Agenda item

To provide a further update on the Grantham Future High Streets Fund programme, as requested during the previous meeting of the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

On 19 September 2023, the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee were provided with an update on the Grantham Future High Streets Fund programme which highlighted rising costs in relation to construction and infrastructure works. Committee Members requested for an additional update report to be presented to the November meeting.

The Leader of the Council provided an update to the Committee.

An agreement held between South Kesteven District Council and Lincolnshire County Council regarding the public realm schemes had been confirmed at an estimated cost of £1.8 million for the Market Place Scheme and a scaled down Station Approach Scheme estimated at £0.6 million.  The report also gave Members an update on the strategic site acquisition element of the Programme.  Legal Advisors had stated that due to the shortened timeframe there was no prospect of acquiring the site utilising compulsory purchase powers.  Consideration had been made as to whether the project could be achievable in the context of programme extension, however, this was unfortunately not the case.

‘Since the report was published in November 2023, the Council was given the option by the Department for Levelling-Up Housing and Communities to relocate approximately £2.1 million of funding to the undeliverable strategic site acquisition project, to deliver the Station Approach Project in full, allowing both schemes to be delivered as originally envisaged, which would maximise delivery and prevent a return of funding to Central Government.

Members of the Programme Board had since met with Lincolnshire County Council and the County Council had since provided a high-level update delivery plan for the public realm projects.  Furthermore, an additional project had been identified through which we could utilise the reallocated funding.  This was around capital works to bring back toilets in the Market Place that had been closed for over 10 years, in order to support the vitality of the area.  This project had been estimated at a maximum of £90,000.  The Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities were supportive of the project in principle and a formal request to proceed with the works had been submitted.

As the project budget had changed significantly, this had been subject to both the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities’ project adjustment request process and their agreement to extend the programme period.  These requests had now been submitted.  Should the programme extension request be approved, this would extend the programme period by six months to September 2024 and the delivery period by 12 months to April 2025.

The Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities had confirmed that approval was likely, which would allow the Council time to complete both major public realm projects by March 2025.  The project adjustment request also requested the removal of the strategic site acquisition from the Future High Streets Fund’s programme.  The Council awaited a decision regarding this and requested reallocation of funding.

The report also updated Members on the Upper Floor Grants Programme.  Since the previous meeting of the Committee, the very late withdrawals of both the application at St Peter’s Walk and at 40 Westgate, Grantham left 6 grants unallocated.  These had now been relocated to the applicant for 9 -10 High Street.  In the week following the publication of the report, the applicant for 4 units at 90 Westgate had also withdrawn from the programme.  Officers were able to reallocate 2 of the grants to the 9-10 High Street applicant and were currently working to reallocate the remaining 2.  They were likely able to do so in the context of a programme extension.

At present, no full applications had yet been submitted.  However, these were expected to come through in the coming weeks.  Funding for the largest application was due to be heard at the February 2024 meeting of Cabinet.  Conversations between officers and applicants were ongoing to ensure that deadlines were met. 

The report also detailed a forward plan for the Grantham Town Team as agreed by the combined Grantham Heritage Action Zone and Future High Street Fund Programme Board.  Due to significant gaps in staffing levels and vacant Grantham Engagement Manager post, there had been a natural pause in the progress of the Grantham Town Team.  As such, Members and officers involved in the delivery of the project had been able to reflect on feedback regarding its operation.  It had been agreed that both the membership and terms of reference of the Town Team required considerable improvement, including a key qualifying criteria that Members must be willing for their involvement in the Town Team to be in the public domain.  The Programme Board aimed to meet imminently to draft and agree a terms of reference for the Town Team and criteria for membership.  Following this and the appointment of a new Grantham Engagement Manager, the Town Team will be relaunched.’

Members raised the following points during discussion:

·            Was there a drawing of the Market Place Scheme?  There were queries over the parking area outside the Recruitment Agency potentially being levelled and confirmation was requested.

·                              Were both pieces of work expected to be completed by April 2025?

·                              What was the cost to the taxpayer for the formal launch of  the Town Team at the Angel and Royal Hotel and what was the rationale for not having the membership of the Town Team or the invitee list not in the public domain in the first instance?

The Chief Executive informed Members an email had been received from Lincolnshire County Council confirming the cost of the additional part of the work, was as much as completing the whole project and therefore not contained within the budget.  Lincolnshire County Council had also expressed concerns over the number of utilities in the area.  This had been challenged by South Kesteven District Council and a further response was awaited.

The Leader of the Council confirmed that the expected completion of both schemes was April 2025.

The Director of Growth and Culture informed Members the costs for the Town Team launch at the Angel & Royal in Grantham would be circulated.  A decision was taken to not disclose names of membership at the time, as consent had not been obtained at the outset. Hence the recommendation in the reshaped Grantham Town Team for that to be a condition of involvement.

ACTION:

To circulate the cost in relation to the launch of the Grantham Town Team on 6 September 2023.

It was proposed, seconded, and AGREED that the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

 1) Considered the report and pass comments for feedback to the combined Grantham Heritage Action Zone and Future High Street Fund Programme Board.

2) Added an update on the Grantham Future High Streets Fund programme to the Work Programme.