February 2019
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This seminar will discuss the future for Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) following the Strengthened Local Enterprise Partnerships Review which sets out plans to reform accountability and boost performance, and the recently released National Local Growth Assurance Framework.
We expect discussion on the guidance set out in the framework for local growth funding, and its mandatory governance, accountability and transparency requirements for LEPs - with an aim to have new Local Assurance Frameworks in place by April 2019.
Sessions will consider the challenges for reviewing geographical boundaries to remove overlaps and find geographical areas which best reflect functional economic activity, as well as for improving co-operation across boundaries.
They will also discuss what more can be done to improve transparency and board diversity with the review calling for women to make up at least one third of LEP boards by 2020 and equal representation by 2023.
The seminar comes with the Government due to agree the first Local Industrial Strategies by March 2019 - and announcing the extension of Sector Deal discussions this year - with the aim of boosting productivity, employment, innovation and skills.
Following calls from Metro Mayors for devolved control over the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, it will provide an opportunity to assess the future for regional funding in England, the role of LEPs in driving investment and how best to build on city and growth deals, build on local strengths and align strategies with regional and national priorities.
