Governance information for the LEP
Find out more about the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is governed.
Governance, funding and transparency
The Combined Authority is the accountable body for the LEP, ensuring all of our decisions and spending is overseen by local elected politicians.
Constitution and procedures
These documents set out, among other things, how we conduct our meetings and business, how decisions are made and recorded, and how the public can get access to information about our work:
LEP Constitution
LEP Access to Information Annex
LEP Board Procedure Rules
LEP Code of Practice for Recording Meetings
LEP Protocol for remote meetings
Assurance Framework
As part of our Growth Deal with the Government, the LEP and West Yorkshire Combined Authority have approved an Assurance Framework. It covers all funding flowing through the LEP and how the Combined Authority as the LEP's accountable body ensures that there are robust, transparent and accountable processes in place to ensure value for money for the public purse.
Note: further amendments to the Assurance Framework are pending to reflect changes approved at the recent Annual Meeting.
The Assurance Framework has been prepared in accordance with HM Government's National Local Growth Assurance Framework.
The LEP Chair and the LEP Chief Executive have provided an assurance statement setting out their commitment to high standards of governance and transparency.
Governance Assurance Statement
Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest
LEP Board Members
On appointment LEP Board Members are required to sign up to our Code of Conduct which sets out the conduct expected of members and includes procedures for how they must declare and register any commercial or other interests.
Code of Conduct for LEP Board Members
LEP Board Members are also required to complete, and keep up to date, a register of interests.
The register of interests for LEP Board members
The LEP Board Members' Code of Conduct requires that any offer of a gift or hospitality received as a result of membership of the LEP Board is recorded.
The register of gifts and hospitality for LEP Board members
All Officers of the Combined Authority are required to comply with a Code of Conduct. As part of the LEP's governance arrangements, senior officers and officers involved in advising on LEP decisions are also required to confirm that they will have regard to the following principles – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership in their conduct at all times and that they will comply with the Combined Authority's Code of Conduct for Officers and Gifts and Hospitality Policy and Procedure.
Code of Conduct for Officers
Officers of the LEP are also required to complete a separate register of interests and to review this every six months. These are reviewed by the LEP Chief Executive and the Section 73 Officer and held by the Combined Authority. Government requires that the register of interests of the LEP Chief Executive is published.
The LEP and Combined Authority have adopted a Conflicts of Interest Policy and Conflicts of Interest Protocol which set out the process which the LEP and the Combined Authority follow to demonstrate that applications from businesses for loans or grants are dealt with in an impartial, fair and transparent way. The policy applies to members and officers and include requirements to register and declare interests.
The AEB Conflicts of Interests Policy sets out the process to be followed by members and officers in relation to any decision to be taken in relation to Adult Education.
You can download these documents.
Complaints, Whistleblowing and Freedom of Information requests
We have put in place arrangements for dealing with complaints and concerns.
The following procedures include arrangements for making complaints, a separate complaints procedure for dealing with confidential complaints, a whistleblowing policy, the Combined Authority's complaints policy and policy for dealing with requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act.
LEP Procedure for Considering Complaints (LEP Board Members' Code of Conduct)
LEP Confidential Complaints Procedure
LEP Whistleblowing Policy
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Complaints Policy
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Freedom of Information Policy
Recruitment procedure for private sector representatives
The LEP Board appoints its private sector representatives, including the Chair, in accordance with open recruitment processes which are set out in the LEP recruitment procedure (which also covers engagement with the business community in relation to the appointment of the LEP Chair, succession planning and induction arrangements for private sector representatives). The Recruitment Procedure can be downloaded here.
Board members' remuneration and expenses
The following document sets out arrangements for LEP Board members' expenses.
LEP Remuneration and Expenses Scheme
A summary of remuneration and expenses paid to LEP Board members can be found here:
Summary of remuneration and expenses paid to LEP Board members
The LEP is committed to achieving diversity and promoting equality of opportunity and does all it can to ensure that no member of the public, service user, contractor or staff member working within a partner organisation will be unlawfully discriminated against.
The LEP Board will be appointing a new Diversity Champion at its meeting on 21st September.
You can also read the LEP Equality and Diversity Policy including Statement
SME Champion
The LEP board have appointed Mandy Ridyard, LEP Board member, as SME Champion.
Written record of decisions taken on behalf of the LEP
Written Record – Decision Date 30 April 2019 – Decision: to approve the Conflicts of Interests Policy and Protocol
Written Record - Decision Date 1 April 2020 - Decisions made at Conference Meeting on 1 April 2020
LEP Integration Plan
Following publication of the Levelling Up White Paper, the government is encouraging the integration of LEPs into mayoral combined authorities (MCAs). In Leeds City Region, the process of integration planning will be led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority working in close partnership with the LEP.
Under our integration plans, the LEP will be a non-statutory partnership body driving inclusive growth and improving productivity. It will become the primary business advisory board to the Mayor and the MCA and will provide strategy and policy advice to meet the current and future needs of the region's economy. The focus of the LEP Board will be provide a private sector voice to the decisions of the Combined Authority specifically relating to economy, productivity, trade and investment, inclusive growth and employment and skills.
Mark Roberts is acting LEP Chair during the integration process. Once Leeds City Region's integration plan has been approved by government, recruitment for a permanent LEP Chair will be undertaken.
LEP annual performance review
In the 2021/22 Annual Performance Review, the LEP met all requirements from Government across the themes of Governance, Strategic Impact and Delivery.