Mayor uses savings to support town centres

08-JUL-09

Issued by: Duncan Bennett

North Tyneside Mayor Linda Arkley has scrapped the mayor's newsletter and will use the money saved to support the borough's town centres.

As part of her drive to cut waste, Mrs Arkley has also announced that North Tyneside Council will now spend less on promotional campaigns.

The council previously produced around four Mayor's Report newsletters each year, for every home in the borough, at a total cost of over £30,000.

Mrs Arkley has halted the newsletter with immediate effect. The money saved will instead go towards supporting town centres.

"I've made clear that I will use feedback from residents during the mayoral election campaign to inform my future policies and projects," said Mrs Arkley.

"One of the big issues raised on the doorstep was the amount of money people felt the council was spending on publicity campaigns and literature delivered through their door.

"I've decided immediately to stop the mayor's newsletter.

"I strongly believe that the money saved can be better spent supporting our town centres, which desperately need help during the current economic climate.

"We'll now be discussing with the local chambers of trade how they believe the money can best be used."

Mrs Arkley has already announced that regeneration groups will be established for the borough's town centres. These will take forward the completion of regeneration of Whitley Bay, the delivering of the North bank of the Tyne Project and the establishing of a "learning village" for Wallsend.

ENDS