AS the nation’s eyes turn to the General Election of May 6, with its accompanying battle buses and televised party leader debates, we mustn’t lose sight of the other elections taking place up and down the country.

Local elections will have a major effect on the day-to-day life of businesses across the UK.

While the incoming government will determine much of the overarching legislation for the business community, local authorities in the region will have a lot of say on other issues – issues which could affect the healthy economic recovery of the North- East.

Although the North-East left the recession at the end of last year, there is still work to be done to ensure that businesses continue to thrive in better conditions.

The financial difficulties faced by local authorities indicate that they alone will not be able to provide employment growth in the coming year.

Businesses, therefore, will be called upon to provide both jobs and tax revenue to sustain the region’s economic recovery.

The decisions made by local authorities will either help or hinder this process, and local government leaders need to recognise the vital role that the private sector will play in the region’s future.

The North-East Chamber of Commerce’s Manifesto 2010 set out our campaigning priorities for the year, and called for an economic recovery test to be applied to all decisions affecting policy in the North-East throughout 2010. This would require policy makers to show how decisions would support or hinder businesses in growing the region’s economy.

Local government must ensure it applies this test.

Among the issues the NECC wants addressed are an improved approach to skills training, no new local taxes on business in 2010-11, and a simpler procurement process to aid North-East companies in securing public sector contracts.

I would urge everyone, both businesses and those running for office, to examine the NECC’s Manifesto 2010.

It is crucial candidates understand the needs of businesses in the North-East at a time when the whole region has a huge vested interest in their success.

■ James Ramsbotham is chief executive of the North-East Chamber of Commerce