Simon Galton writes to Vince Cable to support closure of EMDA!

Local Councillor Simon Galton has written to Vince Cable, Business Secretary in the Coalition Government to suggest that the East Midlands Regional Development Agency (EMDA) be closed to save money. Cllr Simon Galton believes that the closure of EMDA, could contribute towards the savings local councils like Leicestershire have to make.

Group Leader Simon Galton said: "In my letter I have highlighted the simple fact that EMDA could be closed as part of the £1. 165 Billion Savings we need to make in local government over the next few years. RDA's are undemocratic and unaccountable bodies that rarely listen but always intervene. When the East Midlands Regional Assemblies where we replaced by Leaders Boards, it simply gave the EMDA more power.

The loss of the RDA doesn't mean the loss of support for local business, a lot of these functions can be done by local councils, possibly in partnership with local Chambers of Commerce. We don't need regional development agencies; we need local councils working locally to improve business and trade, using local skills. Local created boards and partnerships are the way forward, they restore the links need to build business confidence and allow Councils to be in line with local economic needs.

This is something I care a lot about, our County Council manifesto said we believed these unaccountable Quango's should go, and I feel this is a good time to make it happen.