Council working on 'A Great Deal' for Lisburn & Castlereagh
June 29, 2018
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is one of six local authorities working on a collaborative basis on the Belfast Region City Deal, an exciting initiative to deliver a new package of investment worth up to £1 billion, and a first for Northern Ireland.
City Deal is a unique opportunity for local Councils in the Belfast Region to tap directly into government funding to help deliver on key local economic priorities which aim to deliver an ambitious new investment plan which will improve infrastructure, digital connectivity, tourism assets and innovation hubs as well as delivering a major skills programme.
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has submitted a number of strategic infrastructure, tourism, innovation & digital projects as part of their local proposition. The partner Councils are also part of a Belfast Region City Deal Joint Council Forum and Programme Board, and along with Elected Members and Chief Executives from all of the participating councils, recently participated in a workshop hosted by Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council, to discuss and further refine the overarching Belfast Region City Deal proposition. The workshop which was facilitated by Gordon Matheson, former leader of Glasgow City Council who has a proven track record in securing and delivering UK City Deals, was also an opportunity to review the challenging timeline which will see the Belfast Region City Deal finalised by the end of September 2018, in time for the next Chancellors statement in November 2018.
The Right Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Uel Mackin said: ‘The Council is very pleased to be part of this exciting initiative, and working with the other Belfast Region City Deal Partners, we have a vision to create ‘more and better jobs’ across all of the region’s growth sectors, pushing the ‘fast-forward’ button on economic growth in the Belfast Region and ensuring that these opportunities are accessible across all of our communities, with a balanced spread of benefits across all of the partner Council areas including Lisburn & Castlereagh’.
Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chief Executive of the Council said: ‘Elected Members and Chief Executives are working hard behind the scenes to ensure the Belfast Region City Deal delivers a great deal for Lisburn & Castlereagh. In short the Belfast Region City Deal will be a game changer in terms of delivering on the Councils economic ambitions, and the Council wants to ensure that local citizens are best positioned to reap the rewards.’
The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Cllr Uel Mackin; Dr. Theresa Donaldson, Chief Executive and Elected Members recently participated in a workshop to discuss the Belfast Region City Deal proposition. The workshop was facilitated by Mr Gordon Matheson, former Leader of Glasgow City Council.