'They are missing opportunities to fight for investment': Wolverhampton Tory criticises MPs for missing regeneration meetings
A senior Wolverhampton councillor has criticised two of the city's MPs for missing meetings of a regeneration board.
Councillor Simon Bennett, leader of Wolverhampton Council's Conservative group, said MPs Pat McFadden and Sureena Brackenridge had repeatedly missed meetings of the body responsible for coordinating regeneration in the city, including crucial government-funded schemes in Bilston and Wednesfield.
Councillor Bennett said of the six meetings of the City Investment Board held over the past 12 months, Mr McFadden had attended just one and sent representatives on two more occasions. He said he had failed to submit apologies to the previous two meetings.
He said Mrs Brackenridge failed to attend the most recent meeting on January 30, during which an important meeting had taken place regarding the future of Wednesfield High Street. Mrs Brackenridge said she had a strong attendance record at the board, but was accompanying Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves during a visit to the constituency on the afternoon of the most recent meeting.
The MPs both defended their attendance records and said they were committed to attracting investment into Wolverhampton.
Councillor Bennett said the meetings were designed to ensure those with influence at Westminster, the West Midlands Combined Authority and within government agencies were present to help drive projects forward for the city.
He said: “The City Investment Board exists for one reason, to bring together, cross-party, the people who have the power to unlock funding, remove barriers, and drive regeneration in Wolverhampton.
