There were no apologies for absence at this meeting.

The following Councillors and officers declared interests as indicated:

(a) Cllr Mulroney – Agenda Items 3 and 5 (Porters Place LLP Business Plan) – Non-pecuniary interest: member of Development Control Committee;

(b) Cllr Wakefield - Agenda Items 3 and 5 (Porters Place LLP Business Plan) – Non-pecuniary interest: member of Development Control Committee and is a sub-contractor for South Essex Homes;

(c) A Lewis and L White - Agenda Items 3 and 5 (Porters Place LLP Business Plan) – Non-pecuniary interest: Council appointed representatives on the Porters Place LLP Board.

Report of Director (Regeneration and Growth) to follow

The Board considered a report of the Director for Regeneration and Growth presenting the new business plan (“the Business Plan”) for Porters Place Southend-on-Sea LLP.  The report also provided clarity and assurance concerning the Business Plan and highlighted the implications for the Council.

The Board asked a number of questions which were responded to by representatives from Porters Place Southend-on-Sea LLP and Council officers.

Resolved:

1. That the Business Plan at Appendix 1 and that contained at Appendix 3 to the submitted report be recommended to Cabinet for approval.

2. That the Cabinet be recommended to authorise the Director of Regeneration and Growth, in consultation with the Leader to:

(a) Agree any non-adverse changes to the Business Plan whereupon any such matters shall be noted for information and reported to the following Shareholder Board; and

(b) Approve, agree or action any necessary outcome, or product of, or from, the Business Plan necessary to progress the Better Queensway regeneration project (“the Project”).

Reasons for decision

The review of the Business Plan by Council officers and the Council’s advisors concluded that the Plan provides an assurance that the LLP is following agreed strategic direction and objectives and is delivering its service and financial performance.

Delegation of agreement of non-material updates to the Business Plan and progression of actions resulting from the Plan will ensure that the LLP can continue to progress the Project at pace and with the necessary agility to meet funding and programme deadlines.

Other options

Not approving the Business Plan would mean that the Plan approved in November 2019 would remain in place until an amended Plan is approved. This would frustrate the progress of the project. The October 2019 Plan does not reflect the next years’ work on the project.

The £15m HIF funding from Homes England has a deadline for spend. Not approving the Business Plan will delay the project as an amended Plan will be required, which could result in non-expenditure by the deadline and therefore a gap in project funding.

If the Business Plan is compliant with the Partnership Agreement but is not approved by the Council, there is a risk to the goodwill established between the LLP Partners.  This would have a considerably negative impact on the relationship between the LLP Partners.

Resolved:-

That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the item of business set out below, on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Confidential appendices attached

Resolved:-

That the confidential appendices, be endorsed.