£20 million investment for Wisbech is a real opportunity
"Twenty million pounds under local control to achieve many of the things that I'm sure local residents in Wisbech want to see achieved."
Those were the words of Fenland District Council's leader Cllr Chris Boden as he introduced an item about Long-Term Plan for Towns funding from the Government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), to Monday's (May 20) meeting of the council's cabinet.
Cllr Boden said: "It's a real opportunity."
He added: "It's so important that we have local members in place, local residents in place, local business people in place, who are able closely and carefully to monitor that 20 million pounds to make sure that as much as possible of the whole sum ends up going into actual projects which will benefit the town and which will benefit the people of the town."
Wisbech Town Board to generate spending plans
The Government requires a 'Town Board' be established to generate plans for how the money should be invested, a report to the meeting said.
The Town Board must be comprised of elected members, community leaders, business representatives, the Police and Crime Commissioner or their representative and the local MP. The Town Board must also consult with local people on the plans.
Fenland District Council has been invited to act as the accountable body for the funding.
On Monday, Fenland's Cabinet agreed to delegate powers to its officers to accept the initial funding.
It also appointed Iain Kirkbright as Chair of the Wisbech Town Board.
And approved draft 'Terms of Reference' and 'Code of Conduct' for the Town Board, to be adopted by the Town Board at an inaugural meeting. As well as noting the proposed Independent Chair's suggested appointments to the board.
Next steps
The Town Board must submit a 10-year vision and three-year investment plan for the funding by November 1.
A report to the meeting said projects in the 10-year Vision should be focused around themes of:
- High Streets, Heritage & Regeneration
- Transport & Connectivity
- Public Safety & Security
The money will be allocated in roughly equal amounts across the ten years to 2034.
- View Monday, May 20's, Cabinet meeting at: Cabinet meeting May 2024 You Tube
- See the full reports submitted to Cabinet at: Committee Meetings, Agenda and Minutes
- More information on Wisbech Long-Term Plan for Towns initiative will be available soon on the Fenland District Council website.
Keep up-to-date with Fenland District Council via Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and our newsletter The Fenlander Newsletter.
May 2024
Share this page
