‘Work with MPs on levelling up bids’

COUNCILS SHOULD “step up” and work with MPs to develop “high quality bids” for levelling up cash, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick made the comments after being asked by Conservative Rother Valley MP Alex Stafford what the Government can do to make sure that Rotherham Council has “plans for and improves all our high streets.”

In the same session he also answered a question from the Commons’ newest MP Kim Leadbeater (Batley & Spen) on concerns about a new Amazon warehouse in Cleckheaton in her constituency.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Stafford said: “It’s great to be able to announce (...) that a bid for the levelling up fund has been submitted by Rotherham Council to improve Dinnington High Street. However I am greatly disappointed that Rotherham Council has not submitted a bid for the other high streets across Rother Valley.” He added: “What can this Government do to make sure that Rotherham Council has plans for and improves all our high streets across Rother Valley?”

Mr Jenrick said he was “delighted that the council put in a bid for Dinnington” and that he hopes the constituency will benefit from the levelling up fund and went on: “It does require councils like Rotherham to step up to develop with their local member of Parliament high quality bids and I hope they’ll do so in the years ahead for the other towns in his constituency.”

Coun Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, they have submitted three “high quality bids totalling £60m to the Government which will benefit all parts of the borough” and they are “now waiting by the phone for the Government to let us know when the money will be arriving”.