A NEW body could be created to bring jobs and prosperity to York and North Yorkshire.

Senior figures with City of York Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, are considering setting up a new company which would look to build on the success of York's Inward investment Board (IIB) - but on a much wider scale.

Members of the county council's ruling executive will tomorrow discuss forming an inward investment service for North Yorkshire, either through the creation of a new company or by amending the existing York IIB company.

In a report to the executive, the county council's director of business and community services, Gordon Gresty, says that proposals for such a service have been discussed by a "steering group" comprising representatives from the two councils, Yorkshire Forward, the University of York and Science City York.

Yorkshire Forward commissioned research into the need for such a service, and, as a result of that, the group asked officers from the two councils to suggest "a mechanism which would build on the York model and take a staged approach to extending the role and remit of the York IIB to cover North Yorkshire".

He says: "This would enable the county to capitalise on the knowledge and expertise of the York IIB, while providing York with a more varied 'offer' to inward investments."

The Evening Press reported in April that City of York Council had initially agreed to an extension of the existing IIB's work to some parts of North Yorkshire, including Selby and market towns such as Malton and Easingwold.

During the last six years about 60 businesses, generating about 2,000 jobs, have been brought to the city.

Mr Gresty says: "The ultimate objective would be to provide an inward investment service for York and North Yorkshire. However, a staged extension of the remit of the York IIB represents a more realistic and achievable option.

"The areas of the county which would be included in the first stage would be those with the greatest need for structural change in their local economies and where inward investment has the potential to provide the greatest benefits."

He says it was proposed that funding be provided for an initial three-year period, with £200,000 a year from City of York Council, £100,000 from Yorkshire Forward, and £30,000 from North Yorkshire County Council.

Updated: 11:19 Monday, June 23, 2003