Agenda item

Recommendations

1)    Allocate funding for the agreed list of projects selected by the Scarborough Neighbourhood Board, with NYC acting as the accountable body.

2)    Authorise NYC, acting as the accountable body, to enter into all legal grant agreements where required, to enable the approved projects to proceed.

3)    Approve the provision of front funding by NYC of up to £3.2m from the Strategic Capacity Reserve to support project delivery within the first two years of the Pride in Place programme until funding is received from MHCLG which will then be used to reimburse the Strategic Capacity Reserve and note the risks associated with this as set out in the report.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Community Development which sought approval to allocate funding for an approved programme of projects selected by the Scarborough Neighbourhood Board under the Pride in Place programme for Scarborough.  The report set out the proposed approach for entering into legal grant funding agreements with any applicable external organisations responsible for delivering the projects initiative and outlined the circumstances under which the Council would need to provide up front funding in the first year of the programme to enable schemes to progress ahead of receipt of Government funding.

The Executive Member for Corporate Affairs, Councillor Heather Phillips, introduced the report referring to the work of the Town Board, subsequently renamed the Scarborough Neighbourhood Board, which led the development of an initial four year investment plan for the town as part of regeneration for Scarborough. It was explained that projects had been identified locally through the Neighbourhood Board, reflecting community priorities and partnership working.

Council Mark Crane, a Council representative on the Neighbourhood Board, welcomed the Government funding and noted that the programme had been developed through local engagement and partnership, and that the proposed projects aligned with wider regeneration and economic priorities.

The Leader, Councillor Carl Les, referred to a letter he had received from a Scarborough resident in relation to the report which stated that the money should be spent on physical things, rather than non-physical things.  It was confirmed that the list of projects was a decision for the Neighbourhood Board, not the Council.

Resolved (unanimously)

That

1)    Funding be allocated for the agreed list of projects selected by the Scarborough Neighbourhood Board, with NYC acting as the accountable body.

2)    NYC, acting as the accountable body, be authorised to enter into all legal grant agreements where required, to enable the approved projects to proceed.

3)    Approval be given to the provision of front funding by NYC of up to £3.2m from the Strategic Capacity Reserve to support project delivery within the first two years of the Pride in Place programme until funding is received from MHCLG which will then be used to reimburse the Strategic Capacity Reserve and note the risks associated with this as set out in the report.

Reasons for recommendations

To enable the Council and the Scarborough Neighbourhood Board to move into delivery of the approved Regeneration Plan for Scarborough, utilising the Pride in Place funding offered by Government to support the commencement of projects from year one. The recommendations will also facilitate the draw down of secured match funding and further public and private sector investment, enabling the early delivery of improvements that support long term regeneration outcomes for Scarborough.

Alternative option considered

The Pride in Place programme is a central Government funded programme. The Council must follow the stipulated guidance provided by HM Government for the delivery of the programme within Scarborough. Therefore, no other options were considered for delivering this programme of funding.

Consideration was given to delaying the start of approved projects until sufficient funding is received from MHCLG in later years of the programme. However, this option was discounted as a number of the selected projects require funding from year one in order to remain viable. In some cases, early funding is essential to support the continuation of existing programme activity and to safeguard jobs, while in others it is required to secure match funding from external sources or to enable capital projects to commence in line with agreed delivery timescales. Delaying the start of these projects would therefore create a significant risk to their deliverability and could result in projects being scaled back or not delivered at all, undermining the objectives of the Pride in Place programme.