Terms of reference

Colchester’s Town Investment Plan sets out an ambitious set of projects, which provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop our historic town.

From the beginning, the We Are Colchester Board has recognised the vital role engagement must play in the development and delivery of our prioritised plans. Our ‘Town Investment Plan’ has been developed, based on the outcomes our engagement activity plus pre-existing insight.

Objective

1. Town Deal: having delivered a successful strategy, vision, and Town Investment Plan to government, for Colchester, to continue in a strategic role for the Town Deal programme.
2. Emerging strategic funding opportunities: act as a consultee group for other opportunities in Colchester, including Levelling Up Fund.

Purpose

The Board is the governance body responsible for making decisions and monitoring progress of all Town Deal programme and project initiatives, in partnership with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

Board responsibilities are to:

• oversee and direct the delivery of the Town Deal programme of projects, providing ongoing vision, check and challenge
• continue to develop and support extensive community consultation
• find gaps in strategy and support the development of plans to address them
• contribute to the nomination and appointment of Board members
• monitor and evaluate outcomes based delivery of the Town Investment Plan
• act as a Consultee Group for emerging strategic funding opportunities
• work effectively with the Town Deal Programme Office, stakeholder groups, and local authority Officers from Colchester City Council and Essex County Council

Role, duties, and responsibilities

The Town Deal Board has been convened by Colchester City Council (the Lead Council) in line with government requirements. The governance structure and decision-making structures of the Town Deal Board is made public by the Lead Council.

Membership of the Board will be made up of a Chair, Vice-Chair, and other Members.

The Chair is elected through expressions of interest and later vote.

Board Members have voting and signatory rights in relation to the Town Deal.

Board Members do not have voting and signatory rights in relation to other areas of opportunity unless agreed and confirmed in writing.

All Board Members will be committed to: 

• setting out compelling differences so that Colchester attracts investment
•  demonstrating that Colchester is an ambitious place for business
• raising the profile of Colchester as a driver of economic growth
• embodying values and emotion in the identity of Colchester
• inspiring those inside and outside Colchester about its future, engaging others broadly and widely both early on and throughout the process of designing, agreeing, and delivering the Town Investment Plan
• seeking opportunities to influence key stakeholders in their contribution to enhancing the economic impact of Colchester
• bringing strategic leadership, standing for Colchester at strategic discussions with policy makers; funders; and bodies taking major decisions that affect the competitiveness of Colchester
• sharing their own experience of driving development and attracting investment
• drawing on their own local knowledge and insight on the barriers to driving local growth and productivity
• looking to improve and develop the well-being of citizens, workers, and residents of Colchester
• adding ‘consultee’ value to discussions and decisions linked to emerging funding opportunities in Colchester including but not limited to Levelling Up Fund

All Board Members must be committed to the ‘Seven Principles of Public Life,’ regardless of personal or sectoral background.

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public officeholder. This includes all those who are elected or appointed to public office, nationally and locally, and all people appointed to work in the Civil Service, local government, the police, courts and probation services, non departmental public bodies (NDPBs), and in the health, education, social and care services. All public officeholders are both servants of the public and stewards of public resources. The principles also apply to all those in other sectors delivering public services.

Other groups

The Board is also supported by a wider group of consultees, work streams and interest groups following the requirements of DLUHC.

These consultees, work streams and interest groups are primarily linked to individual Town Deal projects. Formation and facilitation of these groups is guided by ‘asset based community development’ principles.

Secretariat / Support

The Board is supported by a Town Deal Programme Office Secretariat and Lead Officers of the Lead Local Authority, Colchester City Council, and partner authority Essex County Council.

Frequency of meetings and reporting arrangements

Board meetings will take place on a Quarterly basis; frequency being reviewed on a regular basis to meet the requirements of the Town Deal and Town Investment Plan, or other emerging opportunities.

Minutes and Actions will be published following prevailing requirements.

Approval of Terms of Reference

These Terms of Reference are approved by the Board and will be reviewed on at least a quarterly basis.

Governance and public accountability

The governance and decision-making structure of the Board as described in these Terms of Reference will be made public by the Lead Local Authority, Colchester City Council. The Board will be aligned with the governance standards and all policies of the Lead Local Authority. This includes, but is not limited to, policies around whistle blowing, declarations of conflicts of interests, registration of gifts and hospitality, and complaints, equalities, and diversity. These policies are available on request from Colchester City Council.

Updated June 2022.