The Greater Carlton Town Board is due to meet for the first time following confirmation from the Government that the £20 million Towns Fund has been secured in the budget.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP confirmed, in her first budget, that Gedling will retain its full £20 million allocation for local towns funding in the greater Carlton area, following lobbying by the Member of Parliament for Gedling, Michael Payne. The new government have said that the funding will be retained and reformed, as part of a new regeneration programme.
The funding was in doubt when correspondence was issued from government ministers suggesting that all projects announced by the previous government would be subject to review as part of the budget process. It has also been announced that some parts of Levelling Up funding will not go ahead but this has not affected the greater Carlton allocation.
The Carlton Town project was originally announced in the spring budget and a Towns Board was set up by the council, chaired by Sir John Peace, which includes the Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE and Michael Payne MP for Gedling as members.
A consultation had already been started, which received over 500 responses, and contains the views of residents about how the money will be spent in the greater Carlton town area.
The board are meeting today (15) to discuss the next steps which includes a proposal for the long term plans for the project.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE said: “We are really pleased to see that the Government has promised to allocate this much needed funding despite the clear issues that they are facing trying to balance the books.
“This money will be used to improve the lives of the residents in and around the greater Carlton area and work has already started, so we are delighted that we can continue on with our plans.
“I know that our MP, Michael Payne has been lobbying government to secure this funding and I would like to thank him for all of his efforts and for speaking up for the residents of the borough. I would also like to thank the chair of the board, Sir John Peace, for the representations he made to government ministers on behalf of the board.”
Michael Payne, Member of Parliament for Gedling said: “The previous government made an unfunded commitment to provide Carlton with ‘Long Term Plans for Towns’ funding. Since being elected, I have lobbied government ministers hard to support our communities with real cash instead of false promises that were not properly funded.
“I’m delighted that the Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister have listened to our representations and secured the long term funding to benefit Carlton and the surrounding areas.”
You can find out more about the Greater Carlton Town board by visiting www.gedling.gov.uk/business/carltontownboard
Quit calling it Greater Carlton. We all know who’s going to steal the lions share and it sure as hell won’t be the rightful owner Carlton…will it Arnold? Watch this space.