HC Deb 24 March 2003 vol 402 cc91-2W
Mr. Norman

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many public service agreements were entered into by(a) Tunbridge Wells borough council and (b) Kent county council; and what level of funding has been provided that is contingent on them in each of the past two years. [104691]

Mr. Raynsford

The Government have not entered into a Local Public Service Agreement with Tunbridge Wells borough council. The Government signed a Local Public Service Agreement with Kent in February 2001. During the financial year 2001–02 Kent were paid a grant of £1,000,050 and issued with Unsupported Credit Approvals of £5 million. No funding was provided during 2002–03.

Mr. Norman

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local partnerships were formed by(a) Tunbridge Wells borough council and (b) Kent county council to implement central Government initiatives; and what the level of funding for each was in each year since 1997. [104692]

Mr. Leslie

Tunbridge Wells borough council has not formed its own local strategic partnership to implement Government initiatives, however, in September 2001, it along with Tonbridge and Mailing and Sevenoaks Councils decided to work together to form an area partnership for the west Kent region, since many service providers and interest groups cover areas much larger than a single district.

Kent county council has developed a countywide strategic partnership as a forum to encourage cross tier partnership working. The county strategic partnership grew out of the Kent Association of Local Authorities.

Neither Tunbridge Wells borough council nor Kent county council are in receipt of Neighbourhood Renewal Funding—the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's funding programme that supports the development of strategic partnerships. There are only 88 areas in England that qualify to receive this specific funding, by virtue of being especially deprived as ranked by ward on the Government's Indices of Deprivation. Those 88 areas contain 82 per cent. of the most deprived wards in England, none of which fall in the Kent county council area.