The resignation was announced today of businessman Mark Reeve as chairman of the Greater Cambridgeshire Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Cambs Times: Business Secretary Vince Cable, visits Alconbury Weald, with the Chairman of LEP Mark Reeve,Business Secretary Vince Cable, visits Alconbury Weald, with the Chairman of LEP Mark Reeve, (Image: Archant)

His decision comes on the eve of the publication of a National Audit Office report into the running of the LEP that followed a barrage of reports and complaints by NE Cambs MP and Government minister Steve Barclay.

“After more than four years serving as chairman of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP Board, Mark Reeve will be standing down from his role on December 19, 2017,” said a brief statement today from the LEP offices.

Mr Reeve said: “It has been my utmost privilege to have been part of the LEP since its inception and to have had the privilege to chair.

“We have made significant progress in six short years and now have an embedded presence in the local economic growth agenda that is making a tangible, positive impact on the local economy.

Cambs Times: SE Cambs MP Lucy Frazer (first left), chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council, Councillor Sebastian Kindersley (second left) and the chairman of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP, Mark Reeve (second right) were among those on hand to officially begin the building of the Ely Southern Bypass today (March 9). PHOTO: Seb PearceSE Cambs MP Lucy Frazer (first left), chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council, Councillor Sebastian Kindersley (second left) and the chairman of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP, Mark Reeve (second right) were among those on hand to officially begin the building of the Ely Southern Bypass today (March 9). PHOTO: Seb Pearce (Image: Archant)

“It has been a pleasure to work with the LEP team, my fellow board members and our wider partnership group over the last six years.”

The LEP Board will consider the future position of chairman at its next meeting on December 19.

The LEP has been without a chief executive since the beginning of the year although Mark Whiteley, chief executive of the combined authority, has recently taken over in a dual role.

This summer the board asked Mr Reeve to consider the role of executive chairman but the October board minutes reflect that “Mark Reeve stated that the executive chairman proposal was no longer being considered.”

Mr Reeve is chairman of Chalcroft Holdings Ltd, a construction company specialising in the industrial and commercial sector.

On the LEP website it reports that Chalcroft’s projects range in value from £100k to £20m: clients include household names in the food, pharmaceutical and logistics industries.

It says: “Mark heads a team of owner/directors and the company has grown rapidly since a management buyout in 2007.

“He regards a collaborative approach with all stakeholders as key to success, along with established values and clear objectives.

“Having left school at 15 to become a carpenter’s apprentice and progressed ’hands-on’ through the industry, Mark has invaluable knowledge and experience in a wide range of disciplines and provides support and advice to clients and his own team.

“A keen golfer, Mark enjoys taking on the challenge of different courses when he is not working or renovating his family home.”

Mr Reeve has been chairman of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership (LEP) since August 2013.