19
Accepted in Part
For each competitive fund available for high streets, the Government should publish the full list...
Recommendation
For each competitive fund available for high streets, the Government should publish the full list of local authorities whose bids were unsuccessful in each round. For future rounds of bidding for these funds, the Government should consider requiring local authorities to state how much it cost them to put the bid together—whether using their own resources or capacity funding provided by the Government—and publish these amounts, to provide greater transparency about value for money. The Government should undertake a cost-benefit analysis of the bidding process to identify which local authorities do not have the resources to draft bids. This analysis should show the geographical applications and success of bids.
Government Response Summary
The government already publishes details of successful bids and requires Levelling Up Fund applicants to provide bid development costs, partially addressing the recommendation. They did not commit to publishing unsuccessful bids or undertaking a broad cost-benefit analysis of the bidding process.
Paragraph Reference
96
Government Response
Accepted in Part
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government is committed to a transparent, simple and accountable approach to local growth funding. We publish information relating to the process for awarding and monitoring competitive funds. This includes details of successful bids (project descriptions, local authority recipient, and amount awarded). This information is published and available on gov.uk. We are committed to making sure that competitive funds deliver value for money. For all funds, applicants must set out how their proposals will achieve value for money as part of their business case. For the Levelling Up Fund, applicants are required to provide a breakdown of costs of bid development. The Government also recently published the Monitoring and Evaluation Strategies for the Towns Fund and Community Renewal Fund, which set out how funding will be monitored and evaluated to demonstrate value for money and the impact achieved. We are working closely with all Local Authorities to ensure that this is feasible.
Source
Report
Sixth Report - Supporting our high streets after COVID-19
10 Dec 2021
HC 37
Addressee Bodies
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Timeline
Recommendation age
4.6 yrs
Report published
10 Dec 2021