Issue - meetings

Agreed that Cabinet:

a)         note the report, including the announcement of the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme, and the award of up to £19.5m to Newark over a 10-year period, in accordance with paragraph 1.2 of the report, subject to the development of a Local Regeneration Plan, and subsequent Government approvals;

b)         approve the addition of a £200,000 revenue budget in 2025-26 funded by programme capacity grant, to be allocated by Newark Town Executive Board, in accordance with paragraph 1.10 of the report; and

c)          note that a future update report will be presented to Cabinet regarding local programme plans, prior to submission of the Regeneration Plan in 2025, in accordance with paragraph 1.11 of the report.

The Programmes Manager presented a report concerning the ‘Plan for Neighborhoods’ (PfN) scheme. The scheme followed the former Long-Term Plans for Towns (LTPT) initiative. Up to £19.5m over a 10-year period would be available to Newark through the scheme’. The new programme offered a revised fixed funding profile with core delivery funding set to commence in April 2026. Details of the new funding profile through the PfN were set out in Appendix A to the report. Given the interdependencies between the PfN scheme, Towns Deal and former LTPT, the Newark Town Executive Board would act as the ‘Neighbourhood Board’ for the purpose of the PfN scheme.

To facilitate the development of local plans, and support the costs associated with scheme delivery, £200,000 revenue capacity funding was announced for PfN in 2025/26, and a further £150,000 revenue capacity funding was expected to follow in 2026/27.  The first £200,000 was to be received by each Local Authority in the coming weeks. It remained the responsibility of the Neighbourhood Board to decide the most appropriate uses of future capacity funding, depending on local context and planning. Example uses included resourcing, capacity, marketing, business case development, communications, engagement and feasibility to support local strategy/project development. To facilitate flexible and responsive formation of plans, the revenue budget of £200,000 capacity funding was required to be established in 2025/26.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)        note the report, including the announcement of the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme, and the award of up to £19.5m to Newark over a 10-year period, in accordance with paragraph 1.2 of the report, subject to the development of a Local Regeneration Plan, and subsequent Government approvals;

b)        approve the addition of a £200,000 revenue budget in 2025-26 funded by programme capacity grant, to be allocated by Newark Town Executive Board, in accordance with paragraph 1.10 of the report; and

c)        note that a future update report will be presented to Cabinet regarding local programme plans, prior to submission of the Regeneration Plan in 2025, in accordance with paragraph 1.11 of the report.

Reasons for Decision:

The recommendations are provided on the basis of the next steps in the delivery of the Plan for Neighbourhoods Programme with Newark Town Board.  The opportunity provided through this programme will assist in achieving shared objectives over the next 10 years for Newark.

Options Considered:

There is an option to choose to inform Government that Newark does not wish to retain the offer of the Plan for Neighbourhoods Programme. This option has been discounted as the resource would achieve shared goals identified by the Community Plan and the Newark Town Board.