Minute 62 of the special meeting of Cabinet held on 1^st July 2022 (Levelling Up Fund Round 2).

Minute 79 of the meeting of Place Scrutiny Committee held on 4^th July 2022 (Levelling Up Fund Round 2).

The Council considered Minute 62 (Levelling Up Fund Applications) of the Cabinet held on 1^st July 2022 which was referred to the Special meeting of the Place Scrutiny Committee held on 4^th July 2022 (Minute 80 refers).

Resolved:

That the recommendations contained in Minute 62 (Levelling Up Fund) of Cabinet held 1^st July 2022 and Minute 80 of Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee held 4^th July 2022, be approved.

Referred direct by Cabinet

The Committee considered Minute 62 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 1 July 2022, which had been referred directly to the Committee for scrutiny, together with a report of the Interim Executive Director (Growth and Housing) setting out the proposed approach to applications to the Government’s Levelling-Up Fund Round 2 and the outcomes that would be achieved from successful bids.

In response to questions raised by members of the Committee, the Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery, Regeneration and Housing undertook to consider whether written undertakings received from the prospective operator of the ‘Southend Air’ visitor attraction proposed to be delivered as part of the Culture-Led Regeneration bid, for the showcase of other local attractions and to work with the Council to add value to the city-wide cultural programme, could be provided to members of the Committee without breaching commercial confidentiality. The Cabinet Member also undertook to investigate whether the ‘Southend Air’ attraction would be required to be operated for any minimum period as a condition of the receipt of levelling-up funding and to advise members of the Committee accordingly.

Resolved:

That the following decisions and recommendations of the Cabinet be noted:

“1. That a bid be submitted to the Levelling-Up Fund (LUF) for highways and the associated capital and revenue costs, be noted.

2. That a bid be submitted to the Levelling-Up Fund (LUF) for culture-led city centre regeneration and the capital and revenue costs for the Council, be noted.

3. That, if these bids are successful, the relevant legal agreements are entered into to draw down the funding.

Recommended

Note: This is an Executive function, save that Recommendation 4 is a Council function.

Cabinet Members: Councillor P Collins and Councillor I Gilbert

Report of Interim Executive Director (Growth & Housing)

The Cabinet received a report of the Interim Executive Director (Growth and Housing) setting out the proposed approach to applications to the Government’s Levelling-Up Fund (LUF) round 2 and the outcomes that would be achieved by successful bids.

On consideration of the report, the Cabinet was informed that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities had confirmed an extension to the deadline for the submission of bids.

Resolved:

1. That a bid be submitted to the Levelling-Up Fund (LUF) for highways and the associated capital and revenue costs, be noted.

2. That a bid be submitted to the Levelling-Up Fund (LUF) for culture-led city centre regeneration and the capital and revenue costs for the Council, be noted.

3. That, if these bids are successful, the relevant legal agreements are entered into to draw down the funding.

Recommended

Reasons for Decisions

The bids are based on stakeholder feedback, contribution to Southend 2050 outcomes and recovery priorities. They are grounded in extensive work setting out the nature of the work to be done and the impact it will have.

Other Options

There is no requirement to submit LUF applications. The Council could decide not to submit bids. This would ease pressure on the capital programme.  However, not making applications would be detrimental to Southend as it would then miss potential external funding to deliver existing Southend 2050 and economic recovery priorities. It could also be reputationally damaging if the Council is not seen to be pursuing funding for levelling-up which can realise growth ambitions.

Note:  Resolutions 1 to 3 are an Executive function. Recommendation 4 is a Council function

Referred direct to Place Scrutiny Committee for consideration

Cabinet Member: Cllr Gilbert and Collins