A NEW Clydebank Town Board is set to be established to oversee the spending of £20 million awarded to the area.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s IRED (Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development) Committee are being asked to approve the appointment of the new committee charged with planning out and spending the multi-million pound awarded to Clydebank from the UK Government’s levelling up award.

The board is a requirement to get the £20m from Westminster and aims to manage the money as and when it comes in, with the report being handed into next Wednesday’s meeting outlining the funds will be released over seven years.

Local authorities have the flexibility to spend the money over 10 years but the new board must submit their ‘Long-Term Plan’ for the cash to the UK Government by August 1

The report reads: “The Long-Term Plan will comprise a 10-year vision which clearly identifies the term priorities for the town and three-year Investment Plan.

“The Investment Plan will set out how the funding will be allocated and spent over the next 3 years, and local authorities will receive the investment from the Long-Term Plan for Towns over the next 3 years to fund the Town Board’s 3-year Investment Plan.”

In October, Provost Douglas McAllister told the Clydebank Post the funds will be invested into the ageing town centre.

He said at the time: “This funding will be used by my Labour Council to revive our town centre, tackle anti-social behaviour, improve our local transport and help grow our local economy.”

The board will consist of a maximum of two elected council members, the local MP, a senior police representative and can include a region MSP.

It is also proposed that for the Clydebank Town Board, in addition to previously mentioned participants, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, West Dunbartonshire Council for Voluntary Services, Golden Jubilee Hospital, West of Scotland College, Community Council, Clyde Shopping Centre and other major local businesses and local community partners will be asked to join.

It is currently recommended Liz Connolly, Principal of West College Scotland, be chair of the new board.

It will go before the IRED members to confirm its fate on February 7 at council HQ on Church Street, Dumbarton.