Merton Borough Council has agreed to a one year subscription to a new organisation which has been set up to give a voice for south London issues to high levels within Government and London institutions, including the Mayor of London. It will ensure that the needs of the area are not ignored.

The organisation will work with the London Development Agency, Small Business Service and Learning & Skills Council on sub-regional issues – particularly those of interest to local businesses.

Proposed activities include; inward investment, tourism promotion, input to Mayoral strategies, education and workforce development, business support and physical infrastructure and issues concerning social disadvantage.

The Advantage London Scheme will have a start-up budget of £105,000 with Merton contributing its share to ensure that it has a voice at the table and an influence on the decisions that will benefit the borough.

Merton lies within the South London sub-region consisting of the boroughs of Richmond, Kingston, Merton, Sutton, Croydon and Bromley. Another key partner will be the South London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Commenting, Rob Moran, Head of Partnerships at Merton Council said, “Merton will now have an important say in lobbying, promoting and co-ordinating the actions of the new agencies that will be operating in this part of South London. Advantage London South will prove to be the most effective way of ensuring that Merton has a voice and gets its fair share of the resources that will become available over the next year”