“The Government is unable to provide any compelling examples of what Levelling Up funding has delivered so far”. So says the UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC). It goes on that “councils have been able to spend just a fraction of the Government’s promised Levelling Up funding, with only just over 10% of the funds provided to reduce inequality under the Levelling Up agenda actually spent and making a difference on the ground.

“The PAC’s inquiry also found a worrying lack of transparency in DLUHC’s approach to awarding funds, with rules for accessing funding changing while bids were still being assessed, which was also not communicated in advance to councils. 55 local authorities therefore bid under changed rules with no chance of being successful in Round 2, with an average bid for grants like Levelling Up costing around £30k. This approach wasted scarce public resources, and the report calls on DLUHC to set out the principles it will apply and the decision-making process for awarding future Levelling Up funds.”

Apply the above to Goole. The public were not consulted about what thgeir priorities are for spending the £25 million. The public had no say about who was appointed to the Town Deal Board, the board was appointed by East Riding Council closely following instructions from the Govt. Money has been spent on the slick PR job that is the Town Deal Board website. A PR consultant has been hired to tell the rate and taxpayers what to think. Consultants have been paid to draw up plans which in some cases have prompted sharp criticism and even derision from the public. Anyone who doesn’t agree with plans is sidelined, shut out and/or rubbished.

“A worrying lack of transparency”. That equally applies to East Riding Council, Goole Town Council and the Town Deal Board, and not just on Town Deal matters. There is very little to show in benefits to the general public four years into the Town Deal programme.

You can see read about the Public Accounts Committee’s findings here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/127/public-accounts-committee/news/200377/levelling-up-no-compelling-examples-of-delivery-so-far-as-delays-hold-back-spending/#:~:text=In%20a%20report%20published%20today,making%20a%20difference%20on%20the

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