Parliamentarians and peers today helped launch the inaugural meeting of the County All Party Parliamentary Group. 

The meeting at Portcullis House this morning was chaired by Crawley MP Henry Smith.

Mr Smith, a former leader of West Sussex CC and ex-chairman of the South East Counties Leaders Group, said the next fifteen months before the next general election would prove a ‘crucial time' for England's 37 counties and unitaries in gaining the same sort of hearing cities have enjoyed in the national debate on economic growth.

‘Counties represent 85% of England's land, half of the country's population and generated half of the GVA to the UK' economy outside of London,' Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith added that counties had a strong track record in high-tech industries and created a third more business than members of the Core Cities group.

More than 50 MPs representing county areas and peers have signed up to be actively involved with the group, which will receive secretarial support from the County Councils Network.

Chair of the CCN, Surrey CC leader Cllr David Hodge, said: ‘For too long we have been the sleeping giants of local government.'

Cllr Hodge confirmed the APPG would produce an initial inquiry into how the ambition of Lord Heseltine's growth review for local growth and fiscal devolution could be realised for county areas.

It is proposed that a report ‘Ambitious Growth Deals for Counties' be presented at the County APPG summer reception to be held in Parliament on 18 June - and the group has asked for interested parties to submit written evidence by 14 March.  After discussion, the group agreed that social care should form the basis of the APPG's second independent inquiry.

Cllr Hodge cited Northamptonshire CC's investment in the Silverstone race circuit as an example of what counties could achieve when they have control over their investments strategy and the chance to keep the benefits of growth to regenerate their local economies.

But Cllr Hodge said Downing Street was only receptive to hearing the cities agenda – despite disappointing returns on capital investment in urban areas.  He added it was ‘crazy' for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills not to talk with county councils about implementing the national apprenticeships agenda – which aims to train 200,000 young adults.

He said he had lobbied communities secretary Eric Pickles for counties to be involved more in the growth debate, adding his role as chairman of the Local Government Association's new People and Places Board reflected the change of agenda.