County's compelling case for investment

A COMPELLING case has been put to Government for maximum levels of investment in Cheshire and Warrington based around its resilient and diverse economy, according to business leaders.
The Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership LEP) has worked with partners in all sectors to produce the case for the area.
The LEP has held a second consultation meeting to share and review the emerging draft of the European Structural and Investment Strategy with members of the business community and public sector partners.
The strategy will outline how Cheshire and Warrington intends to use European monies over the 2014-2020 funding period and a first draft of the document needs to be with Government by October 7.
The LEP says it has also been working at a national level to present a compelling and robust message to government to better their understanding of where public sector spending should be focused in the sub-region.
The LEP board has made a strong commitment to ensure that all key groups within the public, private and third sectors are involved in the development of the strategy by holding a series of working groups based around the strategic themes.
These meetings have enabled the LEP to capture local knowledge and crucial insight about how they can best shape the future economy of Cheshire and Warrington.
A further round of workshops scheduled for later this month will enable the LEP to agree the strategic priorities, focusing on the issues that really matter to businesses, people and the economy of the sub-region.
LEP chairman Christine Gaskell said: “We have made the case to Government that LEPs have the knowledge, the capacity and the private sector backing to lead on developing the key growth plans for the sub-region.
“It is really encouraging that Government has responded by asking LEPs to lead in submitting robust and ambitious economic plans and a prospectus for the European funding programme.”