Government decisions means Merseyside loses cash says Allerton Councillor (Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats)

Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats <info@garstonld.org.uk>

Government decisions means Merseyside loses cash says Allerton Councillor

February 25, 2009 12:00 AM

Lib Dem Councillor for Allerton and Hunts Cross, Flo Clucas, will next week be calling on the City Council to take action on a government decision which will potentially mean less money for local businesses. Flo, who is also deputy leader of the City Council, will be proposing a motion to the Full Council meeting on Wednesday 4th March.

The text of the motion is below:

This Council applauds the opportunity offered by the European Commission to extend the European Objective 1 Programme for Merseyside by 6 months, thereby enabling Liverpool and Merseyside to take full advantage of the potential to assist small and medium sized businesses at this most difficult time.

Council is appalled by the stance of the UK Government that has allowed the extension for Scotland, Wales and N Ireland, but refused to apply for the extension for England, thereby cutting off £100ms in assistance from the most vulnerable areas. Liverpool and Merseyside stand to lose millions of pounds by this decision; millions that will eventually end up in the UK Treasury.

Council requests the Chief Executive to write to Alistair Darling, Hazel Blears, Lord Mandelson and all the Merseyside MPs lobby for a full refund of any monies received by the Government that were intended for Merseyside, be given back to this area to enable us to take full advantage of the money that was given to the area through the Objective 1 Programme, to help our small businesses, social enterprises and entrepreneurs throughout Merseyside.

Information, including agendas and minutes, about Full Council meetings and other Council meetings is available on the website at www.liverpool.gov.uk.