Council loses £5m arts funding promised in Budget

North Northamptonshire Council leader Jason Smithers said the funding withdrawal would "negatively impact" the community

A council has announced it will lose £5m in funding for cultural development, initially pledged by the former Conservative government.

The funding for North Northamptonshire Council, which was allocated in the Spring Budget, was aimed at enhancing cultural projects across the area.

Jason Smithers, leader of the authority, said the council was "disappointed" by the decision, warning that it would have a "major impact" on the delivery of planned projects.

The government said it had been forced to make "difficult" decisions.

Mr Smithers added there would be a knock-on effect on job creation, reduced future investment, and it would have an impact on the council's ability to draw more visitors to the region.

The local authority said it intended to "make the strongest case possible" and will "urge" the government to reconsider its funding withdrawal.

A spokesperson from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: "This government inherited £22bn of unfunded spending commitments, and we have therefore been forced to make the difficult decision to review these previously announced projects.

“Growth is the number one priority of this government, which is why over £3bn of investment in local growth was confirmed for next year in the Budget."