Belfast City Council added £26m in loans between 2017-18 and 2018-19 according to auditor figures Andrew Webb
Andrew Webb
AS the end of a year draws near, I look back at the articles from this time a year previous and check how events panned out compared to predictions.
This time last year, I was writing that consumers were in downbeat mood and that 2020 would be ‘bumpy . I was writing that there was more than a fair chance of a recession. I hadn t even heard of Covid-19!
I was basing a ‘bumpy year on Brexit and a US Presidential election. These have provided their fair share of intrigue and concern but both obviously pale in comparison to the chaos of Covid-19.
BREXIT will result in a range of projects in Scotland missing out on part of a £1.2 billion funding programme from April – and could cost jobs and lost opportunities, a senior figure has warned. The LEADER programme, part of the EU Structural Funds, invests in local initiatives and enterprises to drive economic and social change in local communities. Between 2014 and this year the Scottish Leader initiative invested more than £63 million, benefitted more than 1000 projects and helped more than 2.25m people. However, 21 rural parts of Scotland will lose funding on economic, environmental and social measures from the Structural Funds. Each programme lasts for six years, and the latest ends in April. While a replacement Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) was proposed as an alternative by the Scottish Government, it has been rejected by Westminster, which has opted for an initial £220m pilot scheme – a UK-wide SPF – in 2021-22, announced last month by Chancellor Rishi Su
Analysis: Will Brexit leave the economy walking into 2021 with its shoelaces tied together? Economy Minister Diane Dodds is preparing a £95m high street stimulus, but Brexit has left her department s budget at risk for 2021. Ryan McAleer 19 December, 2020 01:00
WE now know we’re facing six weeks of a tough lockdown after Christmas and for the business community there’s a resigned, albeit frustrated acceptance.
We’ve been here before, and in some ways we’re in a better place to respond.
Stormont’s largest grant, the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme, will continue its payments automatically for those who have already been approved.
Cornwall MP Steve Double (right) questioned Michael Gove (left) over claims made by councillor Tim Dwell (inset). MP pictures: Official portraits, Richard Townshend/Chris Andrew One of Cornwall’s MPs has claimed that the Government has confirmed that the Duchy will get its EU funding replaced in full. However, a counter claim has been made to Steve Double s statement that in fact no pledge had actually been made. It is after Mr Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay, questioned Michael Gove in the House of Commons about the future of the funding. He then claimed that this confirmed that Cornwall would get its funding in full and called on Cornwall Council to retract “damaging statements” which raised concerns about the future of funds.