GFirstLEP to be integrated into Gloucestershire county council

At GFirstLEP we were expecting the axe to fall and it did in a rather curt letter from government recently.

It was not unexpected. And not unexpected that it was late in coming to us.

In fact, the whole process of making a clear decision on the future of LEPs nationally was something of a shambles to put it mildly.

The upshot is that the local enterprise partnership for Gloucestershire is now being integrated into the county council.

Indeed, GfirstLEP’s chief executive, David Owen, has now been working with County Hall for some months now.

He has led an excellent team well and our LEP is regarded as in the top five out of 36 in the LEP network.

We simply must not lose the impetus and passion of the LEP board and business groups—all volunteers who have been helping to drive the county forward economically over the last decade.

I am actually confident that the county council will not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Why dump a board and experienced  business people giving their time voluntarily for the economic benefit of our county?

I don’t think they will.

The axing of the LEPs is a government decision-not a county council decision.

I am pleased to see the debate starting over a new economic strategy for Gloucestershire for the next five years and longer term up to 2050.

Much of what I have seen so far has emanated from GFirstLEP’s original work.

We must not make this a political football-it is far too important for that.

So, while I support the integration with the county council, my view is that our councillors must simply listen to business and their needs.

Business is the lifeblood of this county’s future, and together with our councils we have a great opportunity for progress together.

It must not be wasted.