The leaders of Hull City Council and the East Riding of Yorkshire Council
have committed to working more closely together to improve the economic
prospects of Hull and the East Riding.

Both councils are seeking to take advantage of the opportunities which will
be provided by new Government legislation. From 2010, all local authorities
in England will have a duty to produce a local economic assessment, which
will provide a comprehensive and robust analysis of local economic
conditions. Using this assessment, councils will be expected to shape their
policies to ensure the success of their local economies.

Although each local authority in England will be expected to undertake a
local economic assessment, provision is made for councils who share a
functional economic area to work together on their economic assessments and
subsequent policy interventions.  

Meeting at Bridge Haven One (a Grade A office development on Priory Park
West) in Hessle, Councillors Carl Minns and Stephen Parnaby said that the
level of economic interaction between Hull and a large part of the East
Riding was well established, particularly with regard to shared job markets,
housing markets and spatial planning matters. Both leaders agreed that it
made sense for an economic assessment to be carried out across the shared
natural economic area of the two council areas, corresponding with the Hull
Travel To Work Area.

Councillor Minns said: "Both councils are working at many levels in order to
create greater wealth and employment opportunities for the people of Hull
and the East Riding. This agreement formalises that working and allows us to
project the area's needs and benefits both to Government and to potential
investors."

Councillor Parnaby added: "Local authority boundaries mean nothing when
creating jobs, attracting inward investment or helping local business.
Residents and commercial operators need to be assured that both councils are
working closely together. We already do that in a number of ways, however,
this can always be improved upon and I welcome the opportunities this will
give."

Both councils will discuss reports about local economic assessments at their
respective cabinet meetings in October.