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An email seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that £10,000 has been spent on ‘events’, £11,754 on ‘costs related to consultation’, and £60,000 on staff and administration. In 2023, Darlaston was one of 55 towns across the UK to receive £20 million government funding to be spent over 10 years. The £84,932.10 spent so far has come from £250,000 of capacity funding which Walsall Council said is used to ‘strengthen and enhance’ the authority’s capacity to deliver the project. While £11,754 has been spent on ‘costs related to consultation’, the council said public engagement is expected to start this week, with letters being posted to 8,000 residents in the town. The council also said no plans have been made yet on how the Plan for Neighbourhoods investment will be spent, nor has any money been promised or set aside for any specific projects. Over recent weeks a fallout has refused to die down over the make-up of the towns board which decides how the £20m will be spent. The council has been heavily criticised for ‘sidelining’ the residents of Darlaston, especially by two Darlaston South ward members, husband and wife Councillor Paul and Chris Bott. Out of 20 members on the board, three are residents of Darlaston and two are from local businesses. The remaining members are officers from education, housing, health, West Midlands Police, Walsall Council and political leaders. Walsall Council has this week launched a website for the Darlaston Plans for Neighbourhoods project which details timescales, links to board meetings, board priorities and a resident survey. A spokesperson for the council said: “Capacity funding is provided to build, strengthen and enhance the capabilities of organisations and communities to effectively deliver government-funded projects including preparing for consultation and engagement. “It is important to reiterate that no plans have been made yet on how the Plan for Neighbourhoods investment will be spent, nor has any money been promised or set aside for any specific projects. “Only after consultation with the people of Darlaston will the board make any decisions on how the Darlaston Plan for Neighbourhoods fund will be spent. 8000 letters are being posted to Darlaston residents this week as part of the consultation process and we hope to engage with as many people as possible.”
