Parish and town council leaders have called for local councils to have access to the same funding initiatives that support place-based working as principal authorities.
In its response to the Business in the Community Place Taskforce’s call for evidence on the role of business in place-based regeneration, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has called for local councils to have access to funding initiatives such as the Towns Fund, Levelling-Up Fund and Community Renewal Fund.
NALC also called for businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s), and social enterprises to engage with the community and for the development of frameworks to improve collaborative working.
Asked by the taskforce whether existing policies and funds are effective at encouraging business engagement in place-based working, the NALC responded: ‘They can be if the process is guided and led by skilled practitioners and aimed at the right targets.
‘However, we are aware of frustrations from local businesses because such policies and funding cannot be accessed directly. Nor can it be accessed by local councils. As the first tier of local government, local councils should be able to access funding for the same initiatives that principal authorities can.’
