Group questions Whitehall鈥檚 commitment to levelling-up agenda
Transport for the North is calling for the government to review its decision to slash the organisation鈥檚 funding.
Documents published by the group reveal its core funding was slashed from 拢10m to 拢6m, while in-year funding will be cut from 拢10m to 拢7m.
Finance director Iain Craven said: 鈥淸The funding] falls substantially short of what we outlined the North would need to level-up infrastructure and accelerate benefits to the region. There is a real worry that this signals a diminishing ambition for the North, rather than pump-priming the region鈥檚 economic recovery.
鈥淥ur members have clearly indicated the ambition that, over time, TfN should have a greater role and more budget oversight, but the opposite is proposed. Further to the discussion at [the] board [meeting], we would strongly urge that this decision is reviewed.鈥�
| TfN 2021/22 funding allocation | 21/22 拢鈥檓 | Spending review request | &苍产蝉辫;20/21&苍产蝉辫;拢鈥檓 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core funding | 6.0 | 11.2 | 10.0 |
| Integrated & Smart Travel (IST) | - | 33.4 | 15.8 |
| Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) | 75.0 | 111.3 | 75.0 |
| Developing an investment pipeline | - | 2.0 | - |
Commenting on what the decision will mean for the sector, the chief executive of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Alasdair Reisner, said: 鈥淭his is very disappointing news and we would urge the government to reconsider pulling promised investment from a body that has done more than any other to develop a cohesive vision for future transport across northern England.
鈥淚t is difficult to see how imposing budget cuts on Transport for the North will do anything other than undermine this agenda.鈥�
No comments yet