Pride in Place is a newly announced initiative from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, set up to empower local communities, particularly in deprived areas, to take control of regeneration, high streets, public spaces and community assets. Two places have been selected in Plymouth – Devonport, Mount Wise and Morice Town and St Budeaux. Both places will receive up to £20 million, comprising both capital and revenue funding.

This decision will delegate authority for Plymouth City Council’s representation in all Pride in Place matters, enabling the Strategic Director of Growth to sign key documents and endorse governance arrangements, and Regeneration plans.

Decision

1.     Agreed that Plymouth City Council will act as the Accountable Body for the Pride in Place Programme and all of its requirements;

2.     Delegated authority to the Service Director Team Plymouth to sign all associated contracts, funding agreements, where necessary in consultation with relevant officers, including the s151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, and approve Pride in Place claims;

3.     Agreed to accept and ringfence the capacity funding for Pride in Place and provides delegation to the Service Director Team Plymouth to use the capacity funding in line with government guidance and eligible activities;

4.     Delegated authority to the Strategic Director for Growth, in consultation with the Leader, to undertake the necessary recruitment processes for the selection of the Independent Chair and members of the Neighbourhood Board, working in close collaboration with the MP for the area;

5.     Agreed that the Service Director Team Plymouth shall act as Plymouth City Council’s representative for all matters relating to the Pride in Place Programme;

6.     Delegated authority to the Service Director Team Plymouth, to act as the Council’s representative, completing any associated documentation required as part of the Council’s participation in Pride in Place, including funding MoU to draw down funding from MHCLG.   Any  Civic,  Pride in Place Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed by the Leader;

7.     Delegated authority to the Service Director Team Plymouth, working in consultation with the MP and the Chair of the Neighbourhood Board to:

a)     Finalise the boundaries and governance arrangements for the Plymouth Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board;

b)    Ensure appropriate local oversight, community involvement and decision-making structures are established in line with Pride in Place requirements;

8.     Delegated authority to the newly appointed Board, once constituted, in consultation with the Service Director Team Plymouth, to develop the Pride in Place Regeneration Plan on behalf of Plymouth City Council, to include public consultation and to submit to Government in line with the Pride in Place guidance;

9.     Delegated authority to the Service Director Team Plymouth, in consultation relevant officers, including the S151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to review and formally accept the Pride in Place full funding allocation and any associated grant conditions;

10.  Delegated authority to the Service Director Team Plymouth to distribute the funding in line with the programme requirements.

Reason

The Pride in Place programme represents an investment of £19.6m in St Budeaux and £19.6m in Devonport, Morice Town and Mount Wise over the next ten years, supporting neighbourhood-led regeneration and delivery of local priorities. To ensure timely and compliant mobilisation of the Pride in Place Programme. Delegating authority to the Service Director Team Plymouth enables Plymouth City Council to meet the demanding programme timetable set by Government, including tight deadlines linked to Board establishment, boundary confirmation and Regeneration Plan development. Government Guidance states that the Local Authority must act as the Accountable Body for the Pride in Place Funding at the start of the programme, with responsibility for ensuring that public funds are distributed fairly and effectively. Therefore, Plymouth City Council must ensure there are appropriate governance structures and controls in place to fulfil this role.

Alternative options considered and rejected

1.     Do nothing: This option would mean the Council does not proceed with the Pride in Place programme. As a result, Devonport, Morice Town and Mount Wise and St. Budeaux would lose access to approximately £40 million of government investment, significantly undermining community empowerment and regeneration opportunities. This option was rejected because it would materially disadvantage the neighbourhoods.

2.     Do not delegate authority: key operational and financial decisions would require repeated Executive or Cabinet approvals. Given the scale and pace required for Pride in Place delivery this approach is unworkable in practice. It would create unnecessary bottlenecks, slow down implementation, risk missing government deadlines, and compromise the Council’s role as Accountable Body. This option was therefore rejected.

3.     Passporting funding to an external organisation: This option would involve transferring responsibility for managing and delivering the programme to another organisation. It was rejected because the Pride in Place model requires the Council to fulfil Accountable Body duties, including due diligence, monitoring, assurance and financial oversight. These responsibilities cannot be delegated to an external body under the Pride in Place requirements. For these reasons, the preferred options are the recommendations that this report in seeking in the above section.