Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, through what mechanism his Department monitors how Local Enterprise Partnership's spend money from the public purse; and how his Department evaluates the results of that spending.
The Government recognises that each local area must be empowered to reach their potential in order to boost national productivity and growth. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) play an important role in furthering this agenda. LEP performance is rigorously monitored through regular engagement with departmental officials, quarterly financial and performance submissions and performance reports.
Every year the Department undertakes an Annual Performance Review with each LEP where it evaluates each Local Enterprise Partnership’s performance in key areas of strategy, delivery and governance. The Department has also conducted a series deep dives to review the governance, transparency and accountability processes and culture in LEPs in more detail.