The 1st October saw the latest Government intervention aimed at supporting and developing towns with 55 places benefitting from a £20m, 10 year endowment to deliver local priorities. It requires a local Town Board made up of representatives of the place and the focus is required to be on areas such as safety and security, high streets, heritage, regeneration and transport and connectivity.
A few thoughts:
- it’s very positive that this is place and people led and not competitive!
- the commentary about harnessing the knowledge, powers and assets of partners is bang on but I would go further, places simply don’t make the best use of stakeholders’ insight, energy, contacts, ideas so lock that in too
- developing a 10 year plan via local engagement is great but start with a place story or narrative that sets out what stakeholders want the place to be, that should drive activity, otherwise the risk is pet or rehashed projects
- 25% revenue funding is welcome as often places need independent advice and support to develop a narrative, plan and the appropriate mechanisms to oversee this
- it’s important that places view this as a long term, strategic way of a place ‘doing things differently’ not just a funding pot response
- some of the narrative surrounding this which almost pits towns against cities is unhelpful, they’re all important and have a role
- equally, some of the comments that this is happening because of failing local authorities is an unfair, unhelpful and simplistic generalisation
- it’s critical that this opportunity is used to help a town plot it’s evolution and reinvention to test new thinking such as use of space between buildings, facilitating community activity and coming together and much more; ‘doing things differently’
- whilst having a Town Board is welcome in creating a place not organisation environment, there is still a risk of ending up with the usual suspects. Well thought out engagement can bring forward fresh voices
- it can’t be forgotten that proper, long term funding of local authorities would negate the need for this although following the approach of place and people led should still be the advocated and perhaps legislated best practice
Overall, a positive move and better than many previous initiatives. However, there are ways the places selected could really max the benefit of this by ensuring this approach can be sustained and is strategic by flowing from a shared view of the place people want to see develop.
If you want to discuss this in more detail, please email john.till@thinkingplace.co.uk to arrange a no obligation conversation.
