Banging on Doors Pays Off

7.55.28pm GMT Tue 20th Feb 2007

The lobbying efforts of Liberal Democrat Council Leader, Isobel McCall, to secure additional funding for growth have paid off again.

The Council has received a letter from the Government's Communities and Local Government Department to clear the way for English Partnerships to pay £2 million to the Council in 2007/08 "in order that the services it provides in the growth areas are safeguarded". The letter states that housing delivery in Milton Keynes is "exceptional by comparison with any other authority" and that this has helped secure the money.

Councillor Isobel McCall said: "We are very relieved that there is now certainty about the £2 million which we need to make the Council's books balance in the coming year. There has been a provisional offer on the table since October, but we clearly needed absolute certainty before the budget and council tax are set next week."

The Government is also offering, through English Partnerships, to pay a further £1 million to the Council to invest in new jobs, specifically to work on growth projects. At least part of that money is likely to be repeated in the next two years.

The Government has made it clear that this is the final year that the transitional funding will be paid as it wants to find a more permanent solution in future, including looking at various proposals offered by the Council at a meeting between Isobel McCall and Ministers on 25 January.

The Liberal Democrat Council has been successful in attracting transitional funding for the last five years. Previous Labour administrations had failed to have the additional costs of a growing city recognised by Governments of any political persuasion.

"It is good news for the people of Milton Keynes that this funding for growth has been secured," added Isobel McCall. "We will continue to work very hard with the Government to ensure that a fair permanent solution is found, so that we don't have to go cap in hand to the Government every year."