Economic leadership when it counts, where it counts

The Leeds City Region Partnership officially signed off its Pilot Agreement on the 27 November 2009, as part of the Leeds City Region Summit.

The Agreement comes after 5 years of successful partnership working and  will change the way Local Government operates.

City Region authorities and partners will now work together to deliver programmes that will help minimise the impact of the downturn and accelerate the city region’s economic recovery. The plan has the potential to deliver short-term economic stimulus through a significant boost to GVA and jobs, as well as to support an accelerated economic recovery.

The agreement includes devolved responsibilities and funding in the delivery of objectives in:

Housing and Regeneration:

• We will establish a Joint Housing and Regeneration Board with the Homes and Communities Agency that will establish funding activity and coordinate investments.
• We will deliver the Urban Eco Settlement Programme - providing high quality sustainable homes for our communities
• We will deliver a Domestic Energy Efficiency Programme - accelerating activity on home insulation to a high environmental standard
• We will develop proposals for funding flexibilities on development of the Leeds-Bradford Corridor

Innovation Support:

• We will produce an Innovation Capital Prospectus and Investment Plan, which will take a strategic approach to supporting innovation accross the city reigon

Employment and Skills:

• We will establish an Employment and Skills Board - an employer led Board, with a new responsibility for strategy setting
• We will develop an Employment and Skills Plan, which will set priorities for adult skills and employability programmes in the city region
• We will work with the Department for Work and Pensions to align delivery of employability and welfare to work programmes across the city region

Transport:

• We will work with Government to deliver the Leeds City Region Transport Strategy
• In partnership with the Department for Transport, HM Treasury and Yorkshire Forward, we will develop a 10 year transport delivery plan, aligning funds with City Region priorities. 

These proposals have been welcomed by our partners, including Yorkshire Forward and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). 

Together we can turn this time of economic uncertainty to an opportunity for a brighter future for the UK economy.