Yesterday on Visit Scunthorpe we published an article which described how the North Lincolnshire area could well miss out an Enterprise Zone Status announced in the budget because of the failure of the North Bank to join with south bank councils in a Pan Humber LEP Following our revelations yesterday, we are pleased to announce that already action has been taken in an attempt to join North and South Banks in a Local Economic Partnership. Earlier today, the four Labour Leaders from both sides of the river met to discuss this very issue. Cllrs Mark Kirk, Stephen Brady, Chris Shaw and Keith Moore met at Waters' Edge, Barton-upon-Humber, to discuss the Humber Bridge tolls and the formation of a Humber LEP. Photo Courtesy of North Lincolnshire Labour Group LEPs will be business-led and will look to encourage economic growth and protect local firms. In the council's initial bid, 50 of the region's largest businesses gave their backing to plans for a Humber-LEP. As reported at the time leaders of councils on the north bank ignored their pleas and are insisting on an East Riding/Hull/Scarborough pact. Not only did this decision go against the commercial kudos of the regions industrial leaders, but was also in direct opposition to recommendations from the Humber Chamber of Commerce. In a statement this afternoon, Cllr Mark Kirk, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, told VisitScunthorpe: "I am in full support of the Hull & Humber's compromise policy on a pan-Humber LEP and hope today's business-led meeting with Communities and Local Government minister, Gregg Clark, leads to a long-awaited breakthrough on this. A continuing failure to secure a single LEP for the Humber is damaging the area's reputation and stands to make us a laughing stock. We failed yesterday to secure an Enterprise Zone as we don't have a LEP and I fear we are going to continue to lose out on millions of pounds of grants by a failure to do the sensible thing. I am just pleased our MPs see the logic in having a pan-Humber LEP and with me are backing our businesses." Cllr Stephen Brady, leader of the Labour group on Hull City Council, said: "The Labour group support a pan-Humber LEP and wish to make clear the comments by Carl Minns that this would bring no discernible economic benefit is shocking and shows him to be totally out of touch with reality." Cllr Chris Shaw, leader of the Labour group on North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "The Labour group on North East Lincolnshire Council fully supports the formation of a Humber LEP and I am delighted that all four Labour leaders are in agreement. The Humber Bridge should not be used as an excuse to prevent the Humber sub-region from uniting." Keith Moore, representing the Labour group on East Riding Council, added: "The current stance in looking northwards towards Scarborough makes no sense. It seems ironic that Labour leaders are united and listening to business on a Tory policy � but the creation of a Humber LEP taking in both banks is the only sensible way forward." George Osbourn's comments following his enterprise zone announcement yesterday go to show that he expects regions such as ours to work together, not against each other to encourage cooperation and business development opportunities. VisitScunthorpe.Com commented at the time that the lack of a cohesive LEP will stifle business growth, development and employment opportunities for workers on the south bank, and called on local politicians to work together in the best interest of our region.