Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of how the High Streets Task Force will benefit towns in (a) Congleton constituency and (b) England.

The Government is providing support to local leadership with a High Streets Task Force, giving high streets and town centres expert advice to adapt and thrive. Over five years this is providing hands-on support to local areas in England to develop data-driven innovative strategies and connect local areas to relevant experts. The Task Force, hosted by a consortium led by the Institute of Place Management, is also providing training and help to improve coordination between different groups working to improve their high streets.

In July 2020, the Task Force launched its range of support for high streets in England affected by Covid-19. Support is open to all high streets and town centres that wish to use it, including in Congleton. This includes access to a range of online training, data dashboards and guidance, which will be available on the Task Force’s website. This covers advice and information on local recovery planning, coordination, public space and place marketing. For more information on the Task Force and to kept up to date on its work, local places can register their interest at https://www.highstreetstaskforce.org.uk/.

The Task Force will also be providing specific expert support and training to a number of places over the course of its five-year contract. Some of this support will be prioritised according to need.