Councillors left looking for alternative funding after People’s Palace bid fails

REGENERATING the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens remains a key priority for Glasgow City Council despite a major funding blow from the UK Government.

A recent report on regeneration projects taking place in the city highlighted the “damaging Levelling Up funding decisions”, made by Westminster officials, despite the scheme being designed to improve everyday life across the UK. It also confirmed that none of Glasgow’s bids were accepted.

During the environment and liveable neighbourhoods committee, SNP councillor Alex Kerr for the Baillieston ward hit out at the UK Government’s fund, branding it the “levelling down fund” for failing to take “into consideration social and economic challenges”.

He also asked officers about the impact this funding decision would have on the council’s work to regenerate neighbourhoods across the city.

Council officers noted the “huge disappointment” among council workers who had developed the levelling up fund applications on short timescales and that the UK Government had been contacted and asked for a full feedback on the cities applications. It was also confirmed that council officers were at work to identify alternative sources of funding.

The local authority is now working to find alternative funding methods and confirmed that regeneration of the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens remains a priority, with £2.9 million already allocated for work on the museum.

A City Council spokesman added: “We are very confident we submitted a high quality bid to the Levelling Up Fund for the People’s Palace and so we are very disappointed to have missed out on funding.

“Refurbishing the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens remains a priority for the council, and the £2.9m of funding we have already allocated for work on the museum remains in place.we are looking again at our options .”