THE row over plans for a new body to steer economic growth in Devon has deepened, with last-ditch calls from Exeter politicians for a seat at the boardroom table.

City council leaders have voiced outrage at proposals for a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) drawn up by Devon, Plymouth and Torbay councils.

As the Echo reported yesterday, they claim the authority was "frozen out" of discussions about the partnership, which if approved will be tasked with "creating the right environment for business and growth" when regional development agencies are scrapped in 2012.

At the heart of the dispute is Exeter's status after the city's bid to become a unitary authority was blocked by the new Government.

City councillor Pete Edwards (Labour, Whipton Barton) has written to John Hart, the Conservative leader of Devon County Council, urging him to "reconsider ... and invite the city council to the top table, where it ought to be and where it needs to be if we are to jointly maximise its potential".

He said: "I believe the citizens of Exeter are being treated like second class citizens."

The county council argues that Exeter's voice will be heard on the proposed LEP, which will tackle issues such as planning and housing, transport and infrastructure and supporting small businesses.

Cllr Hart said the Government wants the private sector to take the lead on the new LEPs and, consequently, there would one seat on the board for business in Exeter, one seat for Exeter University and one seat for Devon County Council.

Rejecting claims that the city council was not involved in the talks, Cllr Hart added: "Their chief executive has been involved in the discussions about the LEP which have been chaired by the vice chancellor of Exeter University and Devon's cabinet member leading on the LEP, Will Mumford, and our chief executive, Phil Norrey, have both met with Exeter Chamber of Commerce on this issue."

Minister for decentralisation Greg Clark said in a recent letter to the chairman of the District Councils' Network: "I do agree that it is essential that district authorities are included as part of local enterprise partnership governance arrangements."

Cllr Hart said: "We can only repeat again that we recognise the economic importance of Exeter. Its future growth will largely depend on expansion in both East Devon and Teignbridge.

"Devon County Council has been instrumental in the development of the Exeter Science Park and Skypark, both in East Devon, and we would obviously intend all three district councils in Exeter, East Devon and Teignbridge to play a key role in any discussions about the future of the Exeter economic area."

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw said: "It is totally unacceptable and also short-sighted for Exeter, the economic powerhouse of the region, to be excluded in this way. I'm afraid this is typical of the contempt with which Devon County Council has treated our city over the years.

"The Government is also at fault for giving responsibility for running these bodies to county councils without insisting that important cities like Exeter are represented."

Mr Bradshaw added that he was still waiting for a reply from the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, to his letter protesting about "ill-considered decision" to abolish the Regional Development Agency "and about the exclusion of Exeter from the new structure in particular."