Selecting towns for the Towns Fund

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 27 Jul 2020 Closed: 9 Nov 2020 Parliament page
On 27 July 2019, the government announced the £3.6 billion Towns Fund for England, to support towns that currently do not have the right conditions to develop and sustain strong local economies and recognising that many towns have not benefited from the growth experienced by cities over recent decades. Its … Read more
7 Recommendations
20 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
1 Event
Activity timeline 4 events
6 Jul
2021
Correspondence
4 Feb
2021
Report published
11 Nov
2020
Report published
21 Sep
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
21 Sep 2020
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Selecting towns for the towns fund
Emran Mian · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Jeremy Pocklington · Ministry of Defence Stephen Jones · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns for the Towns Fund HC 651 11 Nov 2020 27 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
10 Conclusion Not Addressed
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting t…
We heard from the Department that its officials had assessed each town against three qualitative...
We heard from the Department that its officials had assessed each town against three qualitative criteria using the knowledge of its area-based teams, rather than consulting directly with local stakeholders. The Department argued that it gave more weight to the … Read more
Government Response
The government's response details ongoing engagement with local representatives and requirements for Town Deal Boards to involve local stakeholders, but it does not address the committee's observation regarding the lack of direct consultation or ministerial rejection of advice during the initial town selection process.
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion Not Addressed
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting t…
We queried why the Department had required a new tier of governance—Town Deal Boards—to be...
We queried why the Department had required a new tier of governance—Town Deal Boards—to be set up, rather than use existing governance structures to plan and implement the Towns Fund at the local level. The Department explained that existing structures, … Read more
Government Response
The government's response details its expectations for Town Deal Boards and their engagement but does not directly address the committee's query about the rationale for creating a new tier of governance instead of utilising existing local structures.
HM Treasury
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18 Conclusion Not Addressed
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting t…
The Department told us that it is working at pace to agree the funding that...
The Department told us that it is working at pace to agree the funding that will be available for the 13 towns in the first cohort and would like to be able to make decisions in October. But the Department … Read more
Government Response
The government's response, which incorrectly categorises the conclusion as a recommendation, details accelerated funding provided to towns due to COVID-19 but does not address the committee's observation regarding potential delays in agreeing funding and issuing final project approvals.
HM Treasury
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19 Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting t…
The Department has developed a funding profile for the Towns Fund over the next four...
The Department has developed a funding profile for the Towns Fund over the next four financial years but does not know yet whether it aligns with towns’ individual investment plans. The Department explained that it wants the profile of funding … Read more
HM Treasury
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21 Conclusion Not Addressed
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting t…
The Department confirmed that, despite the impact of Covid-19 on government spending plans, the £3.6...
The Department confirmed that, despite the impact of Covid-19 on government spending plans, the £3.6 billion funding allocated to the Towns Fund is secure. It told us that it had no plans to do anything other than continue with the … Read more
Government Response
The government's response, again incorrectly categorising the conclusion as a recommendation, details accelerated funding provided to towns due to COVID-19 but does not explicitly re-confirm the security of the £3.6 billion Towns Fund as stated in the committee's observation.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 26 of 7 classified
Accepted 13
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 6
Deferred 1
Not Addressed 4
Rejected 1
Total 7 recs + 20 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
6 Jul 2021 Correspondence from Jeremy Pocklington CB, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, re Annual Towns Fund Report, dated 30 June 2021
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