FSB has LEP concerns

0
1568

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Cornwall has reiterated the importance of the forthcoming Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) being a “genuine partnership” between the public and private sectors.

With Whitehall currently examining Cornwall Council’s proposal for a Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, the FSB says it is “really positive” about the prospects for the economy in Cornwall, but still has “fundamental objections” to the Council’s plan.

The FSB Regional Committee says the current bid lacked “business engagement, objectives to meet the needs of the SME sector and proposed unsuitable governance structures”.

Kevin Oliver, East Cornwall chairman and lead of the Cornwall FSB delivery team said: “There is currently substantial scepticism from many business groups in Cornwall in addition to the FSB, from the town chambers of commerce and also tourism organisations that have had no engagement at all in the process to date and think that all that is coming is another quango.

“We repeatedly say that if both national and local government are sincere, then that will not be the case this time, but time will tell.”

business-cornwall-house-advert