The city council has been invited to apply for a government deal which could boost Norwich's economy.
Norwich invited to bid for government deal which could bring city massive economic boost
Dan Grimmer
Monday, October 29, 2012
6:30 AM
A “fantastic opportunity” to seize extra powers and millions of pounds of funding has been handed to council leaders in Norwich.
As part of a “city deals” scheme introduced by the government, ministers have promised to hand councils new powers, if local authorities can prove that using them will help regenerate their economy.
Eight of England’s largest cities have already agreed deals granting them new powers and access to millions of pounds of funding.
But, with 20 more deals up for grabs in a second wave, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and cities minister Greg Clark today invited the greater Norwich area to get in on the act.
Mr Clegg said: “I want Greater Norwich to come up with ambitious and innovative proposals to help them make changes that will be felt by everyone across their region.
“In the best English tradition we have witnessed a quiet revolution across the nation’s eight largest cities.
“From control over buses and trains and the freedom to plug skills gaps, to powers to ‘earn back’ tax and set up local investment funds to spend on local projects – the deals are unlocking the huge potential of our cities so they can go for growth.
Describing it as “a fantastic opportunity”, Brenda Arthur, leader of Norwich City Council said: “We are delighted that the potential of greater Norwich has been recognised as a possible focus for a city deal.
“This fits exactly with the economic ambition of all the local enterprise partnerships and local authorities who work closely together to create jobs and homes for the benefit of our residents.”
The council, with support from the Greater Norwich Development Partnership, which also includes Broadland, South Norfolk and Norfolk County councils, is working on proposals, which must be submitted by the middle of January.
The government has said there will be an “element of competition” and not all cities invited to take part should expect to be awarded a deal.
Other News Articles
- CCTV video: The moment man drove into Norwich jobcentre
- Thieves steal seat cover from away dug out at Norwich City’s Carrow Road ground
- Norwich man who twice performed lewd act in public gets suspended prison sentence
- Photo gallery: City of Ale launched in Norwich
- Updated: Two men arrested after passenger jet diverted to Stansted Airport
- Norfolk County Council leader outlines priorities at head of ‘rainbow alliance’
- Health chiefs say Norwich walk-in health centre is not at risk of closure
- May 24 News of the Week quiz - do you know your news?
- Photo update: Woman in critical condition after flat fire in Mile Cross
- Test your knowledge of Norwich City’s Premier League campaign with our end of season quiz
ADVERTISEMENT
8 comments
It is very exciting to witness a new city being created in front of our very eyes.Soon the time will be right for this new city to have its own representation and break away from the shackles of Norfolk County Council.It is only a matter of time before the city has the home rule it has always deserved,the next time is likely to be 3rd time lucky.Freedom for Norwich!
Report this comment
Peter Watson
Monday, October 29, 2012
Thanks for the correction guys, at least you didnt put Prime Minister Boris Johnson, that would really send me hiding behind the sofa !!
Report this comment
cornwallcanary
Monday, October 29, 2012
daisy roots, you have got to be joking, further enhancing NCC's powers, sort of promoting and rewarding their past mistakes, or pay the wages of apologists as you are, would be wholly incomprehensible, a shambles with knobs on.
Report this comment
ingo wagenknecht
Monday, October 29, 2012
this after two years of being in power, from a Government that wants to hand plea bargaining on a platter to all those City financiers who have got us into this mess in the first place? Hush money to keep us quiet, spending money they haven't got, whilst the banks and City psychopath carry on wheeling and dealing as usual.
Report this comment
ingo wagenknecht
Monday, October 29, 2012
Norwich is part of Norfolk, not stand alone. This on paper cobbling of a Greater Norwich giving Norwich council more power over parts of the county simply because they are in commuting distance is wrong in every way. If we applied the same reasoning Kings Lynn would be part of Greater Cambridge. Norwich does not deserve more power, and I know Norfolk County Council is not flavour of the month, but if the government is going to hand out more powers to councils it should be on a whole county basis, not cities like Norwich and Peterborough extending their grip over an ever extending area and sucking the life out of the rest of the county.
Report this comment
Daisy Roots
Monday, October 29, 2012
Is it April Fool's Day, or am I in the middle of a nightmare with Nick Clegg as PRIME MINISTER !!!
Report this comment
cornwallcanary
Monday, October 29, 2012
What are these great opportunities? A chance to be given a magic wand to wave to make business suddenly want to move to the end of a really really bad set of communications, road, sea, air, broadband. All rubbish and any manufacturing companies would have to be billy bonkers to pass up an area in the Midlands, the North or the South - in fact just about everywhere. As for putting any sort of dosh in reach of the Tory group on the NCC. Don't do it. They'll only use it to build things that nobody wants.
Report this comment
alecto
Monday, October 29, 2012
For goodness sake don't hand NCC new powers, that's a disaster waiting to happen.
Report this comment
John L Norton
Monday, October 29, 2012