Funding for Levelling Up
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Closed
Inquiry
This inquiry will look at the funds available for levelling-up and how effectively resources are directed to those areas most in need. The Committee’s inquiry will examine questions around the allocation of levelling-up resources and the aim, size and focus of the many different funds available. The inquiry will also …
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14
Recommendations
20
Conclusions
1
Report
5
Oral sessions
32
Letters
5
Events
Activity timeline 44 events
8 Nov
2023
2023
26 Oct
2023
2023
21 Sep
2023
2023
11 Jul
2023
2023
26 May
2023
2023
Report published
27 Apr
2023
2023
25 Apr
2023
2023
29 Mar
2023
2023
14 Mar
2023
2023
14 Mar
2023
2023
21 Feb
2023
2023
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
23 Jan 2023
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Dehenna Davison · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Jessica Blakely · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
12 Dec 2022
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Andy Burnham · Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Andy Street · Mayor of the West Midlands
Dominic McCullough · Northern Ireland Department of Finance
Laura McDonald · Northern Ireland Department of Finance
Maeve Hamilton · Northern Ireland Department for the Economy
Tony Simpson · Northern Ireland Department of Finance
Tracy Brabin MP · Mayor of West Yorkshire
Vaughan Gething MS · Welsh Government
28 Nov 2022
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Councillor Kevin Bentley · Local Government Association
Geoff Raw · Brighton and Hove City Council
Georgina Blakemore · Epping Forest District Council
John Swinney MSP · Scottish Government
Matt O'Neill · Barnsley Council
14 Nov 2022
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Adam Hawksbee · Onward
James Morrison · Robert Gordon University
Paul Swinney · Centre for Cities
Professor Steve Fothergill · Sheffield Hallam University
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth Report - Funding for Levelling Up | HC 744 | 26 May 2023 | 34 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
9
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
Publish guidance on providing timely, detailed, and consistent feedback for all funding bids.
We recommend that the DLUHC provides better guidance on how it will provide feedback on bids. The guidance must set out that feedback is timely, detailed, and consistent. This is especially important for levelling up funds as the quality of …
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Government Response
The government states it is reflecting on lessons learned from past Levelling Up Fund rounds regarding feedback and will apply these lessons to future feedback approaches, but does not commit to specific guidance changes or public feedback.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
10
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
Competitive bidding risks distorting local priorities to align with Whitehall's perceived preferences.
We acknowledge that in certain circumstances competitive bidding can also foster collaboration across local government. However, it can also encourage local authorities to develop plans or projects it perceives Whitehall will value to secure funding, rather than to deliver what …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the administrative burden of competitive bidding and confirms that a simplification plan will balance their approach, committing DLUHC to work with local authorities for fair and transparent distribution. They also highlight existing measures like capacity grants and support for joint bids, affirming that local priorities are tested in funding assessments.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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14
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
Local authorities incurred significant wasted resources on altered Investment Zone policy.
We heard that an Investment Zone expression of interest costs in the region of £50,000 for one application. Since the Government’s Growth Plan 2022, little to no updates have been provided on the future of Investment Zones until the Budget …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the work councils put into previous Investment Zone applications, stating this effort was not wasted but informed policy development for the refocused program. They explain the decision to limit the number of zones and eligible areas, noting other levelling up opportunities are available for non-Mayoral Combined Authorities and that the list of areas will be kept under review.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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15
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
Ensure Investment Zone policy stability to prevent wasted resources for local authorities.
The Investment Zone policy geared local government up to the prospect of additional funding before the goalposts were moved. Whilst we appreciate that policies sometimes necessarily evolve over time, every effort must be made to ensure that a similar situation …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the policy shift for Investment Zones was due to a new administration and states that, in the refocused policy, the department tried to minimise wasted effort for local authorities.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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24
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
Serious deficit in DLUHC's collaboration and communication with UKSPF recipients
We do not have sufficient data regarding how calculations have been made, the information we do have from central and the Devolved Governments are also not comparable in their current form. However, the number of stakeholders and local government bodies …
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Government Response
The government reiterates that its UKSPF funding methodology was published in 2022 and claims engagement with devolved administrations took place. It states it will seek to improve engagement and collaboration on any future funding, but maintains current funding is sufficient.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
33
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Sixth Report - Funding for Levelli…
Levelling Up unlikely to succeed without long-term strategy and substantive funding.
Based on the evidence we have received and given the historic frequent churn of local economic growth initiatives, it can be argued that levelling up is unlikely to be successful in achieving the objectives it seeks to address. The challenges …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the concern regarding previous short-term initiatives, asserting that Levelling Up is a long-term programme with 2030 missions and legislative backing to continue beyond. It also notes efforts through a simplification plan to streamline funding and reduce administrative burdens.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
Correspondence 32 letters
8 Nov 2023
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State concerning the Committee’s report into funding for levelling up, dated 13 October 2023
Parliament page
21 Sep 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State dated 19 September 2023 concerning the Government response to the Committee's report into Funding for Levelling Up
Parliament page
11 Jul 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 5 July 2023 concerning the funding landscape for local authorities
Parliament page
27 Apr 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 24 April 2023 concerning DLUHC capital delegation with the Treasury
Parliament page
25 Apr 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 21 April 2023 concerning the Northern Ireland UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan
Parliament page
29 Mar 2023
To committee
Letter from the Permanent Secretaries of the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Department for the Economy to the Chair dated 24 March 2023 concerning funding for levelling up in Northern Ireland
Parliament page
14 Mar 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Levelling Up dated 13 March concerning the Northern Ireland Investment Plan
Parliament page
14 Mar 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Levelling Up dated 13 March concerning capital spending
Parliament page
21 Feb 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 14 February 2023 following up her appearance before the Committee on 23 January
Parliament page
7 Feb 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Levelling Up dated 6 February 2023 concerning the logistics of Government levelling up policy
Parliament page
24 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the DLUHC Permanent Secretary to the Chair dated 23 January 2023 concerning Levelling Up Funding Round 2
Parliament page
24 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 19 January 2023 concerning the announcement of Levelling Up Funding Round 2
Parliament page
23 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 20 January 2023 concerning levelling up funding and the Spatial Data Unit
Parliament page
17 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Economy, Welsh Government, to the Chair dated 9 January 2023 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
10 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chairman of the Local Government Association People and Places Board to the Chair dated 19 December 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
10 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 20 December 2022 concerning the announcement of Round 2 of levelling up funding
Parliament page
10 Jan 2023
To committee
Letter from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, Scottish Government, to the Chair dated 13 December 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
13 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 8 December 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
13 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 12 December 2022 concerning the Community Ownership Fund
Parliament page
13 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 5 December 2022 concerning the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Parliament page
13 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the Chair dated 8 December 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
8 Dec 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Levelling Up dated 6 December 2022 concerning data on funding for levelling up
Parliament page
24 Nov 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Levelling Up to the Chair dated 9 November 2022 concerning levelling up funding programmes, with additional spreadsheets
Parliament page
22 Nov 2022
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair dated 17 November 2022 concerning Investment Zones
Parliament page
16 Nov 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Economy, Welsh Government, to the Chair dated 14 November 2022 concerning an invitation to give evidence for the inquiry into Funding for Levelling Up
Parliament page
1 Nov 2022
To committee
Letter from the Comptroller and Auditor General to the Chair dated 26 October 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
1 Nov 2022
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair dated 20 October 2022 concerning Investment Zones
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Chancellor of the Exchequer dated 18 October 2022 concerning EU structural funds
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up dated 12 October 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Comptroller and Auditor General dated 12 October 2022 concerning funding for levelling up
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State dated 12 October 2022 concerning Investment Zones
Parliament page
20 Oct 2022
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State to the Chair dated 23 September 2022 concerning Investment Zones
Parliament page