Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the means of accountability are to central government of the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership.

Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are accountable to local areas through their lead local authority, known as the accountable body. In the case of Coast to Capital LEP this is West Sussex County Council.

Government has a robust system of assurance in place for LEPs set out in the National Assurance Framework, published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/567528/161109_LEP_Assurance_Framework.pdf.

This document sets out the requirement for LEPs to have in place the necessary systems and processes to manage delegated funding from central government budgets effectively.

The accountable local authority is required to write to my department’s permanent secretary each year to confirm that their LEP is compliant with the rules set out in the National Assurance Framework.