Chesterfield Borough Council has resolved to remain as a member of Derby Derbyshire Nottingham Nottinghamshire (D2N2) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and to relinquish its membership of Sheffield City Region (SCR) LEP.
The Council will, however, remain a non-constituent member of the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority.
D2N2 is the private sector-led partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, community, and voluntary services representatives which promotes economic growth across the area of Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Elizabeth Fagan, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We’re pleased that Chesterfield Borough Council has confirmed its decision to remain a member of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership area. The UK Government had requested that all local authorities, located where two Local Enterprise Partnerships’ areas overlap, must decide which LEP they wished to be a member of.”
“We very much recognise that the borough’s location means its communities look towards both Yorkshire and Derbyshire.”
“We will continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Sheffield City Region LEP, to provide the Chesterfield area with the best support for its economy.”
Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “This is a decision that I neither take lightly nor is it a decision that I believe is necessary. But there is no option if we are to comply with the Government’s requirement for Chesterfield’s businesses and communities to in future be represented by a single LEP.
“Chesterfield’s businesses and communities have benefitted greatly from the Council being a member of both D2N2 LEP and SCR LEP since 2013 with £60 million-plus of external funds having been secured for investment in infrastructure, business growth, skills and employment support.”
“We would like this position to continue, however, Whitehall appears determined not to allow the geographies of two LEPs to overlap.”
“By taking this decision today, D2N2 LEP and SCR LEP will be able to finalise their respective proposals to the Government for geographies which best reflect real functional economic areas and remove overlaps.
With Chesterfield Borough Council opting to remain within D2N2, all overlaps with other LEPs within the D2N2 region have been resolved with all overlapping districts having now indicated their preferred solution.
Media wanting more information about the D2N2 LEP can contact Luke Stott, D2N2 Social Media & Marketing Officer, on 0115 9578749 or email: Luke.Stott@d2n2lep.org
