Paul Carbert

@thomasforth The Cooplands (to the right of your pic) closed a couple of months ago. Some may say the Greggs (to the left of pic, plus another one in the bus station) is enough, but I miss it

I wish I didn't have to travel to Norway to experience this kind of transit-centred walkable urban development in a coastal city.

1. Norway 2. Finland 3. Moldova 4. Albania #Eurovision2023 #EUROVISION

@JackTShaw Finalising the list of the Levelling Up metrics and the format of the annual progress report. Also the promised Levelling Up forums/message board (I suspect this is quite far down the list of priorities)

Back of a fag packet, but what's outstanding on the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities' to-do-list? From the Levelling Up White Paper, we’re still waiting for clarity on:

@ArlenPettitt I'm more concerned about the availability of supermarket rotisserie chicken - one of life's great joys that is now harder to find

@PaulCarbert Concern about access to specific quantities of cheese and charcuterie is very on brand for you - and you are absolutely right that this story says more about our national issues than the the success of Greggs

This morning's newsletter, which starts off talking about @GreggsOfficial (which has been my theme for the week), then mentions levelling up, health and Universal Credit, and features a link to a good thread on NEETs and music from Depeche Mode: worroom.substack.com/p/dont-you-eve…

@oldtrotter The full speech has been published by DLUHC gov.uk/government/spe…

Gove seems to have difficulty mentioning Michael Heseltine.

In today's newsletter I look at a YouGov survey saying people in parts of the North East feel it's somewhere to try to get away from, and that it's "generally declined" in the last few years. I look at the failings of the Levelling Up Fund, and offer some Springsteen as a balm.

THE BEST LEG OF ALL TIME! 🤯🔥 MICHAEL VAN GERWEN MISSES D12 FOR A NINE-DARTER, AND THEN SMITH PINS A PERFECT LEG HIMSELF! ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS YOU'LL EVER SEE IN SPORT.

Really positive news - great to see the seven authorities coming together. It won't solve all the region's problems (astonishingly enough), but it does put us in a better position. Well done to all those involved in making it happen. northeastlep.co.uk/updates/north-…

@BenPowick That looks amazing! Hope you had a good Xmas Ben

Call for Evidence into Economic Inactivity in the North of Tyne northoftyne-ca.gov.uk/news/call-for-…

New research from me in the Observer today shows that less than 3 per cent of the Government’s flagship £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund has been spent in its first year. Is levelling up working on the ground? [1/11] theguardian.com/politics/2022/…

Harvest time 🍅

The cost of Freeport tax reliefs will be met by central government (taxpayers) but individual local authorities hosting freeports should benefit financially

All LA's with a Freeport site in their area had to sign a letter of support as a requirement of the bid, seems unlikely they would do this if it meant less revenue!

I can't see the basis for the claim (by @GeorgeMonbiot in the Guardian) that freeports business rate relief will deprive local authorities of income

@NEEChamberKay All the best Kay, it was lovely to work with you. Happy travels! 😄✈️

I'm hanging up my @neechamber hat today after 6 years of great times with the loveliest people & businesses. Thanks to all the journalists incl special mention to @mikehughes @Graemewhitfield @Scoopford Here's me enjoying my surprise leaving treat @lachocolatrice