Carlisle City Council

Carlisle city councillors have been told the authority's had to write off more debts than usual because of the financial problems of two large chains.

A scrutiny panel was told a particularly large debt figure of £151,000 was largely accounted for by DIY store Homebase, and the stationery chain Staples, which between them owed £120,000 in business rates.

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Both companies were at the time in Company Voluntary Arrangements or CVAs, because of financial problems.

Alison Taylor, corporate director of finance and resources, said: "Both have gone into a CVA so we have had to write off the debt on those two properties.

"They total for £120,000 - that's why the figure is so much higher than in previous years."

The county has been awarded £102m for the project to build a road around the southern side of Carlisle, a project that will clear the way for more than 10,000 new homes to be built.

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The southern bypass will link the M6 at junction 42 to the A595, west of the city.

The road will the open the way for a crescent of new developments which the city council has called St Cuthberts Garden Village.

There's a general acceptance that the city is going to have to grow to create a critical mass to be able to fund and develop the services that we need.

It's a very long term project, we're talking tens of years really in terms of the housing, but the road is absolutely vital in order for that to happen."

Carlisle's streets are in line for some extra cleaning effort after two Independent city councillors won support for a move to add an extra £60,000 to the budget for a one-year project.

Robert Betton, who represents Botcherby, said: "This is beneficial for the whole of Carlisle. There is a lot of concern at the moment that we don't have the manpower - and we do need these two people.

"The best thing about this if it's successful it can continue."

Independents hold the balance of power on the authority, and Mr Betton and councillor Ray Tinnion gained unanimous support.

Under council rules, the budget debate then had to be adjourned so officials and senior councillors could consider the implications. The full council will meet again on 20 February.