Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership report delayed

The publication of a valuable 'Healthcheck' report that will show how effective NEP really is has been delayed for several months. The report will expose whether NEP actually delivers the value for money that Tory controlled NCC claim. In the light of repeated criticism from the Liberal Democrat opposition that the £2m annual cost to the tax payer could be better spent the NEP Healthcheck was commissioned and should have reported in March. The Conservative Cabinet has now delayed publication.

'We have learnt that the Healthcheck report won't be made public until June.' Explained Councillor Chris Lofts. 'This is really disappointing as the sooner we discover if there are lessons to be learnt and there are better ways of supporting local enterprise the better. £2m is a lot of public money and we need to be reassured that it is being spent wisely. The longer the delay the more concern we have that there is actually something to hide!'