An MP has introduced a private members' bill that would make it a requirement for local enterprise partnerships to have at least one board member from a co-operative or social enterprise background.

Jim Dobbin, Labour and Co-op MP for Heywood and Middleton, introduced the co-operative and social enterprise bill under the ten minute rule in the House of Commons this week, because “co-operatives have told me that they are struggling to engage with or be understood by LEPs”.

He told MPs: “My bill would place new duties on the Secretary of State to ensure that local enterprise partnership boards benefit from at least one co-operative and social enterprise business expert or practitioner. That is important, as the needs of co-operatives and social enterprise can be particular to their unique business models.”

The bill also stipulates that LEPs' published reports should specifically mention how well social enterprises and co-operatives are doing.

In 2013 a Business, Innovation and Skills Committee report on local enterprise raised the concern that LEPs may not have the right balance of diversity of membership on their boards.

LEPs were introduced by the coalition government to replace regional development agencies.

The second reading of the bill will take place on 6 June 2014.