A REPORT which calls for the creation of a single economic development body for the north of England has been rubbished by business chiefs.
The study, by the Centre for Cities think-tank, urges the Government to focus on boosting investment and jobs in the North, without worrying about the wealth gap with London and the South East.
It also calls for the North West Development Agency (NWDA) to merge with its counterparts in Yorkshire and the North East, to create a single Northern Development Agency.
But Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, claimed the report’s findings were out of touch with the current climate.
He said: “We will make note of the content but now is not the time for debating regional structures.
“We are focused on working with government on the important and immediate issue of helping support North West businesses as best we can in this challenging economic climate and the existing regional development agency structure ensures we can respond quickly and effectively in each region.”
Centre for Cities, in calling for a single Northern RDA, describes the quangos as lacking accountability and being bogged down by unachievable targets.
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