The last meeting of the board was on December 12th, the same day Keir Group was dropped at the main contractor for the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC).

Initially estimated at £73m to be funded by £33m from the town deal, £20m by borrowing by Sefton Council and £20m from Liverpool City Region there is plenty of speculation that buildings costs will be much higher due to construction inflation. Other notable developments have suffered by construction inflation where the Government have pulled many aspects of HS2 and the new Everton stadium cost rocketted by 50%.

No minutes have yet been published from the December 12th meeting and the March 19th meeting did not take place and we have heard it will be held in May.

A final contract for MLEC was scheduled to be agreed with Kier Group by the end of 2023 but as the relationship ended most people we have spoken to think it must have been cost though doubt the public will ever know the detail. If made public that say Kier Group say sorry more like £100m that would give any other contractors an possible starting point. Known as 'commercially sensitive' or sorry Joe public - 'no need to know'.

Southport folk continue to be kept in the dark about the most major funding in Southport probably ever!

Link if you wish to read more and keep up to date at:

https://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/ieListM...ommitteeId=881