Agenda item

Please note that due to the timeframes surrounding the preparation of this report and the need to respond to Government, the Chair will permit questions and answers on this item by members under standing order 34, rather than the usual statement which is permitted at Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

1. That the submission made by the deadline of 14 August 2020 to Government of two projects as detailed in section 2 of the report be approved

2. That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business Development to finalise the submission in accordance with any additional requirements from Government.

3. That if the submission is successful in respect of the project as detailed in section 3 of the report, delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive to authorise the provision of the funding to the project partner(s) following the satisfactory completion of due diligence checks in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the negotiation of the necessary legal and funding agreements with Government and project partner(s) in consultation with the Monitoring Officer.

4. That if the submission is successful in respect of the project as detailed in section 4 of the report, delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive to authorise the use of the funds towards this project.

Reason for Decision

To allow the Council to secure and use grant funding stream to support early delivery of the priorities emerging in the Town Investment Plan for King’s Lynn and contribute to the Recovery Plan in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Long reminded Members that for this item, due to the tight timescales set around submission and responses to Government, under standing order 34 he was permitting questions to be asked on this report, rather than only statements as with other items.

Councillor Middleton presented the report which detailed two proposals submitted to the Government under the Town Deal Accelerated Funding with the deadline for submission by 14^th August 2020. The criteria for projects under this fund had to be in line with the Towns Fund Intervention Framework and demonstrate they could be delivered with funding spent by 31^st March 2021. The two proposed projects submitted met the criteria and were expected to deliver new learning opportunities and an enhanced public realm to support the safe reopening of the town centre.

Duncan Hall, Assistant Director explained to Members that the proposals had been considered and approved by the Town Deal Board. He informed Members that it was hoped to hear decisions by mid September.

Under standing order 34 Councillor Rust posed a number of questions around the detail of membership and timing of Town Board meetings and the detail of the proposals being put forward. These questions were responded to by Cabinet Members and officers.

Under standing order 34 Councillor de Whalley posed questions around the extent of the boundaries of the Town Board, to which it was agreed that the Assistant Director would liaise outside of the meeting. It was also confirmed that this was not within the remit of the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee. He asked a question on the future funding which was responded to.

Under standing order 34, Councillor Morley stated support of the proposals, and asked for clarification on whether the Tourism support funding pot was supporting the public realm work, to which it confirmed it was not.

Cabinet Members expressed their support of the proposals.