Businesses have been given a crucial role in co-ordinating the new regime for creating jobs and driving economic regeneration.

The move by Communities Secretary and former Bradford Council leader Eric Pickles has been welcomed by local business leaders.

He recently announced that a national network for the new Local Enterprise Partnerships, which are set to plug some of the gaps left by the abolition of regional development agencies such as Yorkshire Forward, would be led by chambers of commerce.

Mr Pickles announced that the British Chambers of Commerce would co-ordinate the LEP network to ensure that businesses are at the heart of the new regime for local economic growth. David Frost, BCC director general, will chair the network.

Local chamber leaders said something was needed to clarify what the LEPs were doing.

Harold Robinson, Bradford Chamber of Commerce president, said: “We support the creation of a network for LEPs to share information and good practices, and believe that the British Chambers of Commerce involvement is a good thing.

“LEPs are still very much finding their feet and having BCC support that network will help tackle some of the big issues around local growth, bring on board businesses of all sizes and from different sectors, and ensure that business is fundamentally at the root of all LEP activities.”

The Coalition Government wants LEPs to help rebalance the economy in favour of the private sector, and the new bodies have been given some of the responsibilities of regional development agencies, which are being wound down.

But the RDA budgets have not been transferred to LEPs and this has raised questions among business people about their potential effectiveness.

Sandy Needham, Bradford Chamber chief executive, said: “While it is still early days for LEPs in terms of establishing themselves and their roles, they need to ensure that they can deliver something tangible to businesses and contribute to overall growth.

“We know from our own discussions with members that more clarity and understanding is needed over precisely what LEPs could or should do – a BCC-led network is part of that process.”

Mr Frost added: “Our priority now is to listen to local business leaders – this is their network. It will only succeed if it delivers a supportive forum to exchange ideas, a way to engage with ministers and the information that partnerships need to support local growth.”