A CORNERSTONE of the EU in/out debate hinges on the belief that we will do better on our own than as part of a collective.

A similar argument could be put forward for the way that we promote our region through regional development bodies.

During its 12 year lifespan, One North East claimed to have helped inject more than £2.7bn into the regional economy, attract and start 19,000 businesses, and help to create, or safe guard about 160,000 jobs.

As its name suggest the body represented the whole of our region – from the Tees to the Tweed. However, it was dogged by accusations that the voice of the Tees Valley struggled to be heard above the powerhouses of Wearside, Tyneside and County Durham.

The Coalition’s bonfire of the quangos, that unceremoniously consigned to the flames the nine regional development agencies including One North East, was followed by the creation of 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). These were slimmed down bodies, shorn of funding, and more fitting, ministers said, for the age of austerity.

I have used this column in the past to voice concerns about the democratic credentials of the Leps, which are led by a board that consists unelected, private sector members who aren’t accountable to local voters, and council chiefs, who are. Putting that aside for a moment, I am happy to go on record as saying that as Leps go, Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU) has largely been a force for good in this part of the world. It has helped to attract a decent share of the meagre amounts of government funding that has been up for grabs these last five years, and drawn up a sensible strategy for jobs, growth and skills to put in place a foundation for longer term success.

The North East Lep, which covers the area from Durham upwards, has also scored some notable successes, despite at times being riven by internal disputes.

The question facing the next government is whether two Leps are better than one.

Paul Woolston, chair of the North East Lep told me in an interview last year that his personal view was that we were better offer as a united region. TVU bosses not surprisingly, disagree strongly.

Labour has hinted strongly that the Leps will be reformed if it takes power, though it has fallen short of saying it will reintroduce a single body for the region.

I agree with Alison Thain, who speaks a lot of sense in today's front page story. Whether it retains its independent status or not, Tees Valley has carved out a a a more clearly defined identity which should ensure that it cannot be ignored in the future.

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