Collinson returns to Private Sector Partners post

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One Central Park chiefs to step down

1:00 am, October 21, 2008
Collinson returns to Private Sector Partners post

By Michael Fahy

Former management consultant Len Collinson has returned to his post as chair of Private Sector Partners and has pledged to deliver “tough messages” both to Government and its corresponding agencies such as the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

Collinson, founder of the Swinton-based management consultancy firm Collinson Grant, set up PSP as an umbrella organisation following a walk-out of various business interest groups from the North West REgional Assembly in 2002, although relations were later repaired and PSP was a contributor to the agency’s last Regional Economic Strategy. The organisation now represents more than 20 professional bodies and interest groups.

“It is vital the cause of business, particularly smaller businesses, is championed and listened to at this time of economic turbulence,” he said. “The Government may be taking the plaudits for bailing out the banking system, but it is smaller businesses that will pick up much of the bill. As the prime wealth-creating sector it is private companies that will have to generate the tax and jobs to bring economic recovery.”

Collinson added said that he is ‘instinctively uneasy’ about the proposed congestion charging scheme in Manchester.

“Evidence from London shows that businesses have been badly hurt by the congestion charge with falling footfall and profits,” he said. “I am against it. The plight of the North West’s high streets is a cause for real concern. More has to be done to promote and protect our town centres. This means lower business rates, more free parking and an end to the over-zealous approach to parking enforcement.”

Collinson recently stood down as Chairman of the Knutsford-based pressure group, the Forum of Private Business (FPB), which represents 25,000 firms. He is also a visiting professor at the University of Central Lancashire and a trustee of the Salford Foundation.

COMMENTS? mfahy@crain.com