Business aid boost as TMP seals new deal on funding

Apr 2 2008 by Alex Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYSIDE’S six local authorities have agreed to double the funding they make available to market and sell the region to potential inward investors.

As part of the same deal, The Mersey Partnership has also secured a three-year funding package that gives it more certainty over its future finances.

Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral have agreed to provide a total of £1.89m for the three years to 2011. This is split as £575,000 in the first year, and £655,000 in each of the final two years.

The previous funding agreement, which only covered the 12 months from April, 2007, to March, 2008, provided just £300,000. TMP’s previous chief executive, Robert Crawford, had argued that the region was failing to compete with the likes of Greater Manchester and Glasgow due to inadequate funding.

TMP’s current chief executive Lorraine Rogers said: “This is a groundbreaking commitment by Merseyside’s six local authorities, who are united in support for TMP in its investment role for the Liverpool City Region.

“It clearly underlines the confidence they have in us to drive forward inward investment on behalf of the entire city region.

“Our collective approach, coupled with improved funding levels, make us better equipped than ever before to make a greater impact on prospective investors. Moving from a one-year funding commitment to a three-year agreement represents real progress and enables TMP to plan ahead.”

The agreement has also set out a protocol to resolve a dispute about which agency is responsible for inward investment in Liverpool and which clarifies the responsibilities of the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

TMP’s director of operations, Mark Basnett, added: “TMP will be building on its existing strengths in project management, lead generation and aftercare services – with the quality of our people, property and lifestyle among the messages we’ll be promoting in the national and international marketplace.”

alex.turner