Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:   1)         That Historic England’s ‘in-principle’ award of the Heritage Action Zone status for King’s Lynn be accepted.

2)         That the King’s Lynn Heritage Action Zone boundary, shown as the development boundary in Appendix 1 of the report be approved

3)         That the King’s Lynn Heritage Action Zone Intervention Logic Framework as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

4)         That the King’s Lynn Heritage Action Zone governance and management arrangements as shown in Appendix 3 be approved

5)         That delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director for Commercial Services and the Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Projects and Assets to agree the Delivery Plan with Historic England.

Reason for Decision

This proposal meets the following corporate priorities, as stated in the Corporate Business Plan 2015/16-2019/20:

Priority 2: Drive local economic and housing growth

1. We will support new and existing businesses to help them thrive
2. We will meet our housing growth targets

Priority 4: Celebrate our local heritage and culture

11. We will support the improvement of our built heritage, drawing in third-party funding wherever possible

12. We will support leisure and tourism within the borough

Cabinet welcomed Dr Natalie Gates from Historic England was in attendance for this item.

The Regeneration Manager presented a report which explained that in May 2015, Historic England’s Urban Panel paid a two-day study visit to King’s Lynn, following the visit, the Panel produced a report, which included a recommendation for King’s Lynn to apply for the newly launched Heritage Action Zone initiative.

The Borough Council submitted a bid in September 2016 and attended an assessment interview with the Historic England Evaluation Panel. Following this initial stage, the Borough Council’s proposal was shortlisted for appraisal by the National Selection Panel, which granted ‘in-principal’ approval in November 2016 along with 9 other places.

The report explained that the aim of a Heritage Action Zone was to achieve economic growth by using the historic environment as a catalyst.  A Heritage Action Zone would provide a targeted response to the economic, social and environmental needs of a particular area. Through Heritage Action Zones, [Historic England] would work with local partners to deliver and implement a programme of support that would best meet these local requirements.

Dr Gates explained that the HAZ application process was highly competitive both regionally and nationally, requiring demonstration of how it was proposed to harness economic growth with heritage.  She spoke warmly about King’s Lynn and its heritage.

Cabinet commended the report with its links to the previous item, and the proposed integrated approach which ensured the town’s heritage was included in all proposals.  Cabinet welcomed Ms Gate’s comments on the town.

RESOLVED:   1)         That Historic England’s ‘in-principle’ award of the Heritage Action Zone status for King’s Lynn be accepted.

2)         That the King’s Lynn Heritage Action Zone boundary, shown as the development boundary in Appendix 1 of the report be approved

3)         That the King’s Lynn Heritage Action Zone Intervention Logic Framework as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

4)         That the King’s Lynn Heritage Action Zone governance and management arrangements as shown in Appendix 3 be approved

5)         That delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director for Commercial Services and the Regeneration, Heritage and Economic Development Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Projects and Assets to agree the Delivery Plan with Historic England.

Reason for Decision

This proposal meets the following corporate priorities, as stated in the Corporate Business Plan 2015/16-2019/20:

Priority 2: Drive local economic and housing growth

1. We will support new and existing businesses to help them thrive
2. We will meet our housing growth targets

Priority 4: Celebrate our local heritage and culture

11. We will support the improvement of our built heritage, drawing in third-party funding wherever possible

12. We will support leisure and tourism within the borough