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Tim Davies-Pugh, Chief Executive said:<\/strong><\/p>\n Today\u2019s Autumn Statement announcement was a missed opportunity to provide the proper resources and backing community business needs to thrive. In the King\u2019s Speech the government said it would \u201cput local people in control of their future\u201d and \u201cstrengthen the social fabric\u201d of the country, and both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have pledged to \u201cback British business\u201d. But judging by the Autumn Statement, there is a gulf between what has been said, and what is being done.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The government has listened to Power to Change and others in the sector by ensuring the third round of the Levelling Up Fund was allocative not competitive, but there is still more listening for them to do. Our evidence shows that community business needs long-term and flexible place-based funding which provides the certainty to truly control their future. While new devolution deals are welcome, polling consistently shows that people trust local community groups to bring about change in their local area more than regional mayors; power, properly resourced, needs to reach the neighbourhood level.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n