Economic Prosperity Boards meaning

In legal practice, an Economic Prosperity Board (EPB) is a statutory body created to plan and deliver economic development and regeneration across two or more neighbouring local authority areas. The term is defined in legislation: the Secretary of State may establish an EPB by order (a statutory instrument) under section 88(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, following a local governance review, a published scheme and consultation. An EPB is a body corporate; the establishing order specifies its area, membership (drawn from the constituent councils) and the economic development and regeneration functions it will exercise at a strategic, cross-boundary level. In England, EPBs are an alternative to combined authorities. Unlike combined authorities, EPBs do not take on transport functions. In practice they have been little used, with most areas opting for combined authorities under the same Act. Jurisdictional note: the EPB regime applies to England. There is no direct equivalent in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Ireland, where different collaboration and devolution structures are used. EPBs arise in devolution settlements, regeneration governance, inter-authority arrangements and related statutory orders.