Agenda item

To provide the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an update on the delivery of the Grantham Future High Street Fund.

The Leader of the Council presented the report to update the Committee on the Grantham Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) Programme, following the previous update in February 2025.

The FHSF is a £5.2m programme which began in 2021 and should be completed in March 2026.

The improvements at present had included the Conduit Lane toilet refurbishment, the five-armed junction at Station approach and Grantham market square. 9 of the 22 proposed upper floor residential units had been completed and let. Works were ongoing to complete the remaining flats.

Following the completion of the public realm works, £882,695 had been reallocated within the public realm budgets, which had been released for reallocation.

Following negotiation with the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government (MHCLG), Officers secured permission to reallocate the funding to projects within the Future High Streets Fund which would help ensure the total funding is utilised.

Progress in delivering the approved projects was detailed in paragraphs 2.7 and 2.8 of the report.

Subsequently, an additional £400,000 had been identified, principally from savings within the public realm projects.

One Member queried what plans may be in place for the available £400,000.

The £400,000 was part of the Government’s Future High Street Fund grant and a form of capital expenditure. The Events budget formed part of the Council’s match funding to the programme, which was managed separately as different terms for spending that money would apply.

Further information on how money would be spent on events within the programme was requested. It was noted that a cost of £7,000 for a brass band was proposed for Lincolnshire Day, although this would be derived from a separate budget.

The Leader of the Council clarified that £7,000 would not be spent on a brass band for Lincolnshire Day. It was noted that the £7,000 was part of a separate budget to the programme underspend.

At a recent FHSF board meeting, discussions took place on exploring ways in which the overspend could be utilised:

·       Power supply to the market square in Grantham to cater for events may require lighting or electricity.

·       Improve wayfinding in the town centre to encourage visitors to visit historic features within the town.

·       Investment would be made in the Grantham Museum in order to hold exhibits and repatriate collections from Lincoln museum.

·       Plans for the cultural quarter (St Peters Hill to the Savoy Cinema),

One Member queried the likelihood of the remaining unallocated budget being fully contractually committed and whether the funding would be returned if not allocated.

The Leader of the Council had hoped none of the funding would be returned. Officers were working towards a tight deadline, however, it was believed upcoming projects would fully absorb the allocation.

Clarification was sought that lessons had been learnt from the ticketed event for the Family Festival.

As FHSF was due to end in March 2026, the Council’s long-term strategy was queried in order to ensure the momentum for increased footfall in Grantham.

It was highlighted that the ticketed event for the Family Festival was a good event, however, there had been a low turnout. It was clarified a contingency plan was in place to ensure a better turnout in future.

The Council were working with local partners to increase footfall in the centre of Grantham.

It was highlighted that local businesses and Town/District Councillors would need to champion events in Grantham post March 2026. The Council would not have sums of money, as in recent years. The Council would work to increase footfall in all towns within the District.

Members welcomed the FHSF on the regeneration of Grantham town centre.

It was noted that £50,000 would be spent on the cultural quarter of St Peters Hill, however, concern was raised on comments received from residents on anti-social behaviour taking place within the cultural quarter.

The Leader of the Council confirmed there had been an increase of CCTV within that area and urged any behaviours were reported.

The Council were finalising proposals for improvements to the cultural quarter which may include improving the grasses areas, planting schemes and a water feature.

It was suggested that lessons learnt from previous events and schemes be brought back to the Committee in the future to scrutinise.

£60,000 of FHSF would be used for bistro chairs, a stage and chair/covers. Assurance was sought whether funding would need to be contractually committed by the end of September 2025 and that the proposed events stage would be fully utilised, once purchased.

The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth clarified work was taking place around how the funding could be best utilised. The stall covers were not required and therefore, the bistro chairs and stage were being explored. The Committee would be updated in due course if the markets allocation of FHSF came to less than £60,000. 

A query was raised on requirement and claw back mechanisms the Council had in place with Upper Floor Grants properties if the recipients decided to resell or repurpose the property within a short period of time.

Within the grant agreements for each recipient, there was a five-year claw back clause in which if the property was sold or materially disposed of, the grants could be drawn back. There was a charge placed on the land registry against the properties if sold.

The Committee noted the report and progress on the Grantham Future High Street Fund Programme and to offer feedback to the FHSF board.