Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: For Determination

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: November 18, 2025

Purpose: Cabinet is asked to agree to the receipt of £1.5m awarded from the central government’s Pride in Place (PiP) Impact Fund. This funding must be committed by March 2027 and used for capital projects that enhance public spaces, community facilities, and town centres. This paper sets out the proposals on how to allocate the funding for maximum community impact and to ensure funding is committed within the given timelines.

Content: For the reasons set out in this report and its appendices, Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree to:   i)  Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (Appendix 1) with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and receive £1.5m capital funding via the Pride in Place Impact Fund programme. ii)  Allocate funding to the LBN Pride in Place Programme to be spent flexibly on existing place visions across the three parliamentary constituencies (see section 4). iii)  Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Inclusive Economy, Housing and Culture, in consultation with the Lead Member for Inclusive Economy, Strategic Housing Delivery, Culture and Youth Power, to agree the allocation of funding across projects within the programme and to amend allocations as delivery plans evolve.   Alternatives considered   a)  LBN could choose not to take the money, but this option would not appear to have any discernible benefit to LBN. The Council could also proceed without the consultancy works outlined in this paper, but this is not advisable as consultancy will be required to meet the conditions of the grant funding. b)  There are other projects that would benefit from the use of PiP funding, however, in consultation with the Lead Member for Inclusive Economy, Strategic Housing Delivery and Culture, officers have reviewed options across the borough and consider the work programmes outlined in this report to be the most effective use of the funding based on timelines, deliverability, matching funding potential and community impact.