast, and Lancashire County Council. Liverpool will apply as a city. The deadline is a week or so away.
Does it matter ? If these groups control the funds that once went to the NWDA, then it does. What happens to Phase 2 of MediaCityUK, for example ? How does that play in Lancashire, Cheshire and Liverpool ?
If, of course, the funds dry up, then LEPs are just talking shops - and unlikely to provide employment opportunities for the 400 Broomhead Boys and Girls.
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