Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Leader needed to help spend £20m
THE search is on to find a figurehead for a new Arbroath town board which will decide how to spend £20 million of Levelling Up cash.
Arbroath was the only Angus burgh included in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Uk-wide £200 million Long Term Plan for Towns fund announcement in the Budget.
The windfall has been described as a “once-in-a-generation” chance to think big and outside the box.
A total of 75% of the fund will be used to deliver capital projects and the key driver is that spending decisions will be controlled by a board. It will be made up of community leaders and employers, so the quest is starting to find a community champion to head the brand new body.
Elected figures such as MPS, MSPS, councillors or community councillors can sit on the board, but they are barred from taking the chairperson role.
Angus Council will be the administrator of the fund.
It says that given the importance of their role, the chairperson should be someone who already holds a prominent role, such as a member of a local charitable organisation or a local philanthropist.
Other identifiable candidates could be the head of a college, a director for the NHS board or trust or a director of a local football club, while members of the board should also already be involved in local groups and organisations.
They could come from community partners or be involved with the running of local businesses and social enterprises.
Board candidates could also be members of public sector agencies or be locally elected – including councillors.
Angus Council will be hosting events to share details of the fund and explain what the roles entail.
One event will be at the Webster Theatre on Wednesday May 8, with two sessions – 4.30-5.30pm and 6.30-7.30pm.
There will also be an online Teams call on Monday May 13 from noon-1pm. Email arbroathltpt@ angus.gov.uk to be sent a link
Angus Council communities convener Mark Mcdonald said it is an opportunity to be part of something big.
“This is an exciting project which will help Arbroath secure its future as a vibrant, sustainable town,” he said. “This kind of funding is transformational.”