Decision details

To authorise the release of £20,000 of Pride in Place programme funding to Wisbech Town Council, comprising:

·         £10,000 to enhance the Wisbech Rose Fair to deliver structured Pride in Place public consultation activity; and

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·         £10,000 to enhance the Wisbech Rock Festival to deliver structured Pride in Place public consultation activity

To authorise the decision taken by the Town Board on how capacity funding should be spent.

The Pride in Place programme requires meaningful, ongoing engagement with residents, businesses and stakeholders to inform the work of the Town Board and shape development of the Wisbech Regeneration Plan.

The Wisbech Rose Fair and the Wisbech Rock Festival are the town’s two largest public events and together provide unparalleled reach to a broad and representative cross?section of the community.

Enhancing these events with consultation?focused features — including dedicated engagement areas, staffed consultation points, interactive engagement activities and promotional material — enables the Town Board to gather high?quality, in?person insight efficiently and inclusively.

Delivering consultation through established events provides significantly greater value for money than standalone engagement exercises, avoids duplication, and responds directly to feedback from CLG that more creative, open and visible consultation activity is required to support progression towards the £20m regeneration funding allocation.

The Pride in Place Town Board has formally considered and approved both event enhancement proposals, and Fenland District Council is acting solely in its role as Accountable Body in releasing the agreed funding.

In its role as Accountable Body, FDC will be releasing Pride in Place funds, allocated to the Town Board.

·         Standalone consultation events – Rejected due to higher cost, lower attendance and duplication of existing activity.

·         Digital?only consultation – Rejected as insufficient to provide inclusive, representative engagement and risks excluding residents with limited digital access.

·         Do nothing – Rejected as it would not meet CLG expectations for meaningful engagement and could compromise access to future regeneration funding.