Decision details

Further to Minute No 131 of the Cabinet Member - Technical Services meeting held on 10 February 2010, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director on the Economic Strategy for Rural Merseyside and Action Plan – Phase 2, 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.