Over two evidence sessions on Tuesday 23rd October,
the House of Lords Select Committee on the Rural Economy will
question witnesses from local government and Local Enterprise
Partnerships (LEPs) on their role in the rural
economy.
In the first session, the Committee will ask the
witnesses what the main challenges are for supporting rural
business growth and development, and how local government can
assist. The Committee will also ask how effective LEPs are in
supporting economic development.
The Committee will begin taking evidence at
9.45am and will question:
-
Cllr Sue Baxter, Chairman,
National Association of Local Councils
-
Cllr Bob Egerton, Cornwall
Council
-
Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Chairman
of the Local Government Association’s People and Places Board
and leader of Gloucestershire County Council
LEPs are supposed to play a central role in
determining local economic priorities to drive economic growth
and job creation, improve infrastructure and raise workforce
skills. However the Committee have heard evidence that their
performance is “patchy”.
The Committee will ask the LEPs whether this is a
fair assessment and whether they have the capacity and resources
to effectively deliver for rural areas.
At 10.45am the Committee will
question:
-
Mr , North
East Local Enterprise Partnership
-
Mr John Mortimer, Swindon and
Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership
-
Councillor Louise
Richardson, Leicestershire Rural
Partnership
The evidence session will be held in
Committee room 1 in the House of Lords. Other topics the
Committee are likely to cover include:
-
Access to rural services
-
How the battle against rural crime is
tackled
-
How devolution arrangements can be reformed to
support the rural economy more effectively
-
The impact of Brexit on rural economies and the
role of LEPs.
