Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
The Department told us that it is looking to probe each project to gauge how...
Conclusion
The Department told us that it is looking to probe each project to gauge how convinced it is that towns can deliver their plans successfully, and that it will build in robust monitoring and evaluation processes from the start, agreeing key outputs and outcomes such as jobs created and footfall before projects begin, and tracking them every six months.35 It has developed a prospectus and guidance which sets out a list of possible measures including jobs created, footfall, qualification levels, levels of private investment and commuting times.36 The Department told us that it wants the measures, when chosen, to mean something to local people. As an example, it cited how it is considering how it can reflect and measure sustainable, rather than short-term, employment.37 But we remain concerned that the Department could only set out to us in general terms how it might monitor and evaluate the impact of the Towns Fund; the detailed measures are still to be developed. Capacity to deliver and spend the money well
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2021 4.2 The department does not agree with the committee’s conclusion that it has not been clear on the impact it expects from the Towns Fund. The objectives of the Towns Fund are set out in the Towns Fund Prospectus (November 2019) and Further Guidance (June 2020). Furthermore, the department is providing up to £10 million for the monitoring and evaluation of the programme in order to capture the positive contribution to economic growth from this Fund. 4.3 At programme level, the department already has plans to undertake a national assessment of impact, tracking a set of metrics on employment, income and wellbeing in towns. This will be collected from inception to establish a baseline; and then annually to track progress. Towards the conclusion of the programme, the department will use quasi-experimental impact evaluation methodologies to establish a counter-factual and attribute impact to the Towns Fund. 4.4 At project level, the department is setting baselines and targets using standardised metrics and indicators. These will be tracked on a bi-annual basis. Using this data, the department will carry out a thematic level evaluation of outcomes under the three investment themes (regeneration, skills, enterprise and connectivity), drawing on a menu of standardised outcome indicators. This will involve selective sampling of interventions. 4.5 The department will publish its monitoring and evaluation strategy for the Towns Fund in Spring 2021. The department will use the annual update to keep the Committee informed of the success of the Fund with evidence from the monitoring and evaluation process.