Local Enterprise Partnerships
Successful Local Enterprise Partnerships in the South of England
On 28 October 2010 the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Rt Hon Vince Cable, announced that twenty four of the bids to establish Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) have been approved. This leaves a number of areas across the country that are not currently covered by an approved LEP. Further information will released by the Government soon.
Six LEPs have been approved in the South East.
Coast to Capital
The Coast to Capital LEP covers the whole of West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, East Surrey and Croydon. The bid was led by West Sussex County Council which is an important existing partner of Tourism South East. We have been in active discussions with the steering group and have been successful in ensuring that the tourism sector is being given due consideration by the new LEP.
Kent, Greater Essex & East Sussex
This LEP is currently the largest of the approved bids. Originally East Sussex County Council had put together a bid of its own but was encouraged to join with a Kent/Essex bid. This decision splits the key southern coastal area between two LEP’s which will create a new challenge. Tourism South East works across this area with strategic partners at Visit Kent, Medway and most of the East Sussex local authorities. Essex is in the East of England region where we enjoy a strong working relationship with the East of England Tourist Board.
Oxfordshire City Region
This is a key area for Tourism South East and we are already active here supporting the new LEP and the emerging Oxfordshire Destination Management Organisation (DMO). Tourism South East has a place on the DMO Board and will continue to engage as much as possible in the county and with the approved LEP.
Thames Valley Berkshire
This bid originated from a number of potentially competing Thames Valley submissions. The final submission builds on the obvious strengths of the Berkshire Thames Valley. Tourism South East has existing high levels of engagement across the area of this LEP with most of the local authorities and many private sector businesses. We are aiming to build our relationships further as the approved LEP is developed.
South East Midlands
Although a large part of this LEP area is outside the current South East region, it incorporates a large area of our current operating footprint including Milton Keynes, Buckingham and Aylesbury. Cutting across many local authority areas and three Regional Development Agency regions, this is a powerful industrial area where Tourism South East will fight hard for the tourism sector to be recognised as an economic driver. We have good relations with a number of local authorities and economic partnerships in the area which provides an excellent platform for future collaboration.
Solent
The Solent LEP has adjusted its original urban south Hampshire origins to include the Isle of Wight as part of the consortium. The LEP covers Havant, Portsmouth, Gosport, Fareham, Southampton, Eastleigh and the Isle of Wight, with Test Valley, Winchester, East Hants, New Forest and Chichester being on the edges. Tourism South East has for some time had an active engagement with the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire. This, together with our good relationships with the local authorities and the private sector, allows us to work positively with the new LEP.
South of England LEP Gaps
Due to the fact that some bids were not approved some gaps in provision within the South East of England remain.
Surrey
The ‘Surrey Connects’ bid was not approved so there eight councils in Surrey that are not yet covered by an approved LEP (three of the Surrey local authority areas, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge, are within the Coast to Capital bid area). An obvious solution is for the remaining area to work with the north of Hampshire (Enterprise M3 corridor) submission and/or south Buckinghamshire, who also have not been approved at this stage.
North Hampshire
The ‘Enterprise M3 Corridor’ bid also failed to win approval. The area may partner up with Surrey and/or South Buckinghamshire to form a larger cross cutting area.
South Buckinghamshire
The northern districts in Buckinghamshire joined the South East Midlands bid leaving the south of the county without an approved LEP. This remaining area is close to both the M3 Corridor and Surrey, so there could be an option for joint working. The only impediment to this is the fact that the ‘Thames Valley Berkshire’ area cuts in between these areas.
Dorset & Wiltshire
While neither of these counties is inside the current South East region, both are adjacent areas and we work closely with their local authorities and tourism sectors. Neither county is currently included in a successful LEP but options are being explored.
Tourism South East will continue to work with the LEPs in the region and the adjacent areas to ensure that the tourism sector is recognised and supported within the new structures across the South of England.
