Councillors react to 'Levelling Up' bid announcement

Councillor Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Finance and Major Projects said:

“It is incredibly disappointing that the Government have failed to see the potential of the excellent project bids submitted. Despite this, we will continue to explore all alternative funding sources and ways to progress these ambitious and exciting plans which would be transformational for the city.

“This latest fund has once again highlighted just how this Government is failing to deliver on its levelling up promises. Whilst forcing councils to raise Council Tax by 5 per cent just to deliver basic services after cutting funding to the bone, they leave councils to fight for scraps of funds. 

"Throughout the Levelling Up Fund process the  Government have pit regions and communities against each other and kept councils in the dark over the outcome of these bids for months - that the only area in North Yorkshire to receive any funding is the Prime Minister's own constituency proves this is all just an exercise in pork-barrel politics.

“Levelling up is at this point nothing else than an election slogan used to gaslight the North and local leaders, completely failing to understand the needs of our communities. We will continue to make the case for real investment in our city and the region until Westminster finally listens.”