Six towns in Milton Keynes will receive £20,000 each from a more than £2 million pot to support local business “after a particularly difficult 18 months”.

The money, part of a £120,000 portion of £2.335 million of additional Restrictions Grant funding from central government, was announced by cabinet member for economy, recovery, and renewal, and Bradwell Cllr Robin Bradburn.

He also revealed that £220,000 of that larger pot will be used to make Milton Keynes a “Christmas destination for shopping and leisure”, while a further £100,000 would be used in a campaign to ‘increase footfall’.

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The matter was raised by Wolverton Cllr Ansar Hussain, in light of pandemic pressures.

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“Can the cabinet member please let council know what further support our local high streets will be getting after a particularly difficult 18 months?” said Cllr Hussain.

“The leader of the council took a delegated decision…regarding the additional Restrictions Grant funded from central government,” replied Cllr Bradburn.

“Milton Keynes received a further £2.335 million in August to continue supporting businesses going forward.

“Of that money, £220,000 will be allocated to Milton Keynes, nationally and locally as a Christmas destination for shopping and leisure facilities.

“£100,000 will fund a national advertising campaign…and increase the footfall for central Milton Keynes.

“Also, £120,000 will be allocated to the six towns and their high streets at £20,000 each – that’s Wolverton, Bletchley and Fenny Stratford, Olney, Newport Pagnell, Stony Stratford, and Woburn Sands – £120,000.”

Here is how much MK Council has received from government in the form of Local Restriction and Discretionary Additional Restriction grants:

  • Local Restrictions Grant (Nov 2020 to March 2021): £27,813,695.00
  • Restart Grants (April 2021): £11,682,252.00
  • Discretionary Additional Restrictions Grant (Nov 2020 to June 2021): £7,782,741.00
  • Discretionary Additional Restrictions Grant (August 2021): £2,334,946.00

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