Recommendations & Conclusions
6 items
1
Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns …
Acknowledged
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (the Department) about the Towns Fund.1
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's introductory statement, confirming the basis of the report and the timeline of evidence and publication.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
13
Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns …
Acknowledged
The Department told us that it had not completed its analysis of the 13 plans submitted by the first cohort of towns but its early impressions of the quality of the plans and the range of interventions proposed were positive.30 It described how it was assessing town investment plans against …
Read more
The Department told us that it had not completed its analysis of the 13 plans submitted by the first cohort of towns but its early impressions of the quality of the plans and the range of interventions proposed were positive.30 It described how it was assessing town investment plans against local need, including the extent to which the plans show that towns have started to put together the partnerships they will need to deliver their plans successfully.31
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's observation about its assessment of town investment plans. It states it conducts thorough reviews of town capacity and plan deliverability as part of the established investment process and provides ongoing support to towns.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
17
Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns …
Acknowledged
The Department further told us that it had entered into a contract worth around £8 million with Arup, a professional services company, to provide towns with specific expertise in areas such as real estate valuation. The Department described the efficiency benefits it envisages in such an arrangement, whereby towns will …
Read more
The Department further told us that it had entered into a contract worth around £8 million with Arup, a professional services company, to provide towns with specific expertise in areas such as real estate valuation. The Department described the efficiency benefits it envisages in such an arrangement, whereby towns will access consultancy services centrally so that they do not have to look for that consultancy support separately.40
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's observation regarding its contract with Arup for consultancy support, confirming that Arup and its consortium provide additional support to towns as the Towns Fund Delivery Partner.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
20
Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns …
Acknowledged
The £3.6 billion Towns Fund has three separate strands of funding comprising: • The 101 selected towns invited to develop Town Deals and bid for up to £25 million each, or up to £50 million in exceptional circumstances; • A competition for funding for those towns not in the initial …
Read more
The £3.6 billion Towns Fund has three separate strands of funding comprising: • The 101 selected towns invited to develop Town Deals and bid for up to £25 million each, or up to £50 million in exceptional circumstances; • A competition for funding for those towns not in the initial selection of 101 towns; and • The Future High Streets Fund, to be distributed to towns and high streets across England through a competitive process.45 38 Q 34 39 Q 63 40 Q 63 41 Qq 76, 92 42 Q 92 43 Qq 79–80 44 Qq 80–81 45 C&AG’s Report, para 1.2 14 Selecting towns for the Towns Fund
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the description of the Towns Fund's structure and provides an update, stating that the competition for towns not in the initial selection will now be run as part of the new Levelling Up Fund.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
22
Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns …
Acknowledged
We asked the Department whether, given the scale of change happening, it will bid for higher levels of funding to support the Future High Streets Fund. It explained that, as many of the towns that are eligible for Future High Streets funding are also eligible for Towns Fund funding, it …
Read more
We asked the Department whether, given the scale of change happening, it will bid for higher levels of funding to support the Future High Streets Fund. It explained that, as many of the towns that are eligible for Future High Streets funding are also eligible for Towns Fund funding, it will probably want to take a view on the Towns Fund as a whole and these two elements of it before deciding what the right level of future funding would be.47
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's observation regarding its approach to funding, explaining that it has announced the new Levelling Up Fund to consolidate various funding streams, including £300 million from the Towns Fund, for a more integrated approach to local investment.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
26
Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns …
Acknowledged
The Department explained that because of Covid-19 and the recent demands that have been placed on local government, the private sector and other members of the Town Deal Boards, it has left towns and the Town Deal Boards to determine which wave of funding they wanted to work towards.51 While …
Read more
The Department explained that because of Covid-19 and the recent demands that have been placed on local government, the private sector and other members of the Town Deal Boards, it has left towns and the Town Deal Boards to determine which wave of funding they wanted to work towards.51 While the Department wants to maximise private sector co-investment, the impact of Covid-19 may reduce the ability of towns to secure match funding from other sources.52 46 Qq 33, 57 47 Q 28 48 Qq 74, 91 49 Q 67 50 Qq 68–70 51 Q 77 52 Q 74 Selecting towns for the Towns Fund 15
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concern about Covid-19's impact on towns' ability to secure match funding. It explains that it has provided accelerated funding, allowed additional time for plan development, and encouraged towns to review plans to adapt to changing circumstances.
Read full response →
HM Treasury