Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation.

The Chief Executive introduced the report and explained that, in response to the unprecedented impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mersey Dee Alliance (MDA) had developed a package of investment priorities for the sub region which would hopefully trigger the recovery of the economy.  The package represented a bid to UK and Welsh Governments for funding to deliver on five investment priorities, which were:

·         Keeping our businesses competitive;

·         Decarbonising industry;

·         Skilling for the future;

·         Connecting our region; and

·         Digital connectivity.

Those priorities were developed in agreement with all of the MDA partners.  The level of investment being sought equated to £402m, a combination of capital and revenue funding.  The package was developed from November 2020 to March 2021 and was the subject to a “soft launch”.  The next steps were to undertake a fuller launch of the package which would be handled by the MDA and engagement would take place with Welsh Government (WG) and UK Government officials on the details of the stimulus package and how it could be successfully progressed.

Members welcomed the stimulus package and thanks were expressed to Councillor Butler for the work he had undertaken on it.

RESOLVED:

That the stimulus package be supported by the Council as a partner to the Mersey Dee Alliance (MDA).