The Bilston Board was scheduled to meet to discuss updates to the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme, including consultation and engagement activity, and to review the Regeneration Plan and Investment Plan. They were also scheduled to discuss the Communications Plan, receive a financial update, and consider the draft risk register.

Plan for Neighbourhoods Programme Update

The Bilston Board was scheduled to receive updates from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) regarding the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme. The report pack indicates that the board was also scheduled to review the programme plan, with a focus on 2025.

At the previous meeting on 11 August 2025, Stephen Kilvington, Programme Manager, provided a programme update, including guidance from the MHCLG regarding appropriate use for capacity funding. Josie Kelly, Chair of the Bilston Board, had attended an all-Chairs meeting with MHCLG, and said that any questions from board members would be fed through at future all-Chairs meetings.

Consultation and Engagement Update

The Bilston Board was scheduled to receive an update on consultation and engagement activity conducted to date, including key themes and findings. The report pack indicates that planned consultation and engagement activities were also scheduled to be discussed, including the events programme in October 2025.

At the previous meeting, Stephen Kilvington delivered a presentation on the consultation review and proposal, noting a funnel approach to consultation and engagement activity. He asked board members to continue to share any engagement feedback or reports to the programme team. It was confirmed that consultation and engagement activity in local schools would be conducted at the end of September 2025.

Stephen Kilvington noted that the government had published data packs for all 75 towns and had encouraged board members to circulate and share it with other organisations. He also noted that the programme team had received the findings of polling conducted by ZenCity¹.

Maryjane Squires advised that community meetings in Bilston had found that the same issues as those highlighted in the polling were being brought up, particularly issues surrounding crime and anti-social behaviour.

Sam Axtell presented an update on the work being undertaken by the council's Love Your Community Team to ensure that the views gathered during the consultation period reflected the wider community and could be used to push the wider plan. The approach outlined by the Love Your Community Team was approved by the board.

Charlotte Johns provided an update on the Citizens Assembly, which the board had asked the programme team to investigate options for at the previous meeting. She proposed that the board did not pursue this idea and instead bolstered their efforts in building capacity in the VCS².

Regeneration Plan and 4 Year Investment Plan Update

The Bilston Board was scheduled to discuss the content for the Regeneration Plan and potential projects for the Investment Plan.

Communications Plan

The Bilston Board was scheduled to discuss the Communications Plan. At the previous meeting, Charlotte Johns advised that the team was continuing to ensure that the programme's website was updated, and asked board members to submit a short biography and photograph as part of that process.

Financial Update

The Bilston Board was scheduled to receive an update on the financial profile of capacity funding. At the previous meeting, Charlotte Johns provided a financial update, noting that £71,900 in capacity funding had been spent to date, and the board had a healthy budget of approximately £370,000 for capacity funding. She confirmed that the council was the accountable body for the programme, and any spending would be subject to the council's procedures.

Risk Register

The Bilston Board was scheduled to consider the draft risk register. At the previous meeting, Stephen Kilvington confirmed that a risk register would be created for the programme and that a breakdown of finances would be circulated to the board.