City of York Council is reassuring local business leaders that it is working to ensure the city benefits from changes to the regional economic development and regeneration framework.

Key representatives from local authorities across the Yorkshire and Humber region met last week to discuss how regional performance might be improved and enhanced.

Kersten England, chief executive, City of York Council said: "We welcome the invitation to form  local enterprise parnerships focussed on 'real economic geographies' and are committed to working with private sector partners and the education sector  in the city to maximise economic growth. There is already a well established economic partnership in York which includes strong business representation.  It is committed to attracting further private sector investment to the city.

"The city already has a strong economic base and independent analysis suggests that our economy is in a good position to weather the recession. However, with a heavy reliance on public sector jobs, we are not complacent and will continue to play a key role on the in wider arenas to secure funding for York and the surrounding area.

"As a partner in both the Leeds City Region and North Yorkshire and York economic partnership we will be developing bids which will secure funding from the regional growth fund to support economic growth."