Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
Paragraph: 49
Prohibit DLUHC from introducing additional metrics, or mandate public communication of changes.
Recommendation
Throughout all future competitive bidding processes, the Government must avoid introducing additional metrics for success once an application process has closed. If, for any reason, this becomes unavoidable, the DLUHC must communicate this change via official and public channels of communication before successful applicants are announced. Throughout any funding programme the Government must also ensure that they are able to adapt and respond to the possible impact of inflation through adequate financial support for successful projects.
Government Response Summary
The government refutes the claim of introducing new metrics, stating its decision-making framework was published at the outset. It adds that it has provided £65 million in additional funding to support local authorities with project development, including adapting to inflation impacts.
Paragraph Reference:
49
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We followed a robust process for the assessment, shortlisting and decision-making stages of round two of the Levelling Up Fund, all of which has been set out in our published guidance and Explanatory Note. The published Prospectus and Technical Note outlined the decision-making framework at the outset, prior to the applications being submitted. It is clear from those documents that the Government did not introduce any new criteria into decision making. In deciding which bids to fund from the shortlist, ministers had the option of taking into account some or all of five published wider considerations. This included other investment in a local area, including investment made from the first round of the Fund to encourage a spread of levelling Up funds from across places. Regarding the Committee’s recommendation around adapting and responding to the impact of inflation during the lifetime of programmes, we have provided additional funding to support local authorities with developing projects, including on the Levelling Up Fund where a £65 million local authority support package is supporting places’ capacity and capability to deliver projects.