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It all comes down to money, at the end of the day—how much we can invest in communities and where that money comes from. It is quite clear that a good chunk of that money will have to come from the public purse or, in other words, from the taxpayer—us around the table. Given that budgets are tight nationally and locally, where should that taxpayers’ money be focused in order to see the best result in terms of improving our town centres?

Martin, can I ask you to start off?

Where does the money come from in the first place if it does not come from the public purse? Are you saying that you will be able to get private investors to come in?

The argument has been made that retailers in the centre of towns want their business rates to be reduced by using an online digital tax. We are suggesting that that money be hypothecated to regenerating town centres, which would mean that there would be less revenue for central Government. How do we work that one out?

Pauline Smith, how do we ensure sustainability? Money cannot be going into the community for 10, 20, 30 or 40 years. There are so many communities that need help and support that it would be beyond any Government to do that. How do we get sustainability in place, especially in more deprived communities where that is more difficult to achieve and might take longer?

I am sure that the committee would be interested in seeing any information that you have to hand.

However, we are entitled to look at the outcomes of those strained relationships and the impact on the board and the functioning of the college.

To go back to the investigations, I was going to press you on the timescales for completion but, from what you say, it seems that you do not really have a grasp of that at this time.

The two internal investigations are being handled by the same law firm—it is the same investigation, really.

There are an awful lot of estimates.

I just wanted to be sure that we are on the same page.

You have not said what is behind the increase.