The Metro Mayor, City Mayor and other Liverpool City Region Council leaders will announce £1.5m COVID-19 Fund for Local Authorities to support Taxi Drivers.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is to provide a fund of up to £1.5 million to the six local authorities in the city region, including Sefton, to enable them to give grants to hard-pressed taxi drivers.
The funding will be allocated proportionately to each local authority, according to the number of licenced taxi drivers in their area.
The Fund will enable all of the city region’s local authorities to introduce and administer schemes which benefit local taxi drivers in addition to what is available to them through national support schemes.
The details of how the funding will be issued to taxi drivers are currently being finalised and further information will be available shortly. It is expected that payments will be made before Christmas.
A joint statement with the other city region leaders:
“We recognise the hardship experienced by our area’s taxi drivers, who have seen their trade seriously affected by the Coronavirus restrictions.
“We know this fund can only make a small contribution but wanted to make this available as a gesture of support for a sector that has been hit hard without adequate support.
“As leaders and mayors, we are continuing to press the Government for financial support packages work for everyone who has seen their livelihood affected by Covid-19 restrictions.”
Steve Rotheram
Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region
Cllr Rob Polhill
Leader of Halton Council
Cllr Graham Morgan
Leader of Knowsley Council
Joe Anderson OBE
Mayor of Liverpool
Cllr Ian Maher
Leader of Sefton Council
Cllr David Baines
Leader of St Helens Council
Cllr Janette Williamson
Leader of Wirral Council