Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
The Department told us that it is satisfied that the Town Deal Boards are well...
Recommendation
The Department told us that it is satisfied that the Town Deal Boards are well constituted, meeting departmental stipulations, and coming together well. Boards are involving the private sector and the wider social sector, with examples of some Boards being chaired by private sector business people and others by chairs of charities. The Department expressed confidence that through the Boards the right local coalitions were being developed to put together successful bids and deliver on their plans.27 We heard how some towns are consulting with residents as they develop bids, for example 18 Qq 04–101 19 Qq 29–30, 32, 46–47, 58–59 20 Qq 31, 59 21 Qq 36, 50, 82–84 22 Qq 82–84 23 Qq 49–55 24 Qq 54–55 25 Qq 98–100 26 Q 91 27 Q 61 Selecting towns for the Towns Fund 11 Blackpool, which invited comments from residents on draft versions of its plan through the council’s website.28 We reiterate the vital importance of Boards fully engaging with local stakeholders and consulting with residents as towns develop bids—ensuring this happens will be a key role for the Department’s observers on the Boards.29 28 Q 62 29 Q 85 12 Selecting towns for the Towns Fund 2 Making a success of the Towns Fund Monitoring and evaluating impact
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
3.2 As the Committee will know, the department and Ministers engage regularly and widely with local and regional representatives, including Members of Parliament, to understand their priorities for their local areas and communities. 3.3 Specifically in relation to the Towns Fund, the department has already set out, prior to the Committee's recommendations, expectations and plans for Town Deal Boards and for community engagement and local and, where appropriate, regional representation on boards. 3.4 Indeed the model of Towns Deal Boards offers a significantly more open and transparent way of developing and agreeing plans for growth funding in a local area than is traditionally seen. Town Boards give a significant voice to people from the local area and allow a far wider range of stakeholders to inform a town’s plans as a result – an approach government feels is crucial to ensuring that investment can better match the needs of the communities it is destined to support. 3.5 Expectations for Town Deal Board membership were set out in the Towns Fund Prospectus (November 2019) and Further Guidance (June 2020), recommending a mix of representatives from across the public, private and community sectors. Regional teams and our delivery partners then worked with Town Deal Board’s on diversity, best practice and mandatory compliance. 3.6 The department has subsequently assessed Town Deal Board governance for all towns that have submitted their Town Investment Plans. 3.7 The department also specified that Town Investment Plans should include detail of consultation with local residents. The level and quality of engagement with community groups and the alignment and involvement of key bodies are both rigorously assessed. Towns must provide a stakeholder engagement plan in advance of signing Heads of Terms agreements.