COUNCIL bosses say they are determined to fight serious government cuts by raising the profile of the town's thriving economy.

Earlier this week the Evening Mail reported how Barrow Borough Council had set out a strategy to meet a £2.37m deficit caused by a 40 per cent cut in government funding.

Official government figures reveal Barrow has seen the biggest cuts in the country this year and will be among the 10 worst hit areas during the next five years.

Councillor Brendan Sweeney, deputy leader of the council, is frustrated by the cuts and says it is not fair play for Barrow.

He said: "What I find annoying is that I, and the rest of the people of Barrow, still pay our income tax and VAT in the same way, but we are seeing far less of this being returned to Barrow to be spent on local services."

Talks are under way in Westminster to allow local authorities to retain money from their business rates but Cllr Sweeney said this approach is a "mine of uncertainty" that has many variables.

He said: "It's too unclear at the moment to say how this will affect us. We have got to work on the basis that we're facing a very challenging settlement."

However, councillors say they refuse to be beaten and are working hard to help bring more money into Barrow.

Leader of the council, Cllr Dave Pidduck, is building relations with other badly hit authorities and working with the Local Government Association to get their voices heard.

Cllr Pidduck said: "By working with the LGA we have much more of a powerful voice. If we were Birmingham or Manchester you can imagine we would get a reaction but it's much more difficult for us as a small council."

Councillors believe the key to success is to highlight the town's assets and to raise Barrow's profile to make government take notice.

Cllr Sweeney said: "There's so much going on in Barrow that justifies the spends.

"Barrow is producing a disproportionate amount of economic growth for the Northern Powerhouse in terms of the sheer number of projects going on here."

Cllr Sweeney hopes that by making government ministers understand how much potential there is in the town, Barrow will move up from the bottom of the funding pile.

He said: "We have a strong economy, strong working population and great skills and if government gives us more flexibility and a bit more money, we as a council could do so much more to support that."

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