Impartiality of local enterprise partnerships 'at risk' It's difficult to play an interdependent... role if you are dependent on those you need to apply some discipline [to] on occasion. There were also complaints that LEPs" responsibilities - which cover local skills, transport and growth - are not clear enough. "LEPs need a mix of real powers and so far few commentators feel that they have them," according to the Regional Studies Association. The Institute of Economic Development suggested LEPs should be given the powers that were centralised when RDAs were abolished, such as inward investment and helping small businesses access finance. The Federation of Small Businesses said companies see LEPs as organisations "who do not communicate [with] or necessarily understand smaller businesses." Accountants Matthews Associates forecast that businesses would start walking away from LEPs within a year unless they started to see results. Brandon Lewis MP, chair of the all-party group, said: "Much has been achieved but the findings of this report show that there are clearly still gaps and weaknesses that all parties including government must address as a matter of urgency. LEPs need genuine devolution of power and influence, sufficient funding and improved connectivity with Government and the national economic agenda in order to succeed.