Counties urge reforms to 'unaccountable' LEPs

摘要

Concerned county council leaders have ignited fresh tensions in their relationship with business after calling for reforms to 'unaccountable' local enterprise partnerships (LEPs). A report published this week by the County Councils Network highlighted a 'number of fundamental weaknesses within the current system' and called for LEPs to be 'grounded in democratic and accountable decision-making, providing transparency when investing public funds'. The report was based on a survey of county leaders, who raised 'serious concerns' around LEPs becoming 'disconnected from the communities they serve'. More than three-quarters of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that LEPs were unaccountable and more than half thought they lacked transparency.