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Lancashire warned - stick to one LEP
Insider North West | 21st July 2010

Business lobbying group Downtown in Business has warned Preston and Lancashire councils off bidding for more than one Local Economic Partnership (LEP) for Lancashire.

Speaking to 50 business owners and professionals at a Downtown Preston in Business event at the Marriott Preston yesterday, chairman Frank McKenna said a single partnership to push Lancashire's interests was the best way forward.

At the event, A Tale of Three Cities - lessons from Liverpool and Manchester, McKenna also called upon Preston City Council to appoint a private sector chairman for Preston Vision, the city body set up to co-ordinate an action plan for Preston.

The audience also heard impressive presentations from David Wade-Smith, a strong candidate to be the first private sector cabinet member in Liverpool, and Mike Emmerich, chief executive of Manchester's Commission for the New Economy. Emmerich urged Preston to adopt a "crisis narrative" in order to focus minds on some achievable goals. He also extended an offer to assist Preston in formulating complementary strategies to attract and grow business.