Great Yarmouth Borough Council is still 'hopeful' about getting a £20m cash boost despite the government's announcement of a review into public spending.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the House of Commons on Monday, July 29, there was a £22bn financial "black hole" inherited from the previous government. 

The resulting public spending cuts have cast uncertainty over a series of infrastructure projects in the county - from the rebuilding of the James Paget hospital in Gorleston to the proposed Norwich Western Link road.

But one scheme not mentioned as part the review was the Long Term Plan for Towns programme - from which Great Yarmouth Borough Council is hoping to get £20m.

Sheila Oxtoby, Great Yarmouth Borough Council chief executive. Sheila Oxtoby, Great Yarmouth Borough Council chief executive. (Image: Archant)

Sheila Oxtoby, chief executive of Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC), said: "We're still quite hopeful that the money that was allocated is still in place."

The council was originally working towards a deadline of August 1 for submitting its application for the money.

Bosses were told last week the government no longer requires applications to be submitted by that date.

But Ms Oxtoby said: "At the moment, we're still carrying on with working up proposals."

The council hopes to use the £20m to tackle so-called zombie shops in the town centre, a lack of dental services, and cleaning the streets.

READ MORE: Council reveals FIVE areas where it wants to spend £20m

An empty shop in Great Yarmouth. An empty shop in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Archant) READ MORE: Doubt cast over hospital rebuilds after chancellor announces review

Town Hall has also proposed using funding to improve CCTV coverage and to work alongside Norfolk Police to develop more projects to help drive down antisocial behaviour. 

These issues will be the focus of its initial three-year investment plan and 10-year vision to be submitted to the government.

This followed Great Yarmouth being named as one of 55 towns across the country to receive a slice of £1.5bn government funding, to be used for long-term investments to benefit the community.

The Long Term Plan for Towns programme was launched in September last year by the previous Conservative government.