REGIONAL growth bodies are wasting thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ cash on lobbyists in an attempt to influence decisions, an MP has claimed.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles says local enterprise partnerships (Leps) are hiring outside help at a significant cost to the public purse.

In a heated backlash, triggered by revelations a Southern-based Lep spent £80,000 on consultancy, Mr Pickles warned the practice must stop immediately to protect jobs and regeneration schemes, alleging another five organisations are applying a similar tactic.

The Northern Echo last night contacted the North East Lep and the Tees Valley Unlimited Lep (TVU), which both said they do not use firms to lobby the Government.

Highlighting the case of the Hertfordshire Lep, which was revealed to have used £80,000 on lobbyists, Mr Pickles said it was important ministers ended the process to stop copycat moves.

He added the Government will write to Leps over their conduct, issuing a directive that they must follow the same restrictions as local councils.

He said: “A small number of Leps have been hiring public affair consultancies to lobby the Government and Parliament, and I’m aware of at least another five, which have been paying for lobbyists.

“Using taxpayers’ funds wastes public money and undermines transparency.

“It will not expand the quantum of public funding available to Leps and unless action is taken, more may feel pressured to follow suit, diverting money away from enterprise and regeneration.

“The same principles should apply to Leps as they do councils and quangos.

“Any Lep that has hired lobbyists should terminate their contracts; they should pick up the phone instead.”

Both the North East Lep and TVU have been intrinsic in projects to bring more investment and jobs to the region.

At the start of the year, TVU agreed a 13.9m extension to its Government Growth Deal, which will be spent on projects between 2016 and 2021 and add to £90.3m announced last year.

Bosses aim to create and support up to 5,000 jobs, help build 1,500 homes and generate £150m public and private investment.

The North East Lep also previously unveiled plans to create up to 100,000 jobs in a blueprint it hopes will see the area supporting more than one million posts by 2024.

Its plan, called More and Better Jobs: A Strategic Economic Plan for the North East, builds on the recommendations of a review chaired by Lord Andrew Adonis.

It commits the Lep to spend £4.7m on the design of a North-East Schools Challenge, and seeks Government support to forge an alliance between schools, businesses and local education authorities to tackle disparities in educational performance.

See tomorrow’s Jobs and Business supplement for an interview with Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls as he outlines Labour’s plans to reform the region’s Leps.