Ramsgate has been awarded £20m in government funding – in addition to the £19.8m Levelling Up funding – as part of the long-term plan for towns programme.
The funding was allocated as part of the government’s Spring budget but came as a surprise to Thanet council, leader Cllr Rick Everitt said, as it “landed unexpectedly, with little or no explanation and even without any of the publicity fanfare you might expect.”
The funding, which local authorities do not bid for, was initially announced last September when 55 towns were awarded £20m each.
The government said: “We’re putting towns back into the hands of local people, so that they can decide on local priorities and what’s best for the long-term future of the places where they live.
“Each town will have a new Town Board made up of local community leaders and employers, who will draw up their town’s Long-Term Plan for the next 10 years. This work will be backed by up to £20 million of “endowment-style” funding and support to invest over the next decade.”
An additional 20 towns, including Ramsgate, were announced as recipients earlier this month. Towns were chosen based on data around population, healthy life expectancy and earnings.
Cllr Everitt said: “We were very surprised to discover Ramsgate had been awarded and additional £20m as [part of an extension to the long-tern plan for towns originally announced in September last year.”
He said it was “very welcome news” but indicative of the government’s “haphazard approach to major funding” that there had been no prior notice or explanation.
Town Board
The government says Town Boards will be the decision-making bodies, and will be run by local people: bringing together residents, business and community leaders to devise and agree a shared vision.
Suggested town board members include an MP, councillors, police, community groups, faith groups, youth groups, charities, neighbourhood forums, local businesses, cultural/art/heritage and sporting organisations, representatives from schools and colleges and integrated care boards.
Thanet council will be the accountable body for the fund. The aim is to focus on safety and security; high streets, heritage and regeneration and transport and connectivity.
Cllr Everitt said it is not yet clear whether the Thanet Partnership Board set up to oversee the district’s Future High Street Fund, Town Deal and Levelling Up Fund programmes will also oversee the new funding programme.
He added: “We do know now is that we have to submit a plan by November 1 but there are still plenty of questions about this money to which we do not have answers.
“We are fortunate, however, that in the work started under the Labour administration in 2021 to engage with the community in Ramsgate and explore the opportunities for the town, that is well advanced and continuing, particularly through the development of Ramsgate place plan.
“I can also say we have a great team of officers working on Ramsgate regeneration who I know, like me, are excited by the further opportunities this money represents.”
A Thanet council spokesperson said: “We are pleased to note that Ramsgate has been included in the latest national government budget announcements and is set to receive funding and support worth up to £20 million. This forms part of the government’s Long-Term Plans for Towns programme.
“The exact details of when the funding will be received and updated guidance on the development of a vision for the programme and a plan for delivery are expected in the coming weeks.
“We look forward to hearing from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and sharing next steps with local people.”
Thanet is now required to put together a 10 year plan with detail on investment and interventions focused on the first 3 years. The grant will be paid over the next 3 years to fund the Town Board’s 3-year investment plan.
The current Thanet Partnership Board overseeing the £51m programme for Levelling Up funding, Margate Town Deal and Future High Street funding comprises of:
- Brian Horton – Director, Horton Strategic and Chair of the Thanet Regeneration Partnership Board
- Chris Butler – Managing Director, Thanet Earth
- Zoë Carassik – Chief Executive Officer, Pie Factory Music
- Colin Carmichael – Chief Executive, Thanet District Council
- Cllr Ruth Duckworth – Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property, Thanet District Council
- Cllr Rick Everitt – Leader of the Council, Thanet District Council
- Sir Roger Gale – Member of Parliament for Thanet North
- Lesley Game – Thanet County Councillor, Kent County Council
- Cllr David Green – Ramsgate Town Councillor, Ramsgate Town Council
- Craig Mackinlay – Member of Parliament for Thanet South
- Frank Martin – Director, Locomotive Storage Limited
- Bob Porter – Director of Place, Thanet District Council
- Rebecca Smith – Chief Executive Officer, Social Enterprise Kent CIC
- Cllr Rob Yates – Mayor of Margate, Margate Charter Trustees
