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Agenda item
Hastings Town Deal programme update
Decision:
1. To approve the revised investment programme profile (Appendix 1) as agreed with the government and authorise the signature of the Grant Funding Agreement when provided by the government.
2. To delegate to the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Culture, in consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration, the authority to offer grants and payments to partner organisations to deliver their projects as identified in Appendix 1.
3. To delegate any alterations to the Town Deal programme to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Town Deal Board and the government office.
4. To approve funding of up to 5% of the Town Fund allocation towards the early development of projects to assist them in preparing clear design concepts, seek professional advice and prepare indicative costings.
5. In addition to above, to approve the use of the Management Allowance (M&A) of £1.215m, provided for by the government, to establish a Town Deal Programme Management Team and support related programme activities as agreed by the Town Deal Board (see Appendix 2). This is in addition to budgets approved by June 2021 Cabinet and as revised in item 9 below.
6. To delegate to the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Culture, in consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration, to develop a HBC Levelling Up capital project bid and submit to government when the new prospectus and deadlines are published. To utilise the £125,000 of capacity funding recently awarded by the government to prepare for the bid.
Minutes:
The Assistant Director, Regeneration and Culture, presented a report to approve the revised investment programme, set out arrangements for the delivery of the Town Deal Programme and provide an update on the Levelling Up fund.
The report provides an update of the work undertaken to reprofile the Town Investment Plan to fit within the funding allocation of £24.3 million. There is also an option to utilise some of the funding for management and administration of the programme with proposals set out in Appendix 2 of the report.Both the reprofiling of individual projects, and the proposal to utilise the Management Allowance to establish a programme management team, have been approved by the Town Deal Board and submitted to government. The council is currently awaiting the grant funding agreement from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Councillor Barnett proposed approval of the recommendations, seconded by Councillor Rogers.
RESOLVED (unanimously):
1. To approve the revised investment programme profile (Appendix 1) as agreed with the government and authorise the signature of the Grant Funding Agreement when provided by the government.
2. To delegate to the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Culture, in consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration, the authority to offer grants and payments to partner organisations to deliver their projects as identified in Appendix 1.
3. To delegate any alterations to the Town Deal programme to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Town Deal Board and the government office.
4. To approve funding of up to 5% of the Town Fund allocation towards the early development of projects to assist them in preparing clear design concepts, seek professional advice and prepare indicative costings.
5. In addition to above, to approve the use of the Management Allowance (M&A) of £1.215m, provided for by the government, to establish a Town Deal Programme Management Team and support related programme activities as agreed by the Town Deal Board (see Appendix 2). This is in addition to budgets approved by June 2021 Cabinet and as revised in item 9 below.
6. To delegate to the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Culture, in consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration, to develop a HBC Levelling Up capital project bid and submit to government when the new prospectus and deadlines are published. To utilise the £125,000 of capacity funding recently awarded by the government to prepare for the bid.
Reasons:
1. The Town Investment Plan (TIP) has been developed with the Town Deal Board and wider stakeholders. The projects in the TIP will act as a catalyst for the transformation and recovery of Hastings Town Centre for the benefit of the whole town. The Town Centre contains our largest employment base, learning and skills opportunity for our residents.
2. The TIP provides for a 5-year ‘re-set’ strategy for the town addressing a wide range of economic and social issues. It is an opportunity to commence the recovery process from the pandemic and is expected to lead to other investment opportunities including those emerging from national and local funding streams, as well new inward investment.
3. The TIP has now been re-assessed by government and £23.085m (excluding £1.215m M&A Allowance) of funding has been allocated for projects – see Appendix 2.
4. The Grant funding agreement allows for early development costs up to a maximum of 5% of stated grant allocation per project.
5. As the accountable body, Hastings Borough Council will retain overall responsibility for the delivery of the programme. Project management and delivery support will continue to be provided by the Council in conjunction with partner agencies.
6. The Levelling Up funding is a new opportunity for the council to potentially bid for up to £20m of capital grants (under current government guidance), which is expected to be open over the next six months.
Supporting documents:
- Hastings Town Deal programme update, item 375. PDF 335 KB
- Appendix 1 - A summary of the projects in Funding Agreement, item 375. PDF 359 KB
- Appendix 2 - Use of Management Allowance Briefing, item 375. PDF 653 KB
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