Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has urged local MPs to ensure that the voice of business is central to plans for local government reorganisation (LGR) in the county.
In a letter to Stafford MP Leigh Ingham, Interim CEO Chris Plant highlighted the importance of LGR as a ‘once in a generation reform’ and stressed the need for clear communication with businesses.
The Chamber has established an LGR working group of member businesses, which held its first meeting at the end of last year.
Chris raised the Chambers’ concerns that the focus had been on geographic boundaries rather than addressing the strategic issues that affect businesses, such as skills, inward investment, infrastructure and training.
He said there had been ‘minimal consultation with the business community’ when drawing up proposals for the structure of the region.
He wrote: “We feel that there has been too much of a focus on drawing up boundaries but a lack of focus on how each structure would support the key strategic issues facing businesses based within this area.
“We suggest that some or all of these should be matters for the eventual strategic or mayoral authority to have direct responsibility for. Unfortunately, as submitted, none of the current proposals offer this level of detail nor strategic certainty.”
The letter also called for greater engagement between businesses and the authorities proposing new structures, recommending ‘an information event’ to enable meaningful consultation.
Chris stressed the need for clarity and expressed concern that slow progress could risk funding or business support opportunities.
He wrote: “We simply can’t afford to spend the next few years in the slow lane, with the risk that businesses may uproot and move out of the region. Slow progress will cause uncertainty to fester. LGR is very much just the first step in the devolution process, before we get to discussions around Strategic Authorities and Mayoral Areas.”
What does your business think about LGR? Leave a comment below.
