Lord Adonis' report suggests :An extended North East Region (LA7 including Northumberland to Teeside) should be promoted as a wider region benefitting from increased population, infrastructure, industry, tourism, potential etc...
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/files/28979
Look at the map on P31. It shows the "LEP"'s boundary. The southern boundary is well north of the river Tees,
and MME is not in its area. So it's hardly surprising then that NCL is being pushed over MME.