The four areas of Hartlepool at risk of being 'left behind' as leaders consider new alliance to improve fortunes

Hartlepool Borough Council officers are asking councillors to consider joining the Community Wealth Fund Alliance, alongside 290 other civil society, public and private sector organisations.

The Community Wealth Fund Alliance is calling on the Government to release dormant assets of up to £4billion for the creation of a new independent endowment – ‘The Community Wealth Fund’.

The funds would aim to benefit ‘left-behind communities’ and four particular areas in Hartlepool have been identified among the 225 wards across England most likely to be left behind.

A report from Gemma Ptak, council assistant director for preventative and community based services, said Jesmond, Headland and Harbour, De Bruce and Manor House could all benefit from the funding.

She said: “The Community Wealth Fund Alliance has identified that there are four left behind communities in Hartlepool; Jesmond, Headland and Harbour, De Bruce and Manor House.

“If the progression of the Community Wealth Alliance fund was successful it is proposed that all four wards would be awarded £2million for a period of 10-15 years."

She added: “There are significant developments locally to support community wealth building opportunities and this will be continued and enhanced through ongoing work with the voluntary and community sector and other statutory organisations.

“This would provide long term investment putting left behind communities in charge of spend and enabling them to build on social capital and civic infrastructure that they need to ‘level up’ their areas to enable them to prosper.”

The report is to go before the finance and policy committee on Monday, February 15, where councillors will be asked to consider signing up to the Community Wealth Fund Alliance.

This could be done either independently as an organisation or through a collaboration with the voluntary and community sector.

According to the report from council officers, the funding principles would focus on long term investment at hyper-local levels and resident-led decision making.

The principles are based on learning from past and present initiatives and will help develop and deliver the infrastructure needed to improve communities.

The report warns while it is not confirmed this funding will definitely be available, if funds are secured and the council is not signed up to the alliance, then it cannot be accessed for Hartlepool communities.

It also warns the impact of Covid-19 is likely to exacerbate existing social and economic problems ‘left behind’ communities face, so it will be vital as part of the pandemic recovery to focus on those communities.

Councillors are recommended to consider signing up for the Community Wealth Fund Alliance at the finance and policy committee meeting taking place on Monday from 10am.

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