Bradford Chamber of Commerce says the void left by the pending demise of Yorkshire’s regional development agency must be filled by a body that is fully focused on delivering results.

Former Bradford Council leader Eric Pickles, the Government’s secretary for Communities and Local Government, is urging local authorities and businesses to form Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to replace agencies such as Yorkshire Forward.

His letter has produced a flurry of activity and today Sandy Needham, chief executive of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, warned that any changes must bring genuine benefits rather than a shuffling of existing functions under a new name.

Writing in her column in today’s Bradford Means Business supplement, Mrs Needham said: “We’re being given a blank sheet of paper and asked to create a model that will help to drive economic growth by working across local Council boundaries. If that means having a new body or bodies that will improve the infrastructure, ensure there is a well-educated and skilled workforce, deliver regeneration and new investment in our area, then we definitely want to support the change.

Mrs Needham said it made sense for Bradford to work more closely with Leeds and other places in West Yorkshire bearing in mind the area of economic activity.

“But we need to focus on delivering better results rather than on geography and process. I doubt that will be easy,” she added.

Her comments come just a day before the Leeds City Region Leaders’ Board, including Bradford Council leader Ian Greenwood, discussed the way forward in terms of regional governance.

Earlier this week, the debate intensified as two prominent businessmen gave their views on the new LEPs.

Asghar Ali, managing director of Lahore Cafe Bar in Bradford, urged Asian business leaders to speak up and play a “major role” in filling the void.

He said there was a great chance for Asian businesses to set up a lobbying group to engage with each other and communicate.

Meanwhile, Michael Longden, a partner at the Leeds office of law firm Irwin Mitchell, warned that the four ridings of Yorkshire would be permanently at civil war without a Yorkshire-wide body to co-ordinate investment opportunities.

Dermot Finch, director of research institute Centre for Cities, said: “Councils across England are now actively working out which LEP they should join.

“Yorkshire & Humber will split into four LEPs – West Yorkshire (including Leeds-Bradford), North Yorkshire (including York), Hull & Humber, and South Yorkshire (including Sheffield).”