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Agenda item
Programme progress update
10:50
· Town Deal Programme update
· Decisions of the Town Deal Investment Panel
· General project update
· Business case progress report by theme
· Communications update
· Complaint regarding the process of selecting projects at the early stage of the programme
· Equalities Impact Assessment
· Programme finance update
· Subsidy Control
Minutes:
· Town Deal Programme update
Pranesh Datta, Economic Development Manager at HBC presented the progress to date and updated on the Priory Street car park and Priory Meadow projects, and Homes England’s interest in Hastings town centre.
The Observer Building is aiming to create 15 affordable flats, although it does not have access to sufficient funding. The possibility of involving Hastings Commons in the conversations with Homes England will be raised. Action: Pranesh
The number of new homes to be created stated in the Town Investment Plan is 200 and it is understood that the sites Homes England want to explore may create more than this, although the full scale of work is not yet understood. The MP asked to be kept in the loop regarding the indicative timelines which DLUHC has provided. The importance of addressing health and inequalities and creating lifetime homes was also raised. Public Health is also happy to be involved in early discussions as needed.
· Decisions of the Town Deal Investment Panel
Ian Sycamore, External Funding Manager at HBC summarised the decisions of the investment panel on the recently submitted and approved business cases: 1) Former Debenhams Site, 2) Green Construction, Energy and Vehicle Training Centre, 3) Town Living and 4) Public Realm and Green Connections.
These decisions were noted by the meeting.
It is understood that the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme exists for all social housing landlords, including the local authority, therefore potentially affecting the Town Living project. Community land trusts are exempt from right to buy and the importance of protecting long term investments was noted for future discussions. This will be looked into and the board updated. Action: Pranesh
· General project update
Broadening Futures Together
Carole Dixon explained that the partnership between Education Futures Trust and Plumpton College is developing, and the service level agreement has now been signed. A pilot accredited course was run very successfully just before the summer break and the site was also improved as part of this course. A difficulty though is that the project is still being delivered without a building. Work on the drainage and highways are both out to tender. The first full course will be starting tomorrow (23rd September) and promotion of the courses will start once the works have been completed and the classroom is in place. The project is also meeting with the Garden Town next month to look at collaborative working opportunities around the Public Realm and Green Connections project.
Hastings Commons
Jess Steele explained that the Observer Building was made weatherproof but very unfortunately the sprinkler system pipe burst and poured 40,000 liters of stored building water through it. The team worked all night to manage the water and the damage created will be covered by the contractor’s insurance, however, the plaster and flooring will have to be re-done. On a positive note, the creative digital hub which will be going into the building has been running a pilot programme about 3-D scanning. 300 local people have been 3-D scanned and an exhibition and event will be taking place from 1st-8th October, during the hours of 12-6pm, which will give a taster of what the creative digital hub will be about.
· Business case progress report by theme
Allison San Diego, Programme Support Officer presented the current status of the business cases for the project.
The chair extended congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in the projects, including the project leads, volunteers, consultants, the local authority and other partners on the investment panel on the progress to date.
· Communications update
Open Day on Saturday, 15th October in Priory Meadow Shopping Centre
Allison presented the communications update and reiterated that any support from board members on the day of the open day, with promotion of the day and other events will be appreciated. The programme team can be contacted at: Towndeal@hastings.gov.uk
Further information about the open day will be circulated shortly.
· Complaint regarding the process of selecting projects at the early stage of the programme
Noted. It was mentioned that may be the original 150 proposal and ideas should have been made public and the complaint and response noted. .
· Equalities Impact Assessment
Pranesh summarised the need to produce an EIA for the programme as a whole, which needs to be submitted to DLUHC, likely in March 2023. Once the work is commissioned, project leads will be approached and workshops will be held.
· Programme finance update
Ruth Kynoch, Project and Finance Officer presented the programme finances, which was noted.
· Subsidy Control
Ian explained that the programme team is working with the HBC legal team to ensure the programme is compliant with the subsidy control act. More details will be shared when these become available.
Supporting documents:
- Item 5 TD Programme update, item 91. PDF 251 KB
- Item 5 Appendix 1 Project summaries, item 91. PDF 479 KB
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