Issue - meetings

It was moved by Councillor Pugh, seconded by Councillor Lewis:

That this Council expresses its regret and bewilderment at the outcome of the Levelling up bids for Bootle and Crosby.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Fairclough that the Motion be amended by the addition of the following words:

“This Council further expresses its concern that our Borough is somehow placed in Category 3 for levelling up bids.  It would appear that this Government do not recognise or understand the issues the Borough is facing.  As per the Cabinet decision at its meeting of 6 January 2022, we continue to promote to government departments the importance of such funding opportunities to areas of Sefton that have not yet had any such support and to continue to challenge Government’s categorisation of Sefton for levelling up funding at the foresaid lowest level of priority.

As such, this Council calls on the Secretary of State to review our prioritisation for levelling up and invites the Secretary of State to visit Sefton in order to enable him to gain a greater understanding of the issues that we face”.

Following a debate on the amendment the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the amendment was carried by 56 votes to 0 and on the Substantive Motion it was carried by 56 votes to 0 and it was:

RESOLVED: That

This Council expresses its regret and bewilderment at the outcome of the Levelling up bids for Bootle and Crosby.

This Council further expresses its concern that our Borough is somehow placed in Category 3 for levelling up bids.  It would appear that this Government do not recognise or understand the issues the Borough is facing.  As per the Cabinet decision at its meeting of 6 January 2022, we continue to promote to government departments the importance of such funding opportunities to areas of Sefton that have not yet had any such support and to continue to challenge Government’s categorisation of Sefton for levelling up funding at the foresaid lowest level of priority.

As such, this Council calls on the Secretary of State to review our prioritisation for levelling up and invites the Secretary of State to visit Sefton in order to enable him to gain a greater understanding of the issues that we face.