Government confirms cash for experts will come out of Spalding’s £20 million ‘left behind towns’ money

Government officials have confirmed that funding for ‘specialist experts’ would come out of the £20million pot which is earmarked to improve a town centre.

The Ministry of Local Government has finally released limited guidance on its Neighbourhood Plan - the revamped Long Term Plan for ‘left behind towns’ - to outline how Spalding Town Board can invest the cash.

The board has been waiting for the Government to issue guidance since the plan was confirmed in October’s budget - and it has recently stated they will be working with specialist experts to put together a robust plan.

This website approached the Ministry of Local Government to find out if there would be extra financial support to cover the use of experts - something we understand that the Government had asked for. We were eventually told that it will be coming out of the main pot of money.

Many people in the town have issued frustrations that the money is taking too long to come through and fears that it will be siphoned off to pay for consultants rather actually be used to benefit for the town.

We had put these concerns to the ministry. This is the response we received: “We have committed funding now and that will come to effect from next year to allow all areas to plan ahead.”

The prospectus - which the spokesman said would contain ‘a lot more information’ - states ‘content, form and submission timetable for Regeneration Plans will be set out in forthcoming guidance.’

But it does add that boards will need to provide a detailed investment plan for the first four year investment period.

It states: “The plan should outline the community’s overarching vision for change over the next decade to deliver the strategic objectives of the programme, developed through grassroots engagement to reflect local people’s priorities.

“We know places have worked hard to engage their communities and develop their ‘Long-Term Plan’ for the previous administration’s Long-Term Plan for Towns. That progress is not for nothing and should not be undone, nor should places undo their governance arrangements.

“Communities should feel empowered to build and adapt their existing plans - our reforms seek to build on and improve the previous programme with a new set of strategic objectives that are aligned to this government’s plan to kickstart growth, to be delivered by a broader range of policy interventions. We believe this will give communities greater flexibility as to how and what they can deliver, without ripping up what has already been done.

“Neighbourhood Boards will want the opportunity to iterate their proposals in response to community feedback, and establishing good governance and trust within the community takes time to build. Rebuilding capability and confidence within communities that decades of inequality, austerity and deprivation have eroded will not happen overnight.”

A separate document outlines that there are a number of ‘pre-approved interventions’ which includes regenerating a high street; new community and neighbourhood infrastructure projects; along with ‘developing, restoring or refurbishing local natural, cultural and heritage assets and sites’.