Ex -Duke’s Ward councillor writes own report on his advice for Sefton

David Barton (who refers to himself as a “prominent campaigner”) wants to see Sefton be a part of the Government’s official twenty Levelling Up Boroughs

Mr Barton has written his own report, as per the extract below:

‘A prominent campaigner for the heritage of Sefton is proposing that his Local Authority make strident efforts to become one of Central Government’s official twenty Levelling Up Boroughs to best support its various conurbations by 2030.

Levelling Up (LU) is a core principle and defining aspect of Central Government designed specifically to improve commerce and enterprise across all four compass points of the UK. The concept focuses upon granting people based in areas formerly prosperous in centuries gone by to regain their economic impetus in the Digital Age bringing newfound and renewed opportunities alike for all age ranges.

The primary purpose of the Policy is to bring mass-scale improvement to each of the devolved nations of the UK that have been historically proven to be key economic drivers for the entire country. There is a particular emphasis on areas requiring a heightened level of support to unleash their full economic potential thereby benefiting the corresponding regions and their associated conurbations.

The Twelve Levelling Up Missions as stipulated by Central Government to be achieved by 2030 are as follows: –

1. Pay, Employment and Productivity– will have risen in every area of the UK, with each containing a globally competitive city, with the gap between the top performing and other areas closing.
2. Domestic public investment in Research & Development outside the Greater South East– will increase by at least 40% and at least one third over the Spending Review period, with that additional government funding seeking to leverage at least twice as much private sector investment over the long term to stimulate innovation and productivity growth.
3. Local public transport connectivity across the country– will be significantly closer to the standards of London, with improved services, simpler fares and integrated ticketing.
4. The UK will have nationwide gigabit-capable broadband and 4G coverage– with 5G coverage for the majority of the population.
5. The number of primary school children achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths– will have significantly increased. In England, this will mean 90% of children will achieve the expected standard, and the percentage of children meeting the expected standard in the worst performing areas will have increased by over a third.
6. The number of people successfully completing high-quality skills training– will have significantly increased in every area of the UK. In England, this will lead to 200,000 more people successfully completing high-quality skills training annually, driven by 80,000 more people completing courses in the lowest skilled areas.
7. The gap in Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE) between local areas where it is highest and lowest– will have narrowed, and by 2035 HLE will rise by five years. Well-being- will have improved in every area of the UK, with the gap between top performing and other areas closing.
8. Pride in Place– such as people’s satisfaction with their town centre and engagement in local culture and community, will have risen in every area of the UK, with the gap between the top performing and other areas closing.
9. Renters will have a secure path to ownership– with the number of first-time buyers increasing in all areas; and the government’s ambition is for the number of non decent rented homes to have fallen by 50%, with the biggest improvements in the lowest performing areas.

• Homicide, serious violence, and neighbourhood crime– will have fallen, focused on the worst-affected areas.
• Every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal-with powers at or approaching the highest level of devolution and a simplified, long-term funding settlement.’

Mr Barton adds:

“I would strongly urge Sefton Council to do everything in its power to become one of the twenty official Levelling Up (Boris) Boroughs scheduled for targeted high-powered support from Whitehall.”