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Agenda item
Update on various key government external initiatives.
(Victoria Conheady, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Place)
(Cabinet Decision)
Decision:
1. Hastings Borough Council act as the accountable body for the Levelling Up Partnership programme and the Long-Term Plan for Towns programmes.
2. Authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Section 151 Officer, in agreement with the government office to make proper arrangements for the delivery of the programmes and expenditure of government funding as follows:
a. To manage the Levelling Up Partnership programme, maximising use of the capacity funding (£90k for 2023/2025) provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)
b. Make payments to relevant organisations to deliver the Levelling Up Partnership projects as determined by DLUHC.
c. Make arrangements for the Long-Term Plan for Towns capacity funding (£50k for 23/24 and £200k for 2024/2025) provided by DLUHC to establish the ‘new’ Town Board and develop the Long-Term Town Investment Plan in accordance with guidance.
d. Make arrangements for the allocation of payments for delivery of the Long-Term Town Plan projects as agreed by the new Hastings Board.
3. Authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Section 151 Officer to deliver a Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme, maximising use of the (potential) capacity funding (£1.9million) for 2024-28 and (potential) capital funding of £3.5 million for the same period.
4. Progress with delivery of the Town Deal Programme and UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme be noted.
5. The Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund offer be accepted, and the new capital investment to be installed by the March 2025 deadline.
6. Following a successful expression of interest (EOI), officers proceed to work with local people and a consortium to scope and develop a full application to the PlayZone programme (targeted at enhancing and modernising our multi-use games areas) and explore with partners options to secure the 25% match funding required for the application. The PlayZone programme prioritises engaging with groups with the greatest inequalities in physical activity, including women and girls.
7. Amend paragraph 10 of the covering report to read “The government has provided £50,000 capacity funding to cover the upfront costs for setting up a new Town Board by 1 April 2024. The Hastings Board will be focused on the key thematic areas of the fund. Work is underway to review the terms of reference and membership of the Hastings Board.”
Minutes:
The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Place presented a report to provide the Cabinet with updates on key government funding initiatives.
The report updates Cabinet on 7 confirmed external funding initiatives currently being managed or being developed by the council. In summary total value of the initiatives is approximately £70.7 million with the timeline for delivery varying from a deadline of March 2025 to March 2026, and 2034 for the Long-Term Plan. Approximately 90% of the funding is capital and there are many partners involved in delivery of the projects. The council will be the accountable body for delivery.
The Deputy Chief Executive advised the cabinet that recommendation 3 would need to be amended so that ‘Homelessness Prevention Grant’ is removed and replaced with ‘Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme’ following the announcement of the funding.
In addition, Hastings has been selected by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to receive £20 million of funding to regenerate the town. The funding is release over a ten-year period and the council will be creating a Hastings Board to focus on the key themes of the fund. Work is underway to determine the terms of reference and membership of the Hastings Board. The Town Deal Board will continue as is and remain separate.
Councillor Beaney asked how the chair and vice-chair of the Hastings Board were selected. The Deputy Chief Executive replied that the council has worked with government and the local MP to identify candidates.
Councillor Hilton proposed an amendment to the recommendations, to amend paragraph 10 of the covering report so that it reads as follows:
Councillor Hilton proposed approval of the recommendations, subject to the amendments above, seconded by Councillor Barnett.
RESOLVED (unanimously):
1. Hastings Borough Council act as the accountable body for the Levelling Up Partnership programme and the Long-Term Plan for Towns programmes.
2. Authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Section 151 Officer, in agreement with the government office to make proper arrangements for the delivery of the programmes and expenditure of government funding as follows:
a. To manage the Levelling Up Partnership programme, maximising use of the capacity funding (£90k for 2023/2025) provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)
b. Make payments to relevant organisations to deliver the Levelling Up Partnership projects as determined by DLUHC.
c. Make arrangements for the Long-Term Plan for Towns capacity funding (£50k for 23/24 and £200k for 2024/2025) provided by DLUHC to establish the ‘new’ Town Board and develop the Long-Term Town Investment Plan in accordance with guidance.
d. Make arrangements for the allocation of payments for delivery of the Long-Term Town Plan projects as agreed by the new Hastings Board.
3. Authority be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Section 151 Officer to deliver a Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme, maximising use of the (potential) capacity funding (£1.9million) for 2024-28 and (potential) capital funding of £3.5 million for the same period.
4. Progress with delivery of the Town Deal Programme and UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme be noted.
5. The Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund offer be accepted, and the new capital investment to be installed by the March 2025 deadline.
6. Following a successful expression of interest (EOI), officers proceed to work with local people and a consortium to scope and develop a full application to the PlayZone programme (targeted at enhancing and modernising our multi-use games areas) and explore with partners options to secure the 25% match funding required for the application. The PlayZone programme prioritises engaging with groups with the greatest inequalities in physical activity, including women and girls.
7. Amend paragraph 10 of the covering report to read “The government has provided £50,000 capacity funding to cover the upfront costs for setting up a new Town Board by 1 April 2024. The Hastings Board will be focused on the key thematic areas of the fund. Work is underway to review the terms of reference and membership of the Hastings Board.”
Reasons:
1. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has allocated two significant funding streams to Hastings. The Council is the accountable body for the two programmes and arrangements therefore need to put in place for the proper management, governance, delivery, and monitoring of the programmes, as well as the distribution of the funds, in line with DLUHC guidance.
2. The timelines for delivery and ensuring all the new programme arrangements are in place are challenging, hence the need to bring forward a combined report.
3. The Swimming Pool Support Fund has approved funding which is specific to capital investment in Summerfields Leisure Centre.
Supporting documents:
- Update on various key government external funding initiatives FINAL, item 48. PDF 201 KB
- Appendix 1 Hastings Board and its interrelation with existing partnership boards, item 48. PDF 134 KB
- Appendix 2 UKSPF Broomgrove Projects, item 48. PDF 70 KB
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