The board of an East Midlands local enterprise partnership have hit back at reports suggesting the LEP system could be radically changed.
LEPs were launched a decade ago to bring together public and private sector expertise to support job creation and economic growth by helping draw up policy, support training initiatives and help in the distribution of economic grants and funding.
There are 38 LEPs in England, and the East Midlands is covered by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, D2N2 in Notts and Derbyshire, as well as the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.
According to reports, Ministers are thinking about a big shake-up of the system as part of a policy paper into the so-called 鈥渓evelling up agenda鈥.
Downing Street said a white paper on the key policy area 鈥 which will include new ways for businesses and councils to work together to support growth 鈥 will be published in 2022.
Levelling up secretary Michael Gove is expected to finalise it early in the new year.
The Financial Times quoted one government official saying LEPs were 鈥渨eak, ineffectual and bottom up with poor geography鈥, and another saying 鈥渕ost of them are a waste of space鈥.
In a statement, the D2N2 LEP board said they had done a good job in stimulating investment and supporting levelling up.
It said: 鈥淲e are aware of comments in the media about LEPs generally and the competence of the volunteer board members and professional staff of LEPs.
鈥淭he latest performance reviews carried out by government sets out how highly effective, competent and efficient LEPs are and will continue to be in delivering the levelling up agenda.
鈥淭he D2N2 LEP has played an integral part in the ongoing national review of Local Enterprise Partnerships.
鈥淲e remain optimistic about the outcome because we are clear about the added value D2N2 has brought to our region over ten years and that we have a key role to play in our low carbon future.
鈥淎s a business-led local partnership, we are keen to ensure that local partners and local businesses continue to have a clear strategic input in driving national priorities and regional economic growth.
鈥淪ince it was established, the D2N2 LEP has secured more than 拢1.5 billion in investment for the region.
鈥淥ur Local Growth Fund deal has successfully delivered 60 major projects and created over 16,000 jobs.
鈥淚n addition, we have supported 17,000 of our region鈥檚 SMEs through our Growth Hub, helped over 12,000 learners, and led the bid to secure the 海角视频鈥檚 only inland Freeport.
鈥淟ocal Enterprise Partnerships are ideally placed to deliver on the Government鈥檚 Levelling Up ambitions, support Plan for Growth and Net Zero ambitions, as demonstrated by our recent launch of a new Low Carbon Growth fund which has received excellent levels of interest.
鈥淎s a board we firmly believe we have the creativity, the expertise, and the experience to collectively deliver the sustainable economic growth that our region needs and deserves.鈥
