Issue - meetings

Purpose of the report

To seek approval to enter into contracts to deliver projects as part of the Future High Street Fund. The grant distributor, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had agreed an extension to the delivery timescales for the projects, however all contracts needed to be in place by 31 March 2025. The Chairman of the Council agreed to waive the call-in period for this item due to the time critical nature of the decision.

Decision

The Cabinet is recommended to:

1) Delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council to enter into contracts to secure the works necessary to deliver the following projects as part of the Future High Street Fund:

i.               Authority to enter into contract with National Grid in relation to the installation of power in Grantham Market Place and Westgate.

ii.             Authority to enter into contract with Lindum Construction in relation to works to Grantham Museum.

iii.            Authority to enter into relevant contracts following the completion of necessary procurement for all other projects within the Future High Street Fund extended programme as outlined in this report.

Alternative options considered and rejected

The Council could have done nothing and not entered into contracts to deliver the remaining elements of the programme. However, in this instance the remaining funds would have needed to be returned to Government. This option was therefore discounted.

Reasons for the decision

In 2020 the Council was successful in securing £5.2 million in grant funding from the Future High Streets Fund for regeneration work in Grantham town centre. In the subsequent years the programme had successfully delivered a programme of public realm improvement in Grantham Market Place, and improvements to the five-arm junction at Station Approach; as well as awarding grants to support the conversion of vacant upper floor retail space into high quality residential accommodation.

In an update to the Future High Street Fund board (9 January 2025) Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) Highways Officers confirmed that there was an underspend on the project of £882,000. The £882,000 had been allocated in risk and contingency budgets for the two public realm projects delivered through the scheme (Grantham Market Place and Station Approach/ five arm junction improvements). It was confirmed by LCC that, following completion of those works, this portion of the funding was not required and would be released as underspend within the scheme.

Officers, supported by the FHSF project board, have negotiated with the funding body, MHCLG, to secure agreement for the funding to be used to deliver additional works to support and increase the outputs of the original scheme.

MHCLG required that any additional works had clear links to the previously delivered elements of the programme and were not considered as ‘new projects. Furthermore, they required that the Council contractually committed to all additional works prior to 31 March 2025.

A project adjustment request was submitted to Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government on 7 February 2025, seeking their permission  ...  view the full minutes text for item 126