Accrington: The Next Chapter

Value for Money The programme must achieve value for money - the optimal use of resources to achieve intended outcomes.

The Board and the Council will embed value for money considerations in all investment decisions through:

- Competitive procurement processes in accordance with procurement rules and Public Contracts Regulations - Cost-benefit analysis for major investments - Assessment and documentation of options and alternatives - Monitoring of delivery costs against benchmarks and industry standards - Evaluation of outcomes achieved relative to investment Feasibility The Board will assess all proposed projects for deliverability, with realistic timescales, available capacity, and manageable risks. It will only recommend projects where there is reasonable confidence in successful delivery and sustainable outcomes.

A risk register will be maintained for the programme, and projects that present unacceptable risks to public funds or reputation will not be approved.

Audit, Assurance, and Compliance

Oversight of the programme will include:

- Regular financial monitoring and budget variance reporting - Compliance checks on expenditure, subsidy control and procurement - Risk and issue management - Internal audit reviews in accordance with the audit plan - Cooperation with external audit and government assurance reviews - Reports to the relevant committee - Reporting to government as required under grant conditions

Governance for Three-Tier Model

- Tier 1: Full Board approval with detailed business cases and public consultation

- Tier 2: Board approval with streamlined process for partnership projects meeting criteria

- Tier 3: Delegated authority to sub-committee or officers against clear published criteria; regular reporting to Board

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Pride in Place Funding 2026 - 2036