Best of the regional web this week: villians, champers and LEP bashing

This week's round-up is more like a Martina Cole novel than a property review, with villians and champagne bars all hitting the headlines. It's also one year on since the creation of LEPs and respected research and policy unit Centre for Cities, aren't impressed. Below we've trawled the web for all the best property coverage of these stories, and more, and rounded them up here.

Happy birthday LEPs! It's one year since the government created LEPs and their first present on Friday was a report from Centre for Cities saying LEPs had made limited progress. The Insider, reporting on the study, said eight have yet to have their boards recognised by the government and only two have produced a long term strategic plan. Five do not have a dedicated website. Most have appointed huge boards and advisory teams which could add a level of bureaucracy and process that might slow decision-making.

Ouch! As such it wasn't the best day for former Northern Foods chairman Lord Haskin to be announced as the head of Humber LEP.

Some pounced to counter the attack with Andy Wood, head of New Anglia LEP, defending their record in the EADT24. He said the LEP was a "small but focused board with a clear set of priorities." 

With all the furore surrounding LEPs its seems some are already missing the RDAs.

A senior lawyer in Nottingham said  he thought parts of the business community in Nottingham were missing the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA).

"It helped give everyone a focal point, and I certainly didn't regard it as one of the regional development agencies that would be done away with," Iain Blatherwick, managing partner at Browne Jacobson told the Insider. "Now that the LEP is manned with volunteers, I think it gives everyone a better understanding of the role EMDA played."

The D2N2 LEP - which represents Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

- now need some quick wins, he added, to gain credibility.

If you want it bad enough then take it, says the strapline on Martina Cole's novel. It seems Simon Morris, the disgraced property professional and former Leeds United director, did and he had his heavies help him. On Tuesday he was jailed for 18 months for his part in a blackmail plot against a former business partner.

By Wesdnesday the Yorkshire Post was reporting that his trial would be reviewed for irregularities. The criminal cases review commission now have three weeks to report back.

And because it's Friday and we like a bit of champagne-induced cheer on the Focus desk we couldn't resist this story. 

Manchester's private members' club The Circle Club is looking to set up champagne bars in Liverpool One, Birmingham's Bullring and Bristol Cabot Circus. MD Craig Ince said trading was up 20% on forecast. Recession? What recession?