Pickles: Chambers of Commerce at heart of new local growth arrangements
23/07/10 | 16:32
Following a meeting between David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, both parties underlined their shared vision for local enterprise partnerships – which are intended to drive local economic growth across England.
Commenting, David Frost said:
“The future of our local economies – from Cornwall to Carlisle – hinges on the growth of the wealth-generating private sector. The Secretary of State and I are in complete agreement on this point.
“We also agree that Chambers of Commerce, the beating hearts of England’s local business communities, must play a crucial leadership role. As local enterprise partnerships develop across the country, Chambers will work together with local councils to set a clear vision for growth, prosperity, and jobs – and will help deliver the business backing that these partnerships will need to succeed.”
Communities & Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said:
"I was delighted to meet with the BCC as they have a central role to play, working hand in hand with local leaders, to develop and deliver new local enterprise partnerships that will make the economy responsive to the needs of local business and local people.
We want to urgently rebuild and rebalance local economies without strangling businesses with red tape so that new economic opportunities spread across the country.
The solution needs to be local and I expect councils to work closely with local Chambers of Commerce so that partnership proposals have a strong business voice that preaches enterprise."
Ends
Media Contact:
Sam Turvey
Tel: 020 7654 5813
Email: s.turvey@britishchambers.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
The Government has announced that the Regional Development Agencies will be replaced by Local Enterprise Partnerships as joint local authority-business bodies to promote local economic development, and has asked for local areas to come up with proposals for these by the 6th September.
The Government also announced its intention to support economic growth in the regions through a Regional Growth White Paper over the summer, and a Regional Growth Fund to provide capital for regional growth projects.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is the National Voice of Local Business.
The BCC sits at the heart of a powerful nationwide network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce serving business across the UK, which employ over five million people