Agenda item

The Leader of the Council presented the report.

The Government launched the Future High Street Fund in December 2019 as part of a £830m investment in town centres across England. It was one of a range of town-centre focused grant schemes administered by MHCLG.

Following an extensive application process, which included community and stakeholder consultation, the Council was successful in securing £5.5m in grant funding for improvements to Grantham.

In addition to the funding, the Council committed £379,000 in match funding to be used to deliver a revenue programme supporting the creation of a Town Centre Engagement Manager post, creation of Grantham Town Team and the delivery of cultural events.

The delivery of the programme was managed by the Economic Development Team and regular updates had been provided to the Committee throughout the programme, which ran from September 2021 to March 2026.

In addition to those meetings, there was an operational Future High Street Fund Board which also met throughout the duration of the programme.

The programme delivered improvements in Grantham Town Centre, including two public realm schemes in the Market Place and the Station Approach junction. The scheme also created 22 new residential units in previously vacant upper-floor retail spaces and an extensive programme of additional works which included investment in the Guildhall Arts Centre, Grantham Museum, Conduit Lane toilets and improvements to St Peter’s Hill green.

The programme formally completed in March 2026 and all of the allocated grant funding had been spent.

Consequently, because of the programme, £1.9m in private sector and third-party match funding had been leveraged and includes £243,800 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Grantham Community Heritage Association’s Grantham Museum.

The final elements of delivery would include the installation of street furniture, planters and power infrastructure in the Market Place were paused to prevent disruptions to the Mid-lent Fair. The works were due to commence on 26 May 2026.

Alongside the Capital Programme, a pilot programme of community and cultural events was delivered, using the improved Market Place and drawing footfall into the Town Centre.

(Councillor Graham Jeal declared he was a Member of the Board and a Chairman of the Grantham Community Heritage Association).

(Councillor Lee Steptoe declared he was a trustee for Grantham Museum).

One Member felt underwhelmed on how the fund had been spent and felt more could have been done with the money.  

Clarification was sought around the benefit cost ratios set by MHCLG at the time and how the Council performed.

A query was raised on a large sum of money on strategic sites acquisition which was consequently removed from the programme in November 2023. Further clarity was sought on how much money was spent on the masterplan of the project between the Council being given the money and removing it from the programme.

The Leader of Council highlighted the change in personnel of Officers and Members between 2019 and November 2023.

The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth confirmed the benefit cost ratio was a calculation through MHCLG that required to be undertaken each time a project adjustment request had been put forward. The benefit cost ratio remained the same from the submission of the last project adjustment form.

ACTION: To provide a written response around costs and abortive costs of the master plan for strategic sites acquisition.

A query was raised on the opening hours of the Conduit Lane toilets and the cost acquired to the Council on repairs of vandalism.

The Deputy Chief Executive and S151 Officer confirmed the toilets were open 9am-4pm, 6 days a week. Following a series of vandalism events, the toilets were closed temporarily, however, opening hours had reverted back to the previous arrangement and the toilets were now opened and closed each day by external contractors or an in-house team in the Council.

It was clarified that the cost of vandalism was unknown, however, the vandalism was relatively modest. 

A suggestion was made on whether a remote locking/unlocking system could be put in place at the Conduit Lane toilets to reduce the need of external contractors. 

A query was raised on when the first expected use of the stage would be and where.

The Leader of the Council noted that remote locking/unlocking for the toilets could cause safety concerns, and the toilets would need to be checked before closure.

The Deputy Leader of the Council clarified the stage had been purchased and would need to be erected via a rigger. The use of the stage around the District was being discussed.

The Committee:

Noted the report on the completion of the FHSF Project and provide any feedback on the lessons learned.