Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Other examples of lack of clarity around the Towns Fund process are also of concern...
Conclusion
Other examples of lack of clarity around the Towns Fund process are also of concern to us. The Department gave a confusing explanation for how and why the risks from a no- deal Brexit were assessed by Ministers, when already included in Departmental officials’ assessment. The Department agreed to write to the Committee on how Bank of England data were used to assess towns’ exposure to Brexit.18 Furthermore, the Department has yet to decide which towns across England will be eligible for the upcoming competitive round, or when and how it will be conducted.19 The Department told us it wants to complete its assessment of the first cohort of bids before planning the competitive round, and it hopes to have completed that assessment by the end of October.20 Engagement with local and regional representatives
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 As the Committee will be aware, the department wrote to the Committee in October 2020 with details of how town level scores were calculated in relation to risks from a no deal Brexit. 2.3 The department has also set out the assessment process in the Further Guidance published in June 2020. Funding offered is determined by an objective formula, based on assessment of the Town Investment Plan. Feedback is provided on request. 2.4 In relation to funding decisions on the Towns Fund and similar local growth programmes, the department will provide: where relevant, a record of Ministerial recusal from decisions affecting the constituencies of Ministers; a statement of the criteria that have been used to make decisions; and the details of scores or other assessments that have been used as part of the decision-making. 2.5 This will be provided to the Committee when all decision making is complete. On the Towns Fund, this will be when all 101 Towns have submitted Town Investment Plans and funding decisions have been made. 2.6 When Heads of Terms are agreed between the department and Towns, the department plans to publish these on GOV.UK. 2.7 The Levelling Up Fund announced at Spending Review 2020 includes £300 million previously set aside for a Towns Fund competition. This element of the Levelling Up fund will continue to support towns, and the department will set out the processes around it in due course.