The All Together for Spennymoor board convened to discuss the Plan for Neighbourhoods (PfN) programme, review the previous meeting's minutes, and receive updates from the chair. A key focus was the content, submission, and discussion of the PfN 10-year vision.

Plan for Neighbourhoods (PfN) Programme Update

The board was scheduled to discuss a progress update on the All Together for Spennymoor neighbourhood board, in advance of the project submission to central government.

The update included a reminder that following a government announcement on 30 October 2024, the Long-Term Plan for Towns (LTPT) would continue, rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods (PfN). The report pack included an outline of the principles and objectives of the PfN programme, which emphasises:

• Inclusive, community-led regeneration
• The importance of local leadership
• A focus on long-term, place-based investment to address local priorities

The report pack also noted that updated guidance had been received on governance, boundaries, and submission requirements, providing clarity on the roles and responsibilities of Neighbourhood Boards, and setting out the process for defining place boundaries.

The board was reminded that a Regeneration Plan must be submitted to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) by 28 November 2025 for assessment and approval, which is required to unlock funding for the delivery phase, commencing in April 2026.

To access funding, each town must develop and submit a Long-Term Investment Plan, articulating a 10-year vision for neighbourhood improvement, supported by a detailed 4-year investment plan.

The report pack outlined the changes and additions from the Long-Term Plan for Towns prospectus, including:

• An expansion in scope and funding, from 55 towns in the Long-Term Plan for Towns to 75 areas in the PfN.
• A shift in goals and focus, from regenerating local high streets and addressing crime and anti-social behaviour in the Long-Term Plan for Towns, to creating thriving places, building stronger communities, and empowering local areas to take back control in the PfN.
• A stronger emphasis on grassroots solutions and local empowerment in the PfN.
• An expansion of the interventions previously available for funding, to give flexibility to boards as to how and what they can deliver. The new interventions are:
  • Regeneration, high streets and heritage
  • Transport
  • Safety and Security
  • Housing
  • Work, productivity and skills
  • Cohesion
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Education and opportunity

The report pack stated that technical officer and working group meetings continue to be held in accordance with the updated government guidance for the Plan for Neighbourhoods (PfN). Key working groups have been assigned responsibility for delivering cost assessments and identifying priority areas, to support evidence-based project prioritisation. Additional groups will be established to oversee and implement new interventions, and a strategic partnership is being developed with the youth council to strengthen youth participation and representation within the PfN programme.

The report pack stated that revised government guidance has been published, confirming updated timelines and establishing a new set of strategic objectives for the programme, aligned with the latest Government priorities. The deadline for compliance has been set for 28 November 2025.

The board was scheduled to discuss the next steps and way forward, including a detailed implementation timeline:

• Spring 2025 to 28 November 2025: Neighbourhood Boards submit their Regeneration Plan to MHCLG for assessment and approval
• From April 2026:
  • First programme delivery funding payment to be made to lead local authorities, commencement of delivery phase
  • MHCLG issues 2026 to 2027 capacity funding payment to all places

The report pack included a forward plan of meetings:

The report pack stated that face-to-face public engagement events will be held regularly at a variety of community centres and local events throughout the neighbourhoods. In 2025, these events will focus on introducing the objectives of the new neighbourhood plan, gathering feedback from residents, and fostering ongoing dialogue between community and PfN board.

The report pack stated that the effective management of funding throughout the collaborative efforts of the Neighbourhood Board, local authority and the wider community is crucial for the successful implementation of the Regeneration Plan.

The board was scheduled to consider two recommendations:

• To approve the presented 10-year vision plan, ahead of the deadline of Friday 28th November to enable formal submission.
• For board members to approve the extended version of the 4-year investment plan which has previously been agreed by board members.

Matters Arising

The board was scheduled to discuss matters arising and actions from the previous meeting, including stakeholder mapping raised by the chair.

The minutes from the previous meeting on 15 August 2025 ¹ included a discussion of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Spennymoor, with an update from Inspector Rachel Hills and Sergeant Matthew Fussey from Durham Constabulary's Neighbourhood Team. Inspector Rachel Hills reported that they had experienced an increase in ASB incidents reported in May 2025, and that in response, an outdoor PACT meeting had been held to gauge public feeling and understand the reasons behind the sudden increase.

The minutes stated that there had been a rise in ASB within Jubilee Park. A crime prevention survey had been conducted at the park, and a report had been produced for Councillors outlining suggested improvements aimed at reducing ASB and enhancing safety for all park users. Discussions had also been held with Spennymoor Town Council to establish a Police base within Jubilee Park.

The minutes noted that ten youths had been identified as being responsible for approximately 90% of ASB incidents in the town, and were being monitored by both Durham County Council's ASB Team and the Police.

The minutes also noted that there had been an increase in damage to local businesses, and that these incidents had been resolved through community resolution, with agreements made between parents and affected businesses to compensate for the damages.

The minutes stated that funding from the Home Office had enabled an increase in high-visibility patrols, particularly in the high street and Jubilee Park, where most incidents had occurred, and that the funding to support patrols had been extended until March 2026.

J Allen, Police and Crime Commissioner, commented that football was a positive initiative which had proven successful in the past, offering young people a pathway into amateur football. She suggested that the Working Group explore social prescribing as a means of addressing these issues, and emphasised the importance of promoting free-entry activities wherever possible, citing benefits for mental health, obesity, crime reduction, and ASB.

The minutes also noted that Councillor Liz Maddison commented on several hotspot areas near garages where a suitable mobile CCTV system would make a significant difference, and that she highlighted that some businesses in the town centre experienced poor Wi-Fi connectivity and suggested that a mapping exercise be conducted to address issues.

The minutes recorded that Barbara Graham advised that outreach funding had ended and securing continued outreach funding was a priority, with a lottery funding bid underway.

Chair's Update

The board was scheduled to receive an update from the chair on the following:

• Banks Group were exploring development opportunities in the York Hill Road area and sought advice regarding aligning with community interests, including widening York Hill Road.
• The chair attended a Westminster event featuring Alex Norris MP ² and Deputy PM Angela Rayner ³. Key topics included building infrastructure, community inclusion, progressive engagement and flexibility in the investment plan due by 20 November.