Will businesses dip into their pockets for council's new 'One Plan'?
As we all know there is precious little public money available for, well, virtually anything.
Today Liverpool council leader Joe Anderson will today unveil his masterplan for promoting the city to the world.
'One Plan' will focus on delivering "transformational" events and projects that help showcase Liverpool as a world class city.
We all remember how the city pulled together for Capital of Culture. If it has been done once it can be done again.
As we now know the council will get ã57m less funding from government next year, 8.9% cut in 'spending power'.
One plan will concentrate on events that fall into two categories - those that are funded and which offer opportunities for collaboration; and those that require funding.
Cllr Anderson hopes that businesses will help securing funding and providing sponsorship for projects.
And that is a crucial part of today's 'One Plan'. We already know the institutions can work together, but which businesses are going dip into their pocket to help fund or sponsor events?
Now that is a much more difficult question to answer.
Download the One Plan prospectus here: One Plan.pdf
3 Comments
Leave a comment
Dale Street Associates
David Bartlett
City editor of the Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs.
Read My Posts »
I'm pretty sure the answer is No. Local businesses didn't exactly fall over themselves to support Capital of Culture in 2008. Some that did gave services 'in kind' but not cash. Others gave one last desperate heave to stave off the tally man before going bust. This 'One Plan' has all the look and feel of someone in Regen trying hard to look busy. New job-share from Knowsley trying to impress, perhaps. Doesn't impress me though. Usual blather about 'city of talent', 'next stage of our journey' and so on. I guess you have to try. But no one should be gullible.
Once again it is Cllr Anderson trying to sound like he is some sort of entrepreneur himself - in thrall to private businesses. Sadly, it is doomed to end in failure because local businesses are not the philanthropic sort.
The sooner Cllr Anderson realises that most local businesses couldn't give a **** about him or his ideas the better. Then he can move on and start delivering what the people of the city voted him in for - leadership and delivering services. Not pandering to an unelected elite and private sector ventures that want to fleece the Council for all it is worth
Unfortunately, Still Bored, I've got it on good advice that there was standing room only at the launch of the One Plan today. The room was packed out, and the event generated considerable interest from businesses from a range of sectors, and the local broadcast and print media.
As for what Cllr Anderson was elected for. Is it not showing leadership to drive forward business growth, providing jobs and training opportunities for the people of this city? I imagine you're a Lib Dem, and so take the last 12 years as your version of 'leadership'. Alas, said 'leadership' was part time and disinterested, when we really were led by an unelected elite.
Try again.