Reform council to be quizzed about controversial £20m government funding for town

A Darlaston resident has called on Walsall’s new Reform council to review the town’s board which is tasked with spending £20 million of government funding.

Alison Humpage will press the portfolio holder for regeneration, Councillor Nicky Barker, at the next meeting of Walsall Council on Monday (July 27).

Ms Humpage said there were concerns about the Darlaston Pride in Place programme including “poor publicity of community engagement events, a lack of transparency in the selection of resident representatives, and disputes that board membership cannot be reviewed”.

She called on the deputy leader to “properly scrutinise” the issues and “re-establish the board with true resident representation”.

The board, which decides how the lifeline money will be spent in the town, has faced criticism from former councillors and locals who claim the community has been “sidelined”.

According to the Darlaston town’s board website, six of the 15 members are residents.

In October last year, the Government announced a further £20 million worth of funding for Blakenall in its Pride in Place programme.

The local councillor at the time, Pete Smith, raised fears that the board would be made up of mostly “business leaders and professionals” rather than residents.

The following month, Mr Smith submitted a notice of motion calling for residents to be in the driving seat for Blakenall, which was approved by full council.

Prior to the May elections, Reform UK said: “Locally the news has been focused on the Darlaston Board which is deemed to be undemocratic and non-transparent.

“Reform would look at the current makeup of the board, audit spending to date and look to hold a democratic election of board members ensuring control is mandated to the residents.”

The item will be discussed at the next public meeting at 6pm on July 27, at Walsall Council House.