Southport Visiter

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram

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WE ARE now at the start of a New Year which will see more exciting plans for how, working together as a combined authority, we can continue the process of transformi­ng our city region.

It has been a busy January preparing our budget for 2018/19, which we have just published.

In it we set out our key priorities for the next 12 months and how, as a combined authority, we will spend our resources in support of our vision for an ambitious, fair, green and connected city region that works better together.

As a streamline­d and strategic authority we want to make prudent use of our resources and ensure that money is directed at projects that will deliver growth, investment and opportunit­y to all our communitie­s.

My role is about ensuring we are spending money where it has a real impact, improving lives and opportunit­ies for people across our city region.

Through our devolution agreement we have secured an additional £900m for our city region over 30 years, money that we have been investing in creating more jobs, apprentice­ships and economic growth.

Since my election we have also attracted nearly half a billion pounds in additional money to support investment in roads, transport and combatting homelessne­ss.

Unlike some other combined authoritie­s, we will not be charging an additional precept on council tax bills this year to run the authority.

Whilst we fully develop plans on a whole host of issues, we are:

Committing £1.6m to support my mayoral priorities, including digital connectivi­ty, the Mersey Tidal project and exploring the re-regulation of buses in the city region.

Commission­ing a new ferry to cross the River Mersey.

Introducin­g a £1 off-peak Fast Tag for Mersey Tunnel users, fulfilling one of my manifesto pledges.

In my last column I set out the arguments for devolution, for how coming together as 1.5 million people in six districts gives us more clout and lets us take decisions closer to home, which has enabled us to attract nearly £500m in extra funding, since I was elected in May last year, for local roads, transport and housing projects.

Government has now invited us to put forward ideas for further devolution, to take even more control over big decisions currently taken in London.

Since my last column, we have been working on a new consultati­on campaign to find out how we can make devolution work for you.

Keep your eyes open for it and take the opportunit­y to have your say.

We need to ensure that devolution works for you and I need your help to make that happen.

 ??  ?? The Snowdrop Mersey ferry reworked by artist Peter Blake – a new one will be commission­ed
The Snowdrop Mersey ferry reworked by artist Peter Blake – a new one will be commission­ed

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