James Sunderland expresses his disappointment that Bracknell was not successful in its bid to secure funding from the levelling up fund and secures a meeting with the Minister to discuss improving prospects ahead of round 3.
James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)
I thank the Minister for her notification last night. Clearly, the decision not to proceed with Bracknell’s bid was disappointing. It is a good bid; it regenerates Bracknell’s town centre and was submitted by a solvent and well-run council. Will she confirm that in principle more affluent areas in the south-east will not be precluded from successful bids? Will she meet me to help Bracknell refine that bid to ensure success in tranche 3?
The Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Lucy Frazer)
The Department is keen to ensure that those areas that have not received round 1 or round 2 funding understand why that was the case and how they can improve their prospects in the future. I, or another Minister, would be happy to have a meeting to discuss how we can progress any further bids.