Local areas must take control of directing European Union (EU) cash worth £8bn during the 2014-2020 funding programme, to maximise its impact on boosting local economies, council chiefs have urged.
A Local Government Association (LGA) report issued on 23 January argues the next EU funding round should be freed from ‘overly-bureaucratic rules' issued from Brussels and Whitehall, and instead be more reflective of local need.
