THE County Durham committee of the Institute of Directors hosted a lively debate about the state of the region’s economy and the role the North Eastern Local Enterprise Partnership.

Organised in conjunction with County Durham regeneration project, DurhamGate, the event featured an audience of more than 60 North-east business leaders.

Guests had the chance to question North Eastern LEP board member and Engineering and Operations Director at Tallent Automotive, David Land who was on the panel, which was chaired by Brian Aitken, editor of the Gazette’s sister paper, the Journal in Newcastle.

Also on the panel were County Durham entrepreneur and property developer, Allan Cook, IoD member and Director of Executives online, Paul Barron and Gill Southern OBE from Wessington Cryogenics who is also on the board of the LEP.

When it was established, the North Eastern LEP became the country's fourth largest, with a population of two million and an economy valued at £32 billion per annum, when the Government approved a joint proposal from business and local authorities earlier this year.

The LEP covers seven local authority areas across Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Graham Robb, Chairman of the Institute of Directors in County Durham said: "In some sectors the North East is proving to be a leading light in the recovery and it's important that businesses and the LEP work closely together to ensure future growth is achieved and maintained."