Local Growth Funding Allocation 2024-12-02
2024-12-02
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP is concerned with how local growth funds are allocated and the impact on communities like Rhyl and Colwyn Bay.
What steps her Department is taking to allocate local growth funding according to need. Seaside towns such as Rhyl and Colwyn Bay in my constituency have much in common with our north-west neighbours. The 2019 “Future of Seaside Towns” report highlights the need to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach, while recognising common issues.
We are intent on moving towards allocated, multi-year funding settlements targeted at need. What follows will be much better. That is another important argument for why we need longer-term, allocative settlements.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific details about how seaside towns will benefit from national funding streams while ensuring local delivery.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP is concerned about the wasteful nature of previous government's approach to allocating local growth funds, highlighting North Warwickshire as an example.
I am very pleased to hear the Minister's reply. The last Government wasted local authorities' time and money by making them bid for handouts from central Government. In North Warwickshire, so much time was spent preparing numerous bids for the new swimming pool and leisure centre that our community desperately needed, only for vital funds to go to places without such high levels of need.
My hon. Friend makes an important point about the harm done by that “beauty parade” funding model, which was inefficient and created so much disappointment.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific details on how local authorities will receive fair funding under this government.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of one-size-fits-all approaches on seaside towns and their specific needs.
Seaside towns such as Rhyl and Colwyn Bay in my constituency have much in common with our north-west neighbours. The 19 Future of Seaside Towns report highlights the need to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach, while recognising common issues. How do the Government plan to use national funding streams while ensuring local delivery to deliver long-term growth in our seaside towns?
That is another important argument for why we need longer-term, allocative settlements. It is my hon. Friend, her local authority, her local residents and her community who know Rhyl. They are the experts, and they should have the flexibility to break the one-size-fits-all model to make things work for themselves.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific details on how national funding streams will be used while ensuring local delivery in seaside towns.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP declares an interest as a Stratford-on-Avon district councillor and is concerned about the allocation of funds in two-tier local government areas.
I declare an interest as a Stratford-on-Avon district councillor. Does the Minister agree that, in two-tier local government areas, district and borough councils are best placed as the most local form of government to allocate funds from the UK shared prosperity fund, given their proximity to communities and their deep understanding of local needs?
The hon. Lady tempts me to discuss the shared prosperity funding, which communities will receive shortly. I have to say that my enthusiasm is for all tiers of government in local areas—whether that is metro mayors, upper-tier authorities, boroughs and districts or indeed parish and town councils—to come together in shared interest to improve their communities.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific agreement on whether district and borough councils are best placed to allocate funds from the UK shared prosperity fund.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP is concerned about the distribution of shared prosperity funding and its impact on coastal issues in Northern Ireland.
I thank the Minister for his answers; it is always good to hear some positivity. We in Northern Ireland are still waiting on shared prosperity funding. There would be some benefits for my constituency; Strangford has coastal issues such as seaside improvement and coastal erosion. Has the Minister had an opportunity to talk to the relevant department in Northern Ireland to see how central Government could help us back home?
I am always careful not to disappoint the hon. Gentleman, given that at the High Street Heroes awards for Retail NI last year, I awarded the winning high street to Ballymena rather than Newtownards, and I am not sure he is ever going to forgive me. I assure him that I am having conversations with ministerial counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive. We are also talking to local authorities and some of the groups that have been delivering projects, such as Go Succeed. Those conversations are ongoing as we speak, and the full answer about the allocations will be coming shortly.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific details on current conversations with relevant departments in Northern Ireland regarding shared prosperity funding.
Response accuracy