Rutland is set to work more closely with Lincolnshire in a bid to boost its economy.

County councillors meeting next week are recommended to approve a move for Rutland County Council to join the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Board (GLEP).

The council currently has links with the Cambridgeshire Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), but officers believe Rutland would be better served by joining up with Lincolnshire.

A council report prepared for Monday's (March 9) full meeting of Rutland County Council said: "Based on our economic geography with particularly the south of Lincolnshire and the A1 Growth corridor GLLEP is proposed as the most suitable LEP for Rutland.

"The GLEPP has already being supporting some of our local businesses and we have had an opportunity to comment in and contribute to their Local Industrial Strategy. There is also strong alignment with GLLEP based on their rural economy market towns and the sector analysis including particularly agriculture, tourism and the food and drinks sector."

The report said GLLEP, which covers Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, is 'keen' for Rutland to join them and its board has already given Rutland 'observer' status.

The board member for the county council is proposed to be council leader Oliver Helmsley.

No contribution to the GLLEP is proposed and neither does Rutland Council make a contribution to the Business Board of the CPCA.

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Joining the GLLEP, it continued, would give the county access to certain government growth funding schemes. In the meantime, a transition would ensure the county still has access to growth funding from the CPCA Business Board to ensure Rutland is not disadvantaged.

The report concluded: "Membership of GLLEP will facilitate the delivery of the Council's corporate economic priorities including access to future funding."