She will be joined by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham to meet with council and business leaders, tourism chiefs, police and community workers to see how communities in Merseyside are responding with practical measures to help people through the current downturn, regenerate the local area, create jobs increase housing and reduce crime.
The Secretaries of State will also outline what Government is doing to provide real and practical support and find out what further help Sefton needs to get on with the job. They will consider how good practice can best be shared and what further support and devolution might be needed whether that be around new approaches to regeneration, pooling of budgets, or unique methods to making more efficiency savings.
In Southport, they will visit the Grade II listed Southport Arts Centre to hear how successful regeneration schemes there have boosted the wider day-time and night-time economy including the "Sea Change" programme - which is working locally to develop additional arts facilities, including a proposed museum, theatre and music venue to benefit local communities, boost tourism and bring wider benefits to the wider local economy.
Later in the afternoon, they will hear from Young Advisors at the 'Feelgood Factory' in Bootle on the benefits of volunteering and how to further involve young people in local decision-making and with regeneration leaders how to maintain housing-led regeneration in inner urban areas like south Sefton.
Hazel Blears said:
"Regeneration is a vital aspect of economic development - improving training and skills, creating jobs and generating business activity in some of our most deprived communities.
"Over the last ten years, many of our seaside towns have been transformed through record regeneration funding and they have worked hard to develop new and exciting cultural and heritage attractions that have renewed community pride and encouraged increasing numbers to holiday in England.
"The tougher economic conditions are challenging, but regeneration projects such as those proposed here in Sefton are still going ahead and during a downturn, it's crucial that central and local government together with the private sector remain focussed on the economic revitalisation of our communities to ensure they remain both economically viable and vibrant."
The Government is taking action to support regeneration, bringing forward investment to support projects which may be at risk: including
* In September the Government brought forward £400m to deliver a further 5,500 new social homes over the next eighteen months.
* November's pre-budget report which included proposals for £775 million of funding to help business, specifically housing and regeneration sectors.
* Regional Development Agencies looking at ways to support regional economic development and Government has provided them with an additional ability to bring forward £100 million funding from 2010/11 to next year.
In addition it was confirmed this week that Sefton Council will receive a share of £100million to be used as they see fit to help meet local needs and priorities - particularly helpful in this difficult economic climate.
Culture Secretary Andy Burham said:
"All over the country, people are facing economic challenges and it is local leaders who are best placed to understand what their communities need. They are playing a crucial role giving people practical help, sound advice and strong leadership. The government has freed up authorities to have the confidence and ability to get on with the job of delivering for local people, through the new Local Area Agreements introduced last year.
"In my home city of Liverpool, I've seen first-hand just what an impact a focus on culture can have on a place and its people. The diversity of cultural experiences and an increase in tourism, as well as the attention being lavished on city, also helps an intangible change take place; it instils a confidence in the community, as well as boosting its economy.
"I believe that culture can play a bigger role in more areas. I look forward to seeing for myself how the "Sea Change" programme is going to benefit local people in Southport, through investment in arts and culture that will not only attract more visitors to the area, but also restore pride in people's communities."
Different parts of the country are facing different challenges and it is local leaders who are best placed to understand what their communities need. Local leaders are playing a crucial role giving people practical help, sound advice and strong leadership. The government has freed up authorities to have the confidence and freedoms to get on with the job of delivering for local people and the Secretaries of State will be keen to see how the authority is using the new powers and freedoms - under the new Local Area Agreement signed in June last year - to best effect.
