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New Government
cash must be used to help boost North East Somerset small businesses and
local employers
North East Somerset's MP Dan Norris has welcomed a new Government cash
injection of £185,000 awarded to B&NES Council to help further
stimulate local economic recovery.
But he insists the Council must fairly distribute the money provided by
Government and not ignore the needs of the area's rural communities outside
of Bath.
The award, announced this week, is part of a multi-million package from
the Government to councils nationwide to help them make progress with
economic recovery in their local area under the Local Authority Business
Growth Incentives (LABGI) scheme.
"This Government help is more than welcome and much-needed in North
East Somerset," said Dan Norris. "But the people I represent
want assurances that the money will be used fairly across the district,
not just in Bath.
"That's why I have written to the Council asking for full details
of how it plans to allocate this money in a way which will fairly help
and support small businesses and local employers in North East Somerset.
"The Government wants Councils to use the grant to help small and
new businesses in areas that have been hard hit, which need extra support
to help ensure they can hit the ground running as economic growth picks
up.
"For example, at a time when the Keynsham community is reeling from
the Kraft let-down and is in particular need, this new Government money
must be fairly allocated by B&NES.
"We know from recent bitter experience that this Council tends to
prefer spending money on links with China than on local economic recovery."
In its recent 2010-11 Annual Budget, the Conservative-run Council chose
to allocate £50,000 of public money to promote links with China
in a scheme which last year saw councillors and senior officers taking
a trip to China at council taxpayers' expense.
The Government LABGI cash injection was announced this week by John Denham
MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who said:
"Building economic recovery is the Government's top priority."
Said Dan: "Last year B&NES received £169,000 from the LABGI
scheme, but some North East Somerset businesses felt this was not allocated
fairly to reflect local need."
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