Growth and culture projects backed through City Region Business Rates Pool

13 August 2018

Projects supporting jobs and the economy, business growth, tourism and culture have shared almost £13 million from the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool.

The Leeds City Region Business Rates Joint Committee agreed to support projects helping digital businesses to grow, unlocking development, improving town and city centres, funding events and improving access to skills and training. Twenty projects with total funding of £12.9 million received the committee's backing.

Created in 2014, the Business Rates Pool enables member authorities to retain and invest the proceeds of growth in business rates. To date, it has supported investments with a value of more than £11 million.

The Leeds City Region Business Rates Joint Committee agreed to support:

• a £416,000* regional programme to support small and medium-sized businesses to attract investment through an impartial and confidential advice service;
• a £1.4 million* package of regional activity designed to ensure everyone in the City Region benefits from growth including a Leeds City Region Employment Hub to help young people access work and apprenticeship opportunities.

Cllr Tim Swift, Leader of Calderdale Council and Chair of the Business Rates Joint Committee, said: "By pooling their business rates authorities in the City Region are able to invest millions into projects which support culture and business as well as improving skills and creating job opportunities.

"These projects will help people access jobs and training opportunities, support the City Region's vibrant cultural life and make it an even more attractive place to invest."

The committee also agreed to support projects in the Bradford, Calderdale, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds and York districts.

*The funding figures represent the support agreed by the Business Rates Joint Committee not the full project costs.