Decision details

Further to Minute No 258 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 5 February 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on the Economic Strategy for Rural Merseyside and Action Plan – Phase 2 and indicating that a decision on the matter was required in order to comply with the standard portfolio reporting procedures.

The report indicated that whilst the vast majority of the £3.9 billion available from the Rural Development Programme for England, was earmarked for agri-environment and other land management schemes in rural areas, some £2.2 million was available for the Merseyside sub-region; that a study had been undertaken by specialist consultants – ‘Rural Innovation’ and the next steps required for the development of an Action Plan, which would attract funding from a number of sources including the Regional Development Agency and European Regeneration Development Fund; and that the Action Plan would support the preparation of master bids to draw down the funding if approved.

RESOLVED:

That the report, and the fact that further update reports would be submitted, as necessary, be noted.