Midlands pays £1m for office in Brussels
Councils, quangos and businesses in the West Midlands are spending £1 million a year to fund an office in Brussels, it was revealed today.
Councils, quangos and businesses in the West Midlands are spending £1 million a year to fund an office in Brussels, it was revealed today.
The money goes on translating European Union jargon and helping businesses understand the complicated processes involved in dealing with the European Parliament. Six staff also market the region to EU bureaucrats and decision makers to try to attract funding. A new "European Service" for the West Midlands is on the cards, it has also emerged.
West Midland Leaders Board, formerly the Local Government Association, and regional development agency Advantage West Midlands (AWM) is preparing to launch the new service.
It will bring together the six-strong team in the Belgian capital – the site of the European Parliament – and a team based in the West Midlands.
All 33 West Midland councils contribute to the scheme along with AWM and other backers.
In total in 2008/9 it paid out £1,030,608 including £240,317 from the councils, £461,453 from AWM and the remaining £328,838 from other backers.
Members include universities and colleges, Birmingham International Airport and the NEC Group .
Latest reports also revealed the scheme made £273,063 for itself by sub-letting its Brussels office. Bosses today said they would cut costs by 30 per cent over two years because of the recession.
Leaders board spokeswoman Jo Kite said: "The current funding stream runs from 2007-2013 and will amount to £170 billion across the EU.
"In 2009 alone the European team provided briefing, guidance and factsheets on the European funding available, helping public, academic and business organisations in the West Midlands to be aware of and take advantage of these opportunities."
Staff at the Brussels office were said to be "integral" in securing grants for the West Midlands worth £678m. They also claim to have helped 54,000 people receive training as part of a £98.3m project in the region.
Wolverhampton City Council leader Neville Patten said today: "This European office is part of what we're all doing to improve the West Midlands as an area."
