Newcastle City Council's 10-point plan to beat recession

Jun 5 2009 by Amy Hunt, The Journal

RECESSION-BUSTING plans have been brought together in an effort to boost the economy.

Newcastle City Council has drawn up a 10-point report designed to rescue the city from the recession. Keeping council tax low, ramping up spending and keeping regeneration schemes going are among the plans.

Council leaders point to schemes like their buy-up of the empty Northern Rock Tower in Gosforth, a £25m fund set aside for buying up more key sites and planned spending of more than £21m on infrastructure and regeneration projects as evidence they are doing what they can to keep the city’s economy afloat.

Newcastle has still been severely affected by the downturn. Over the last year unemployment has risen from 3.2% to 4.9%, equivalent to an additional 2,948 people claiming benefits. House prices have fallen by about 13% and court orders for home repossessions have increased from 728 to 929.

But a report by David Slater, the council’s executive director of environment and regeneration, which will go before members of the decision-making Lib Dem executive next week, says Newcastle has not been as hard-hit as other parts of the country.

House price falls have not been as extreme and unemployment has increased by less than the national average. A number of local firms are continuing to perform well while the universities continue to expand.

And he outlines 10 things the council is doing to fight the recession.