Local Authorities Relieved as Chancellor Upholds £20m Funding Pledge

Three local authorities have expressed their satisfaction that the Chancellor will uphold a commitment of up to £20m in funding previously allocated to them. Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Breckland District Council, and King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council had been apprehensive that Rachel Reeves might discontinue the Long-Term Plan for Towns funding, which was initially designated by the Conservative government. During the Budget announcement, Reeves affirmed her commitment to the funding; however, leading council representatives observed a modification in the phrasing of the pledge, shifting from £20m over 10 years to “up to” £20m. Sheila Oxtoby, who serves as the chief executive of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, stated: “It means there will be further investment we can make within the town.” Ms Oxtoby explained that with the allocation of £2m annually for the upcoming decade, the council intends to acquire vacant properties, establish youth centers, and restore street cleaning services that had been discontinued due to financial limitations. She further commented: “There was one line in the detail of the budget which we’ve found and since then we’ve had it confirmed by officials that the Long-Term Plan for Towns funding will be retained.” She continued: “We have been reassured that all of the work we’ve done so far, all the engagement we’ve done with the community and stakeholders won’t be lost, so they will build on the work we’ve already done.” Alistair Beales, who leads the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, noted a degree of uncertainty upon Labour assuming power. He added: “There always is with a change of government, but I’m delighted that the government has recognised the need for continued investment in King’s Lynn and the other towns. It’s great news.” Beales continued: “The devil is in the detail and I think the communication from the government says up to £20m, but we are ever hopeful and we will put a good case forward.” He further elaborated: “It’s [about investing in] the culture in King’s Lynn and the town centre and importantly, the River Great Ouse which runs through the middle of King’s Lynn. We aren’t making the most of that; we can do more and this money will be a huge help in that.” Vicky Etheridge, manager of the business group Discover King’s Lynn, reported that approximately 1,100 individuals participated in a consultation regarding the intended use of the funds. She further stated: “Great that the fund is going to go ahead… we will make the most of it however much we get.” Etheridge continued: “Consultation is always hard; people have lots of ideas, but there’s always a bit of scepticism about whether it will happen and whether you’re really listening so, I think we are really pleased with the number of people that took part and the kind of messages that we’ve got. “We’ve got some really thoughtful responses and there was a lot of agreement and consensus over the things that people said, which was super helpful.”