A TOWN Hall lobby group has called for councils and businesses to work together to ensure that the south-east economy isn’t held back by lack of investment following Government cuts.

The South East England Councils, which represents more than 70 local councils, said that its top priority was making sure that the region doesn’t lose out on funding while other parts of the country catch up.

“We need to make sure the south-east does not lose out on access to the new £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund and business incentives because ministers favour other areas of the country,” chairman Councillor Paul Carter told a meeting of the regional development agency Seeda.

“I would love to see the economy in other areas performing to our level, but if that comes at the expense of pegging back south-east growth, the whole country will suffer.”