08.02.12
Liverpool agrees City Deal
Liverpool City Council has become the first in Britain to accept the Government’s ‘City Deal’ in an initiative to devolve powers, create a new enterprise zone and a single investment fund of new and existing public and private money, initially worth £130m.
The deals are being negotiated with a number of English cities.
Liverpool City Council voted last night to hold elections for a Mayor in May, alongside local government elections, rather than in the autumn following a referendum. The vote was passed 62 to three, with 12 abstentions. The Mayor will hold power for four years and will select a cabinet from the city’s 90 councillors.
The deal includes a joint Mayoral investment board, the launch of welfare pilots to increase the number of claimants into work, and a secondary school investment plan to build 12 new schools, including six academies.
Cities minister Greg Clark said: “We’ve said to each City ‘make us an offer’. Tell us how you can drive growth, and I promise that the Government will respond positively. It is fantastic to see Liverpool become the first city inBritainto seize the opportunity on offer.
“This deal will be a major boost to the standing of this great city – both withinBritainand on the world stage.Liverpoolhas seized the chance to attract private investment, create jobs and build a prosperous future. This is, I hope, the first of many such deals with our cities.”
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