A motion complaining that Gedling Borough Council hasn’t had “a single penny” of Government Levelling Up cash will be heard this week.
Gedling Borough Council’s leader, Councillor John Clarke MBE (Lab), says the local authority is “bitterly disappointed” by the lack of funding from Central Government.
The Labour-controlled council has previously bid for £50m to revitalise Arnold town centre and then £20m in a revised bid, which was also rejected.
Rushcliffe Borough Council, which is run by Conservatives, has also failed to secure any of the money to date.
However, it says its bids have been smaller and less frequent than other councils.
Other local authorities have been awarded between £37million (Broxtowe) and £91million (Ashfield).
Cllr Clarke’s motion will go before Gedling’s full council meeting on Wednesday (November 15), urging the Government to provide its “fair share”.
“This Council expresses bitter disappointment and anger that the Conservative government has chosen not to give Gedling a single penny from the billions of pounds it has allocated as part of the Towns Fund (July 2021), Levelling Up Fund Round 1 (October 2021), Future High Streets Fund (December 2021), Levelling Up Fund Round 2 (January 2023), Levelling Up Partnerships (March 2023), Long Term Plan for Towns Fund (October 2023),” the motion reads.
“This council notes the unfairness and significant disparity when comparing the funds allocated to our nearest neighbouring councils and the fact Gedling’s communities have not received a single penny.”
It says local communities “are being held back by the Conservative Government’s decision not to award Gedling a single penny from the billions of pounds it has allocated.”
The motion seems likely to pass as the council is Labour controlled.
The authority will then call on Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to allocate funding more evenly.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was approached for comment.
The full breakdown of Levelling Up funds, according to Cllr Clarke’s motion, across Nottinghamshire councils is:
- Ashfield District – £91.980 million
- Bassetlaw District – £55.969 million
- Broxtowe Borough – £37.639 million
- Gedling Borough – £0
- Mansfield District – £72.300 million
- Newark & Sherwood District – £65.000 million
- Nottingham City – £50.524 million
- Rushcliffe Borough – £0
It’s not the fact you didn’t get anything, what’s gauling is you intend to spend it all on Arnold…again. 3 million on the Amp, whilst 5 years on we still await the promised revamp of Carlton Sq. Carlton, that little town adjacent to Gedling? Big posters and plans to change this alter that, redesign this, pictures of what it will look like and what did we get…a car park so poorly designed it’s an accident magnet and derelict grafitti covered and boarded up sites. It now STINKS the sheer favouritism that Arnold gets over all others. LEVELLING UP? I’d rather you got bugger all if all you’re going to do is waste it on Arnold and some other ‘whim’ whilst forsaking all the others. Shame on you GBC.
The car park was the Council’s contribution to a joint investment. The Shopping Centre’s owners did not come through with their commitment citing that Covid had reduced their available monies.
Money spent on road’s and pavement’s would be much better
County Council has responsibility for that.
Try spending it somewhere other Arnold then. People have said this over and over again. Why would you rebuild the perfectly good Bonnington theatre. Have you heard of Gedling Theatre or Carlton Theatre? No, and there is a reason for that. Have you tried listening, Councillor Clarke?
Ooh! I bet Carlton getting 20 million over 10 years is really sticking in their craw. I can just imagine Clarke seething with rage and jealousy. But fear not, I’m more than sure both he and GBC will find a way for most of it to end up in Arnold’s coffers…..one in the eye for Arnold lad.