A £200 million grant offer for rural businesses will generate thousands of jobs and provide new support to expand and improve their premises.

Legal action is being taken against a construction firm over the spiralling costs of repairing the guided busway in Cambridgeshire.
The busway opened in 2011 after delays and financial rows. It links St Ives to Cambridge.
Constructor BAM Nuttall’s costs rose from the £87 million agreed with Cambridgeshire County Council, to more than £150 million.
However, the council said it would be taking action against the company for giving the council a further £36 million bill worth of repairs.

Derbyshire County Council has approved a proposal to scrap the chief executive role in a bid to save more than £300,000 a year.

Rail passengers are set for better journeys with five new stations to be built across England and Wales, the government announced today.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has given approval for the stations, which will provide long term benefits to passengers and the wider economy.
The government will invest over £16 million under the new stations fund, which gives local communities improved rail services. All of the new stations will be accessible, with step-free access throughout.

A £42 million project to tackle the housing shortage in Essex has reached a major milestone during a brick-laying ceremony.

Manchester has been given £280,000 from the Department of Communities and Local Government to improve private sector housing standards.

Local areas need £8.4 billion of European Union funding replaced as part of a locally-led successor to EU regional aid after Brexit.

An innovative new growth strategy aimed at giving all of Leeds a chance to make the most of the city’s economic boom has been launched.
The draft of the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy was recently approved by the city’s senior councillors, with businesses and stakeholders now being invited to have their say.
Businesses are additionally being asked to pledge support and adopt the values set out in the strategy, which will help companies to deliver growth that is sustainable, inclusive and benefits all Leed’s communities.

Plans to further improve air quality in Newcastle by tackling pollution caused by city traffic are to be developed.
Cities across the country, including Newcastle, have been required by law to take additional action to ensure that air quality targets are met.
Newcastle City Council must draw up its initial plans by March 2018 and have final plans ready by the end of next year setting out what action will be taken.

Essex County Council and Colchester Borough Council have met up to discuss the transportation needs of Colchester for the next 30 years.
The meeting was called to make sure there is complete joined up working around future housing and employment demands as well as the critical infrastructure required to secure proper sustainability for the Borough over the next three decades.